NOI-Service/Maintenance Agreement renewal for the Discover 2.0 & Liberty Blue HT12/Razor microwave-assisted chemical synthesis systems made my CEM Corporation

Special Notice – Notice of Intent to Sole Source 

SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N98026Q00273   

TITLE: Service/Maintenance Agreement renewal for the Discover 2.0 & Liberty Blue HT12/Razor microwave-assisted chemical synthesis systems made my CEM Corporation 

RESPONSE DATE: May 8, 2026, at 11:00 am EST.  

1. PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT: 

Jaddua Johnston 

jaddua.johnston@mail.nih.gov 

Phone: 240-569-0006 

1. INTRODUCTION: 

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).  

The purpose of this action is the renewal of a service agreement for the Discover 2.0 and Liberty Blue HT12/Razor bench‑top microwave reactors designed for small‑scale organic and medicinal chemistry synthesis used by the NCATS Early Translation Branch (ETB) Chemistry. This request is intended to begin a new coverage agreement including one preventative maintenance visit. Current PO for this service agreement is PO #: 75N95C24P00096 

These instruments are being used for multiple projects in our chemistry lab, including but not limited to, TR000192-10 Selective Inhibitors of ALDH1A1; TR000436-04 Identification of ALPK1 inhibitors; TR000251-09 qHTS to Identify Inhibitors of NNMT1; TR000106-10 qHTS to Identify Inhibitors of DYT1 Inclusion Formation 

1. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS 

NAICS code 811210 Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance @ $34 million. This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses. 

1. REGULATORY AUTHORITY  

This acquisition will be conducted using FAR Part 12 – Acquisition of Commercial Items in conjunction with FAR Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures, as applicable. The resultant contract will include all appropriate provisions and clauses in effect through the current Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC). 

1. STATUTORY AUTHORITY 

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of: 

FAR 6.302-1 – Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements (41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1)) 

1. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT: 

1. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: 

We require a service/maintenance agreement for the Discover 2.0 and Liberty Blue HT12/Razor systems. The Liberty Blue system allows scientists to produce high-purity peptides, and the Discover 2.0 is a microwave reactor that aids in performing any organic or inorganic synthetic chemistry. Full function of this equipment is necessary for the continuity and standardization of NCATS research. The service agreement must include unlimited service visits (with troubleshooting and parts replacement coverage) preventative maintenance visits, original equipment manufacturer parts and accessories, and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) factory trained service engineers.  

These are specialized laboratory machines that help us make new drug ingredients faster, more consistently, and at lower development cost.  

Period of Performance: 

Period of Performance: one year upon acceptance of award. 

SCOPE OF WORK 

General Requirements: 

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the Statement of Work below: 

• Service/Maintenance Agreement for the following systems with the below coverage: 

• Discover 2.0 (SN#N3308) 

• Liberty Blue HT12/Razor (LB2403; HA1128; DA3755; RZ1025; Laptop (ST:523QRG3)) 

• One (1x) Preventative Maintenance performed annually on covered instrument/system 

• Inspection stickers will be affixed to each unit at the time of inspection 

• An equipment status report will accompany the certificates, providing an overview of inspection findings 

Specific Requirements: 

Specifically, the NCATS ETB Chemistry Program requires the following maintenance support for the equipment detailed below: 

• One (1x) scheduled on-site preventative maintenance (PM) visit should include: 

• Cleaning of instrument 

• Part verification and replacement 

• Efficacy testing 

• 24-hour telephone troubleshooting support 

• Fast response time 

• Travel, labor, and parts included in cost of agreement 

LEVEL OF EFFORT: 

All PM work and all service work must be completed by a CEM factory trained engineer. 

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES 

NCATS will provide access to the facility.   

DELIVERY OR DELIVERABLES 

None 

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS  

None 

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS 

Travel is not NCATS responsibility. 

All PM work and all service work must be completed by a CEM factory trained engineer. 

Travel: 

Key Personnel: 

Information System Security Plan: 

Data Rights: 

Section 508—Electronic and Information Technology Standards: 

Publications and Publicity: 

Confidentiality of Information: 

1. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION 

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, CEM Corporation is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the ​services​ required by NCATS. The equipment is proprietary to its manufacturer, CEM Corporation, and this company is the sole provider of maintenance for this equipment. 

In accordance with FAR part 10, extensive market research was conducted to reach this determination. ​Additionally, contacts with knowledgeable individuals both in industry and Government, as well as reviews of available product literature, revealed no other sources. Finally, a review of the GSA Advantage, Dynamic Small Business Search, and previous government acquisitions returned no results that meet all of the requirements. Therefore, only CEM Corporation is capable of meeting the needs of this requirement.​ 

The intended source is: 

CEM Corporation 

3100 Smith Farm Road 

Matthews NC 28104 

1. CLOSING STATEMENT 

THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.  

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. 

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. 

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, 75N98026Q00273. Responses must be submitted electronically to Jaddua Johnston, Contract Specialist at Jaddua.Johnston@nih.gov.