Maintenance, Repair & Rebuilding of Equipment

This is a combined Synopsis/Solicitation/Notice of Intent for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are not being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued for the solicitation number NIAID-NOI-14C-1652215 a Notice of Intent. The incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 2005-70 dated September 30, 2013. This acquisition will be processed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and is not a small business set-aside, however small disadvantage, minority, veteran owned, and HUB zone companies, etc., are encourage in submitting a proposal. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 811310, which has a small-business size standard is $7 million. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) intends to procure a one year renewal maintenance service agreement with Becton, Dickinson, and Company (BD Biosciences) for the following flow cytometers: 1) LSR II Special (no lasers), serial #H47100117, 2) LSR II Special (no lasers), serial #H47100120, 3) LSR II Special (no lasers), serial #H4710041, 4) FACSAria Special (no lasers), serial #P46900011, and 5) FACSAria Special (no lasers), serial #P11000013. This is to include the attached list of lasers that will be used for replacement lasers for the five (5) flow cytometers listed. The purpose of this requirement is to provide maintenance on existing equipment of high throughput sampler systems. All parts and accessories must be compatible with existing equipment and no substitutions are allowed. The five (5) flow cytometer instruments are in constant use up to 7 days a week and the lasers are critical for the optimal functioning of the instruments. Without the lasers, these instruments are rendered non-functional. Samples that are tested are run through the instrument labeled with specific fluorescent antibodies that only emit a signal when hit with a certain wavelength of light emitted from the each of the lasers (red, blue, violet and green). During routine maintenance, these lasers are checked for power and signal strength and any that are suboptimal are replaced. These lasers are also replaced if they malfunction between routine maintenance. As these instruments are custom designed for the needs of the lab, the lasers that are an integral part of the instrument are designed such that they will work only with the customized instruments. There is no known lasers offered that will physically fit inside the instruments to provide the optimal signal strength and power to accommodate the functioning of the instrument. To use a different vendor for these lasers will cause the instruments to not be able to be calibrated to optimal specifications such that samples between experiments will not be able to be analyzed and compared. This would adversely affect the function of the lab and its mission. The contractor will quote for labor, travel expenses and parts (excluding consumables). The contractor will perform 2 preventative maintenance inspections to be performed during a 12 month period and include 2 PM Kits, software revisions released during the agreement term. Replacement with a certified refurbished unit, if required, at the discretion of the contractor, and if required will be provided within two (2) working days. The contractor will provide unlimited service visits, Monday - Friday excluding contractor's holidays, unlimited telephone support for instruments, reagents, and applications will be provided without any additional charge. The contractor will guarantee to respond to emergency on-site visits service Monday - Friday, (excluding contractor's holidays) within 48 hours. Period of Performance is one year from date of award to the location of Bethesda, Maryland 20892. In submission of your proposal include the company's Dun & Bradstreet number (DUNS #). The award will be based on: 1) the capability to perform the required specifications, 2) price, and 3) delivery. The FOB terms are "Destination" and Net 30. FAR provisions and clauses that apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors, Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders - Commercial Items; and FAR 52.232.33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer -System for Award Management. A completed copy of provisions at FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representation and Certifications Commercial Items must be included which can be found online at System for Award Management (SAM) https://www.sam.gov. By submission of an offer, the Offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective Awardee shall be registered in the SAM database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. [Note: Lack of registration in SAM will make an Offeror ineligible for award.] All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by the Agency. Offers must be submitted no later than 5:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time Tuesday, November 19, 2013 through the U. S. Postal Service at the address is NIH/NIAID/AMOB, 10401 Fernwood Drive, Room 2NE52E, MSC 4811, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4811. E-mail and Fax submissions are not authorized. Request for information concerning this requirement are to be submitted in writing, and can be faxed to 301-480-8720, or e-mail to knightte@niaid.nih.gov. It is the vendor's responsibility to confirm receipts of all quotations and/or questions by the closing date of this announcement by contacting Terry Knight at (301) 402-2282. Collect calls will not be accepted.