Notice of Intent to Sole Source

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT The US Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Eastern Region Acquisition Division, Simplified Acquisition Branch intends to negotiate on a sole source basis (for a Base and Four Option Year Contract) with Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc., 45600 Terminal Drive, Sterling, VA 20166-9400, using the procedures in FAR Part 13, and in reference to 41.U.S.C. 253(c)(1), to provide secure room temperature storage of paraffin blocks and wet formalin fixed tissues from marine mammal cases submitted by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Program network members, especially during Unusual Mortality Events (UMEs), to further our understanding of health, health trends and diseases of marine mammal populations in the wild and to provide chain-of custody (COC) for law-enforcement investigations. The NMFS, Office of Protected Resources works throughout the United States and abroad to detect, investigate, and respond to marine animal health and emergency response issues. Specifically, the archiving and storage capabilities of Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc. will be used for health and disease investigations of stranded and live captured wild marine mammals including UME investigations. The Experimental Pathology Laboratories, Inc. is uniquely qualified to assist with the secure room temperature storage of paraffin blocks and wet formalin fixed tissues for marine mammals. They have significant expertise and experience in archiving and storing paraffin blocks and wet formalin fixed tissues including maintaining samples in limited access areas under chain-of-custody (COC) for law-enforcement investigations. They also have the ability to pull samples from storage for additional research on cases as needed. The Experimental Pathology Laboratories currently house existing paraffin block and wet formalin fixed tissues from marine mammals from recent UME and Natural Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) investigations. Relocation of these samples would be extremely costly and could potentially result in damage/loss and chain-of-custody violations for law-enforcement violations rendering the samples compromised for investigations. The statutory authority for other than full and open competition is FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), Only one responsible source. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) for this acquisition is 493120, Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage, with a business size standard of $27.5 Million. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotes. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirements, it may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the agency. A 100% small business set aside solicitation will be issued under this notice on or about 9 May 2018 and will remain open for 5 calendar days after issuance. Evidence must be provided of ability to provide the required services. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NOAA to determine if the party can meet all of the requirements. Capability statements and related materials must be e-mailed to contact@example.gov no later than the due date for quotes listed on the solicitation when posted.