NOTICE OF INTENT TO NEGOTIATE A SINGLE-SOURCE CONTRACT
In compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulations coupled with the provisions set forth by FAR Subpart 5.101(a)(1), this Notice is hereby published to inform of the following:The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Management and Budget (OMB) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authorities provided in the Federal Acquisition Regulations, with Thermo Electron North America LLC
The requirement is to procure the following: The objective of this contract is to secure a three-year (Base plus two Option Years) technical support and maintenance agreement for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Delta V Advantage IRMS. The contractor shall provide all necessary technical expertise, proprietary diagnostics, and hardware support required to sustain the instrument's performance at OEM-specified levels of precision and accuracy.
The scope of this effort includes:
- System Optimization: Expert-level calibration of vacuum and voltage parameters.
- Operational Continuity: Rapid response corrective repairs and technical troubleshooting to minimize downtime and prevent the loss of irreplaceable research samples.
- Risk Management: A direct service pipeline to bypass the administrative and priority tier delays inherent in third-party service models.
- Full Lifecycle Support: Provision of all labor, travel, and genuine OEM parts necessary to keep the instrument in peak operational condition for the duration of the performance period.
The agency expects that this contract results in a "zero-lag" service environment, ensuring the ECP can meet all internal and partner research deadlines with high-confidence analytical data.
All work to be performed as described by the manufacturer's maintenance manuals and technical bulletins and in accordance with the Statement of Work (SOW).
The service included in the service contract, such as performance maintenance or repair calls, must be fulfilled by a Thermo Fisher Scientific technician due to proprietary software, parts, and training. Thermo Fisher Scientific is the uniquely qualified source to provide these services. While third-party aggregators (such as Remi or CenMed) offer service contracts as 3rd party intermediaries, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center has determined these alternatives are incapable of meeting the government's minimum requirements for the following reasons:
- Service Priority and Latency: Market research and past performance have demonstrated that third-party vendors are treated as the lowest priority for service scheduling. This creates an unacceptable gap between the failure of the instrument and the arrival of a technician.
- Administrative and Technical Latency: The use of a third-party intermediary introduces an additional layer of bureaucracy that has historically delayed the initiation of service requests. The requirement for a third-party contract specialist to authorize and coordinate with OEM technicians creates a bottleneck. For an instrument as sensitive as the IRMS where vacuum seals or voltage instabilities can worsen if not addressed immediately this administrative lag is unacceptable and poses a risk of further damage to the system.
- Proprietary Diagnostic Access: The Delta V Advantage IRMS utilizes proprietary diagnostic software and firmware. While third-party companies may attempt to sub-contract Thermo technicians, they do not possess the direct, seamless integration into Thermo's service. Direct OEM support ensures that the ECP has immediate access to the most recent firmware updates, engineering bulletins, and specialized parts inventories that are not guaranteed through third-party "pass-through" contracts.
The Delta V Advantage IRMS is an ultra-sensitive analytical platform that operates under extreme physical parameters, including high-vacuum environments and precise voltage regulations. Thermo Fisher Scientific is the sole provider capable of meeting the agency's requirements due to the following:
- Proprietary Technical Data: As the OEM, Thermo Fisher Scientific maintains exclusive rights to the proprietary diagnostic software, internal schematics, and specialized engineering protocols required for the Delta V Advantage.
- Specialized Expertise: Maintenance requires specialized factory training that is not available in the general commercial market. Only OEM-certified engineers possess the specific technical competencies to calibrate the system to the sensitivity levels required for the ECP's research.
- Risk Mitigation: Utilizing a third-party provider lacks the assurance of proprietary diagnostic tools, which increases the risk of prolonged downtime and potential damage to the sensitive electronics of the $400,000 system. In the past, working with third party companies like CenMed and Remi, has resulted in our requirements being treated as a low priority. This has led to extended instrument downtime and has prevented us from meeting our contractual obligations.
While third-party service aggregators (e.g., Remi, CenMed) exist within the marketplace, they are not technically capable of meeting the agency's "level of quality" due to service priority and latency, administrative and technical latency, and proprietary diagnostic access. Refer to Market Research Documentation for more details.
The applicable Size Standard is North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 811219 with a Small business size standard of $22M.
This Sole Source Determination is based on NOAA's requirement that Thermo Electron is the only Vendor that provides the required services.
Tasks
Annual Preventative Maintenance (PM): The contractor shall perform one (1) scheduled on-site preventative maintenance visit per contract year. The result of this task is a certified verification that the Delta V Advantage IRMS is operating within the OEM performance specifications.
Requirement: The contractor must inspect, clean, and replace wearable components (e.g., filaments, seals, or vacuum oil) per OEM service protocol.
Outcome: A comprehensive service report detailing the "as-found" and "as-left" status of the instrument, confirming vacuum integrity and voltage stability.
On-Site Corrective Repair and Emergency Service
In the event of an instrument failure or performance degradation, the contractor shall provide priority on-site corrective service.
Requirement: Provide all labor, travel, and genuine OEM replacement parts to restore the instrument to full operational status.
Response Priority: The contractor must provide the highest tier of service priority, ensuring scheduling is not delayed by third-party administrative processes.
Outcome: Restoration of the IRMS to a state of high-precision data collection with minimal downtime.
Priority Technical Support and Diagnostics
The contractor shall provide unlimited access to OEM-level technical support via telephone or secure remote diagnostic platforms.
Requirement: Support must be provided by engineers specialized in Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry, covering hardware, software, and firmware optimization.
Outcome: Immediate resolution of minor technical issues that do not require an on-site visit, thereby maintaining continuous mission readiness.
Logistical Support and Loaner Equipment
In the event of extensive repairs, the contractor shall coordinate logistics and provide coverage for the transport of specialized components or the provision of loaner equipment.
Requirement: When an "in-shop" repair is necessitated by the complexity of the failure, the contractor shall coordinate return shipping and provide limited coverage for rental/loaner units to bridge the gap in laboratory capabilities.
Outcome: Prevention of total laboratory work stoppage during long-lead repair events.
Period of performance is Date of Award through 3 years.
This service will be performed at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd. E., Seattle 98112
**THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS SYNOPSIS. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.
