Service Agreement for the Titan/Krios G3 Microscope
INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The Nat... INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of the on behalf of the National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases intends to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to FEI CO for the purchase of a Titan/Krios G3 Microscope “PREFERRED 48 HOURS” Service Agreement which includes labor, travel, living expenses and parts coverage. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 811219 with a Size Standard of $22.0. REGULATORY AUTHORITY The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-01 effective October 1, 2020. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000). STATUTORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302- FAR 6.302-1—Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 01/01/2021 – 12/31/2021 Place of Performance National Institutes of Health National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases 13 South Drive Bethesda MD 20892 ? DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute supports much of the clinical research on the diseases of internal medicine and related subspecialty fields, as well as many basic science disciplines. The Institute's Division of Intramural Research encompasses the broad spectrum of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, inborn errors of metabolism, endocrine disorders, mineral metabolism, digestive and liver diseases, nutrition, urology and renal disease, and hematology. Basic research studies include biochemistry, biophysics, nutrition, pathology, histochemistry, bioorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, chemical and molecular biology, and pharmacology. NIDDK extramural research is organized into 4 divisions: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases; Digestive Diseases and Nutrition; Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases; and Extramural Activities. The Institute supports basic and clinical research through investigator-initiated grants, program project and center grants, and career development and training awards. The Institute also supports research and development projects and large-scale clinical trials through contracts. _________________________ The mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is to conduct and support medical research and research training and to disseminate science-based information on diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutritional disorders, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases, to improve people’s health and quality of life. The NIDDK supports a wide range of medical research through grants to universities and other medical research institutions across the country. The Institute also supports government scientists who conduct basic, translational, and clinical research across a broad spectrum of research topics and serious, chronic diseases and conditions related to the Institute's mission. In addition, the NIDDK supports research training for students and scientists at various stages of their careers and a range of education and outreach programs to bring science-based information to patients and their families, health care professionals, and the public. The Multi Institute Cryo-EM Facility (MICEF) is a collaborative facility maintained by the NIDDK. It serves the scientific communities of NHLBI, NIDDK, NIAMS, and NINDS. MICEF currently houses a Titan/Krios G3 microscope that is used for Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM), a specialized process that produces detailed 3D characterization of biological samples. MICEF offers support in planning Cryo-EM experiments, sample preparation and imaging, using equipment, and analyzing data. To continue this support, the Titan/Krios G3 microscope requires a maintenance plan to keep the microscope functioning properly and providing accurate results. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES NIDDK Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility is serving many NIDDK structural biology labs that use Cryo-EM single particle analysis to study the structures of proteins & macromolecules. With FEI TF20 electron microscope, users can screening the samples: by negative stain to check the homogeneity; by cryo to check cryo grids quality, and collect data to get preliminary structures. This sample screening is the key step of Cryo-EM sample preparation that eventually leads to high resolution structures. The maintenance of the FEI TF20 electron microscope is essential for its optimized & continuous performance, and thus the quality and productivity of the ongoing research at NIDDK. The TF20 microscope is very complex and delicate. We need experienced and well-trained service engineer to perform preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and prompt repair when there is any issue. The purchase of the service contract will ensure the high standard operation status of the microscope and its service to all Cryo-EM research projects at NIDDK. OBJECTIVE The objective is to purchase a TheTitan/Krios G3 microscope “PREFERRED 48 HOURS” Service Agreement service agreement with a period of performance of 01/01/2021 through 12/31/2021. SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS The vendor will provide 4-hour targeted telephone support, 48-hour targeted onsite labor response, unlimited labor hours (including travel time and expenses), all necessary spare parts (including all accessories listed on the contract), one preventive maintenance visit (per year) and software updates. TASKS AREAS Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall perform all of the detailed Task Areas listed below: Task Area 1 – The company will provide a qualified service engineer to perform maintenance of the microscope with equipment and parts. Service will be on the units themselves in their current location by qualified FEI service engineer in the presence of LCMB staff. Task Area 2 – When we submit a service request, FEI should response within 48 hours and send in service engineer to service/repair the microscope. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION Thermo Fisher Scientific is the manufacturer of the Titan/Krios G3 microscope and offers the only factory trained service organization on the east coast that is qualified to service this product. Thermo Fisher maintenance representatives are trained and certified in Holland in order to maintain the distinctive hardware and software configurations for the microscope components. The variety of detector and software options is unique to this microscope, and no other vendor will be able to provide the high level of specified maintenance and/or repairs to keep the microscope functioning at optimum levels. Failure to use Thermo Fisher to service the microscope and its many components may result in voiding any manufacturer warranties on the microscope, delays for software upgrades and repairs, and could result in inaccurate research results that in turn could result in MICEF’s failure to meet its mission. The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10—Market Research. Only one source is available: Per FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) the Contracting Officer has determined FEI CO to be the only reasonable available source to provide Titan/Krios G3 Microscope maintenance. This acquisition was pursued on a sole source basis centered on the vendor having access to proprietary parts and knowledge which limit the amount of downtime for the repair and maintenance of the equipment. The main commercial alternative to a contract with FEI Company is to have a contract with a company which sub-contracts with Thermo Fisher. Although this may seem equivalent since the deliverable appears to be generally the same, there are significant differences in the mode in which the direct contracted and sub-contracted work is performed by Thermo Fisher engineers. Direct contracting flexibly allows Thermo Fisher service engineers to “drop ship” multiple “fix kits” for a given problem to our trained staff and in many cases the engineers are able to remotely coach our staff through the repairs (in some cases trying several of the shipped kits). While this most often leads to a fix without the need of an engineer to physically visit the facility, when this is not accomplished the staff is able to help the engineer refine follow on fix options he/she will perform upon their physical visit to the facility. Such physical visits can occur with higher priority for direct contracted engineers which is important because the Thermo engineer cadre are overburdened with service calls and installations. Due to the need for a 3rd party service organization to neutralize significant conflicts of interest (Thermo engineers are placed in a position to bill their competitor) to control costs and also because there are significant difficulties recreating the “drop ship” and remote coaching approach to instrument repair the subcontractor is not able to cause instrument repair to occur as quickly as the direct contractor can. This downtime ultimately contributes to significant project delays and leads to a material loss (functional instrument time) which cannot be offset by any difference in cost of such a contract because of the extreme nature (multiple user staff over multiple days lose productivity) of knock-on effects of instrument down time. Based on this, 3rd party service providers do not have a level of performance close enough to that provided by the current vendor that they could be called comparable. This difference is not a question of competence or good will just a fundamental issue with the business model of 3rd party providers. The Titan/Krios G3 microscope is a complex, powerful and flexible high-resolution electron microscope for 2D and 3D characterization of biological samples. In order to ensure the optimal thermal and mechanical stability and perfect optical performance, this microscope requires regular maintenance. The variety of detector and software options is unique to this microscope, and no other vendor will be able to provide the high level of specified maintenance and/or repairs to keep the microscope functioning at optimum levels. Failure to use Thermo Fisher to service the microscope and its many components may result in voiding any manufacturer warranties on the microscope, delays for software upgrades and repairs, and could result in inaccurate research results that in turn could result in MICEF’s failure to meet its mission. 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. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: descriptive literature, delivery timeframe, warranties and/or other information that demonstrates that the offer meets all the foregoing requirements, 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.” 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. 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. All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically by 9:00 am Eastern Standard Time, on Thursday, November 5, 2020 to the Contract Specialist, Amber Harris, at amber.harris@nih.gov. Assessment of Capability Lowest Price Technically Acceptable
Data sourced from SAM.gov.
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