Sapphire Laser System

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR A PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Office of Acquisitions (OA), on behalf of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Coherent Laser Group, 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054-1112 to provide a Sapphire Laser System to the NIDCR Division of Intramural Research (DIR), Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology (LCDB). Background Information The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) requires a sapphire laser system for the shared microscopy facility that is used by several dozen members of the Laboratory of Cell and Developmental Biology (LCDB). This system will analyze molecular dynamics within live single cells as well as in 3D embryonic organs. It will be added to the existing laser launch system that is in place in the laboratory. The sapphire lasers are needed to replace an unreliable low power argon gas laser which supplies multiple laser wavelengths. The following lasers are required: - Coherent 488nm 150mW; and, - Coherent 514nm 150mW These lasers will provide more than 3 times more power at 488nm and 2.5 times more power at 514nm than the current laser. It will also allow the users to use lower power to increase laser longevity. Sole Source Justification The sole source determination is based on the fact that this laser system will be added to an existing Coherent laser system that is in the laboratory. Compatibility is key and these lasers must come from the same vendor as well. If not, all warranty's on the machine would be invalidated. The delivery point is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Bethesda, MD. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 334413, Semiconductor and Related Device Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 500 employees. However, this acquisition is not a small business set aside. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-58 (May 18, 2012). Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis by June 12, 2012 at 8:00am Eastern Standard Time. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct future competitive procurements. Inquiries to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(DE)-2012-166-JML, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6151, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Jonathan Lear. Responses may be submitted electronically to contact@example.gov. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative.