Lead and Multi-element Proficiency

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Environmental Health (NCEH), Division of Laboratory Science, intends to award a sole source purchase order to Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene 465 Henrey Mall Madison, WI 53706-1501 to obtain expertise and technical assistance to support CDC's Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch's Quality Assurance Program for the Lead Multi-element Proficiency Program (LAMP). The statutory authority for this sole source acquisition is 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1) in accordance with FAR Part 6.302-1- only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy the agency requirement. The NAICS code for this procurement is 541380, Testing Laboratories Services, with a size standard in millions of dollars $14M. The period of performance is a twelve month base year and two (12) months option periods. The purpose of this procurement is to obtain expertise and technical assistance to support CDC's Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Branch's Quality Assurance Programs, Lead and Multi-element Program (LAMP), in helping them to acquire both bovine and whole blood, prepare bovine blood materials, prepare whole blood materials, and distribute them to the participating laboratories for each of the respective programs. The University of Wisconsin is the only responsible source capable of meeting all of the Government's requirement because they are the only full service proficiency testing provider that administers a nationwide Lead and Multi-element Proficiency (LAMP) Program with distributions to more than 100 laboratories. Additionally, the University of Wisconsin has proven experience in bovine blood handling, which includes all veterinary support within the limits of animal care and use protocols, as well as experience distributing quality controls and proficiency testing samples monthly. UW also maintains a trace clean room laboratory environment used in conjunction with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer that enables the lab to screen prepared bovine whole blood pools for homogeneity and assign target values when necessary while continuing to monitor all collection and pooling material for trace metal contamination. Most importantly, the University of Wisconsin encompasses the ability to purchase and maintain bovine and whole blood needed for this project in accordance with all state and federal regulation. This distinctive ability alone is essential to the expansion needed to support the CDC's LAMP, which cannot be obtained in the current capacity of the Inorganic and Radiation Analytical Toxicology Laboratory. Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are encouraged to submit capabilities statements to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice. The Government will review all capabilities statements submitted and determine if other qualified sources do exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response to this announcement will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The capability statements shall be submitted electronically via e-mail to the Contracting Specialist Matthew Ellington at mce8@cdc.gov on or before 3:00 pm (1500) EASTERN STANDARD TIME on August 6, 2014. All email responses to this notice must identify the RFQ#2014-Q-74556, in the subject line of the email. FAXED OR MAILED RESPONSES AND/OR QUESTIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.