Liquid Compact Mass Spectrometer LC-MS

This announcement serves as a Sources Sought Synopsis issued for the purpose of market research in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 10 for an upcoming acquisition at the United States Air Force Academy. DO NOT submit a quote or proposal in response to this synopsis. This sources sought is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. For the purpose of this acquisition, the North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 334516 and the size standard in number of employees is 1,000. This Sources Sought notice shall not be construed as a formal solicitation or as an obligation on the part of 10 CONS to acquire any products or services. Information provided to 10 CONS in response to this posting is strictly voluntary and given with no expectation of compensation, and clearly provided at no cost to the Government. A formal solicitation may be executed and posted separately on Federal Business Opportunities website (www.fbo.gov) or GSA ebuy at a future date. 10 CONS is interested only in identifying interested and capable contractors for this product and receiving industry feedback to improve the acquisition process as part of market research. This sources sought is issued for determining if there are responsive small business concerns capable of meeting the requirement. Interested vendors must reference their 8(a), HUB Zone, Women-owned, or Service Disabled Veteran status - which must be signed by a company officer with authority to bind the company. The planned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The small business size standard is 1,000 employees. Small Business (SB) Set-Aside Determination: 10 CONS reserves the right to determine if a SB set-aside is appropriate including specific socio-economic programs (HUB Zone, Small Business Administration (SBA) subcontractors referred to as "8(a)" contractors eligible under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (15 USC 637(a)), or SDVO small businesses) based on responses to this notice and other pertinent information gathered by the contracting officer. In order for 10 CONS to make a SB set-aside determination, it is emphasized that SB concerns provide sufficient written information to indicate their capacity and capability to successfully perform and manage all the requirements of this notice. The proposed contract is anticipated to be a firm fixed price contract for a one (1) assembly Liquid Compact Mass Spectrometer Advion Model #CMSL01 & accessories as a brand name or equal requirement. Delivery is FOB Destination to USAF Academy, Colorado Comments and/or suggestions on the below salient characteristics are encouraged and can be included in your capabilities package. The minimum salient characteristics are equal to or better than the following characteristics: At a minimum, we require the following: The salient characteristics have been modified as shown below: SALENT CHARACTERISTICS: Compact Mass Spectrometer (CMS) System At minimum, the MS system must include or be capable of the following: Mass range up 2,000 m/z or greater Mass accuracy of + 1 m/z Mass detector with small footprint to fit in a hood for stand-alone operation "Walk-up" direct injection analysis Seamless integration with an Agilent 1060 Liquid Chromatograph Integrated software for Agilent 1060 control and data capture and processing Fast polarity switching Software for system operation and data analysis of the mass spectrometer Electrospray (ESI) AND Atmospheric Pressure Chemical (APCI) ionization sources Direct Ionization probe (DIP) or Atmospheric Solids Analysis probe (ASAP) for solvent-free analysis Integrated TLC plate reader with isocratic pump LC and flash chromatography system interface kits 1 year warranty For the Air Force Academy to maintain ACS accreditation, the purchase of a new LC-MS systems is to ensure uninterrupted availability of MS to support the Academy mission. All potential offerors are reminded, in accordance with FAR 52.212-4(t), System for Award Management, lack of registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) will make an offeror ineligible for contract award. Offerors and Contractors may obtain information on registration and annual confirmation requirements via SAM accessed through https://www.sam.gov. Any information provided by industry to the Government as a result of this sources sought synopsis is voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this sources sought synopsis. The specifications for this requirement are included. Comments and/or suggestions on the specifications are encouraged and can be included in your capabilities package. Interested businesses shall provide the following information: - 1. Company name, mailing address, cage code, DUNS number, point of contact, telephone number and email address. - 2. Business size status, e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Woman Owned or Service Disabled Veteran-Owned, small business, large business, etc. - 3. Appropriate written information and/or data supporting your capability to provide the stated Liquid Compact Mass Spectrometer assembly. - 4. Answers to the following questions: a. How long have you been in business? b. Have you provided this item in the past? c. Are you a manufacturer or reseller of the item? d. What is your lead-time for delivery? e. Have you ever performed Government contracts? f. What are your payment/discount terms? Do you offer an educational discount to universities? g. If you require different terms and conditions than those normally used by the Government, what are your commercial terms and conditions? Please feel free to provide a copy of your terms and conditions for this type of work. h. Where is each product manufactured? i. Where are the components manufactured? j. What is your estimated cost for this requirement? You will not be held to this price, it is only for market research purposes. k. Are operating and maintenance manuals, or any other items, included? l. Do you offer warranty coverage? If yes, provide further details. m. Is the product Buy American compliant IAW DFARS 252.225-7001? n. Is the product considered commercially available off-the-shelf IAW FAR 2.101 and FAR 12.103? If not, is the product considered commercial? - o. o. Do any of the salient characteristics limit competition? p. Are there any aspects of this requirement which are not consistent with current industry practices? q. Add any questions specific to the acquisition not included above. Interested parties shall provide the following information: a. Company name, address, Cage Code, DUNS Number, NAICS codes, name of point of contact, telephone number and e-mail address; b. Small business status (service disabled veteran owned small business, HUB Zone, 8(a), minority business enterprise, etc.) if any; c. Date of business type certification and company's business size; d. Annual gross revenue, number of full-time employees by direct labor, indirect labor, and administrative/overhead positions; e. Company's primary source of business (commercial/private or Government sector); This notice is designed to locate responsible sources that have an interest, and have the ability to supply the item described herein. If your firm is capable and qualified to provide an assembled Liquid Compact Mass Spectrometers (LC-MS), send the required response in writing to the primary point of contact indicated within this announcement. Responses are due no later than 19 October 2017, 4:00 p.m. Mountain time by e-mail. Questions and responses should be addressed to the primary contact, Sharon Scheetz, contract specialist, 719-333-8927 or sharon.scheetz@us.af.mil or Diana Myles-South, Contracting Officer, 719-333-8650 or diana.south@us.af.mil. Submit all of the above information in sufficient detail for a decision to be made on the availability of interested parties. Proprietary information should be marked "PROPRIETARY INFORMATION." An electronic email response is the accepted method. Failure to submit all information by the submission due date and time will result in a contractor being considered "not interested" in this requirement. In accordance with FAR 52.212-4(t) contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) to be eligible for award. Register at https://www.sam.gov/portal/public/ SAM/#1. Any future information on this acquisition (statement of work, specifications, Solicitation, etc.) will be posted on www.fbo.gov. It is the responsibility of the prospective offeror to review this site regularly for updates and/or changes. For information on Small Business Administration programs, please contact the USAFA Director of Small Business, Bill Wolski at 719-333-4561. Pursuant to AFFARS Part 5301.9102(c), Mr. James Anderson is appointed as the USAFA Ombudsman. The USAFA Ombudsman contact information is: 10 CONS/CD (Mr. James Anderson), 8110 Industrial Drive, Suite 103, USAF Academy, CO 80840. Telephone Number:719-333-2865, FAX: 719-333-9018. Email Address: james.anderson.72@us.af.mil.