Background
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is seeking to negotiate a sole source contract with Sartorius Corporation for preventive maintenance and verification services for three Octet RH96 instruments.
This contract aims to ensure the optimal functioning of these instruments, which are critical for HIV-1 vaccine immunogen design research.
Work Details
The contractor will provide a 12-month preventive service plan that includes: verification services for three Octet RH96 instruments, which entails checking required components, performance checks, power-on checks, reviewing device logs, software license checks, and evaluating potential issues with quotations for repairs.
The preventive service plan covers parts and labor for break/fix events, software upgrades where applicable, and two annual preventive maintenance visits per instrument. The contractor must provide comprehensive maintenance coverage including all labor associated with preventive maintenance and corrective/break-fix repair, OEM replacement parts, travel expenses for onsite service visits within the contiguous United States, software and firmware updates/upgrades, remote technical/application support, evaluation of potential issues with quotations for repairs outside covered services, and two scheduled onsite preventive maintenance visits per instrument per year.
Exclusions from coverage include damage caused by user misuse or third-party actions, use outside OEM specifications, support needs from non-OEM computers connected to the instrument, and relocation costs.
Period of Performance
December 1, 2026 through November 30, 2027
Place of Performance
Bethesda MD 20892 UNITED STATES
Bidder Requirements
The contractor must be OEM-authorized to provide service support for the Octet RH96 instruments. Only technicians certified by Sartorius are authorized to perform maintenance or repairs. The contractor must comply with NIH/HHS facility access requirements including background checks and visitor registration.
This is a Notice of Intent (NOI). This notice is published in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 5.102(a)(1) requiring the dissemination of information regarding proposed contract actions. This is a Notice of Intent to award a sole source, firm-fixed-price purchase order under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1), as implemented by FAR 5.101 and FAR 6.302 1, as only one responsible source is reasonably available.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competition basis with Sartorius Corporation, 545-1 Johnson Avenue, Bohemia, NY 11716, to provide verification services and a 12-month preventive service plan for three Sartorius Octet RH96 instruments.
The equipment to be serviced consists of the following:
- Octet instrument Serial No. FB-70621
- Octet instrument Serial No. FB-70620
- Octet instrument Serial No. FB-70173
The requirement includes three Octet 2nd Hand Instrument Verification services and three Octet RH96 Preventive Service Plans. The verification service includes verification of required components, performance check, power-on check, review of device logs, software license check, and evaluation of potential issues with quotation for repairs. Upon successful completion of verification, the preventive service plan will provide twelve (12) months of coverage, including parts and labor for break/fix events, software upgrades where applicable, and two annual preventive maintenance visits.
The period of performance is December 1, 2026 through November 30, 2027, once verifications are completed.
Services shall be performed in Bethesda, Maryland, at the Vaccine Research Center.
The Government requires OEM-authorized service support for these instruments. Sartorius uses factory-trained service engineers and application specialists and provides original spare parts, approved software support, and manufacturer-authorized maintenance procedures. As the original equipment manufacturer, Sartorius is uniquely qualified to perform the required verification, preventive maintenance, software support, and repair services necessary to maintain the instruments in optimal operating condition. Use of non-OEM service providers or non-original parts could compromise instrument performance, invalidate warranty or service coverage, and negatively affect the reliability and reproducibility of research data.
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811210, Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, which has a size standard of $34.0 million. Sartorius Corporation is understood to be an other than small business.
This will be the only notice of the Government's intent to solicit, negotiate, and award to one source to satisfy this requirement. The Government plans to award a contract for this requirement within 30 days of this notice.
While this synopsis does not constitute a solicitation, interested vendors may identify their interest and capability to satisfy this requirement. The Government understands that Sartorius Corporation is the only vendor that can provide the required OEM verification and preventive service support for these instruments. However, firms that believe they can provide the capability required to fully meet the Government's requirement may submit a capability statement, including past performance, in writing to the identified point of contact within fifteen (15) days after publication of this notice. Such documentation shall be used solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.
This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for any information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.
For additional information or to submit responses, please contact Linda Smith, Contracting Officer at linda.smith2@nih.gov and Danielle Tines, Procurement Technician at danielle.tines@nih.gov.
