Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Smith's Detection

The Federal Bureau of Investigation intends to award a one-time, sole-source, firm fixed price contract to Smiths Detection, Inc. for the procurement of BioDisc-E General Format Discs, proprietary consumables exclusively designed for use with the FBI’s Mail Guard Pathogen Detection System. These discs are mission-critical components that are technically incompatible with any third-party alternatives, as the system’s hardware, software, calibration, and detection algorithms are engineered to operate only with OEM-supplied components. The procurement is justified under FAR 6.103-1 due to the absence of any other responsible source capable of providing compatible discs, with market research confirming no viable substitutes exist. Non-OEM consumables pose unacceptable operational and safety risks, including compromised detection accuracy and potential failure to identify biological threats in incoming mail, which directly impacts national security and personnel safety. The estimated contract value is $81,900, based on historical pricing and fair and reasonable determination, with delivery to occur at the Cheverly Warehouse in Washington, D.C., where the system is deployed. The solicitation, identified as SHOP-PR-26-000207, was posted on SAM.gov on June 3, 2026, with a response deadline of 9:00 a.m. on June 13, 2026, and is open solely for public comment and capability statements to determine whether competition is feasible. All submissions must be sent via email to Contracting Officer Ricardo Tiggle at rtiggle@fbi.gov; no other forms of response, including phone or fax, will be considered. While no formal contract clauses, evaluation factors, packaging requirements, or invoicing instructions are provided in the documentation, the acquisition is structured as a non-competitive firm fixed price transaction with no options or extensions. The contracting office is located in Washington, D.C., under the U.S. Department of Justice, and no contract administration details such as payment office or COR information are included. The NAICS code for the acquisition is 334519, and the vendor’s identity and location are confirmed as Smiths Detection, Inc., Edgewood, Maryland. The government retains full authority to proceed with sole-source award regardless of responses received.