Inactive

INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION ON NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The ... INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION ON 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 LAB EXPRESS LLC for Drosophila Fly Food. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541990 with a Size Standard of $16.5. REGULATORY AUTHORITY The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) FAC 2021-02 effective November 23, 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 the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. BACKGROUND 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. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a requirement to obtain the renewal of the delivery order contract for fly food to maintain Drosophila fly stocks within the Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology. The research of this lab involves maintaining stocks of Drosophila flies which have been sustained by fly food media from LabExpress over the past six (6) years. Drosophila melanogaster is an important functional model system in our research, boasting facile genetics, complex organ systems, complex behaviors, and a sequenced genome. Specifically, we need Fly food A in narrow and wide vials with yeast sprinkle and BuzzPlugs to be delivered to us in quantities as needed. The media must be consistent with that used for stock maintenance at former Arizona Drosophila Stock Center and it must feature the following characteristics: All food contains two fungicides: 0.15% Tegosept and 0.44% propionic acid unless specified otherwise. Agar percentage is adjusted based on gel strength of agar batch in use and is indicated on each food label. Food is dispensed into: • narrow vials: polystyrene, 25x95 mm, 9 ml of food/vial, 100 vials/tray • wide vials: polystyrene, 28.5x95 mm, 13 ml of food/vial, 100 vials/tray Food trays are covered with Press'N Seal then shrink-wrapped. Bottles are shrink-wrapped in cardboard trays. Vials and bottles to be covered with cellulose acetate plugs. This requirement is for a base plus four option years. 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 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 LAB EXPRESS LLC to be the only reasonably available source to provide the fly food media the NIDDK requires. We need Fly food A in narrow and wide vials with yeast sprinkle and BuzzPlugs to be delivered to us in quantities as needed. The media must be consistent with that used for stock maintenance at former Arizona Drosophila Stock Center in order to provide continuity. The research of this lab involves maintaining stocks of Drosophila flies which have been sustained by fly food media from LabExpress over the past six (6) years. We must continue to purchase our fly food media from the vendor in order to avoid the introduction of new variables into our research and to avoid long delays and additional costs resulting from retesting products from other potential suppliers. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE 12/15/2020-12/14/2021 12/15/2021-12/14/2022 12/15/2022-12/14/2023 12/15/2023-12/14/2024 12/15/2024-12/14/2025 Place of Performance National Institutes of Health National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases 50 South Drive Bethesda MD 20814 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 responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.” All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically by 9:00 am Eastern Standard Time, on Thursday, December 3, 2020 to the Contract Specialist, Amber Harris, at amber.harris@nih.gov . Assessment of Capability Lowest Price Technically Acceptable