This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area Office is issuing this Sources Sought notice as a means of conducting market research to identify any potential sources capable of providing an annual service contract for Gas Chromatographs with Flame Ionization Detectors (GC-FIDs) that are currently in use at the Grand forks Human Nutrition Research Center (GFHNRC) in Grand Forks, ND. The GFHNRC requires a maintenance program for THERMO Trace GC-FID’s that covers on-site repair services, travel, parts, labor, telephone support troubleshooting, etc. Maintenance shall include at least one scheduled annual preventative maintenance visit by a certified Field Service Engineer. Field Service Engineers must have completed Thermo Fisher’s factory training program for servicing Thermo Trace GD-FID instruments. The USDA intends to award one firm fixed-price contract for a base period of one year, plus two option periods of one (1) year each.
This notice does not constitute a Request for Quote (RFQ)/Invitation for Bid (IFB)/Request for Proposal (RFP) or a promise to issue an RFQ, IFB or RFP in the future. This notice does not commit the USDA to contract for any supply or service. Further, the U.S. Government is not seeking quotes, bids or proposals at this time and will not accept unsolicited proposals in response to this Sources Sought notice. The U.S. Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. Submittals will not be returned to the responder. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. However, if a competitive solicitation is released, it will be synopsized on the Governmentwide Point of Entry. It is the responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the Governmentwide Point of Entry for additional information pertaining to this requirement.
Capability Statement
Businesses that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this work should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer.
The capability statement should include:
- Name of the firm, point of contact, phone number, email address, SAM uei number, CAGE code, identify business size (large business or a small business), and if applicable, a statement regarding small business status (including small business type(s)/certifications(s) such as SDB, 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, etc.) and the corresponding NAICS code;
- Acknowledgement that they are able to provide the subject supplies/services being requested;
- Three previous requirements that are similar in scope and scope. Include a discussion of the Contract type, delivery method, duration, etc.;
- Identify any condition or action that may be having the effect of unnecessarily restricting competition with respect to this acquisition and identify alternatives or solution solutions. Provide the specific aspects that unreasonably restrict competition and the rationale for such conclusion;
- Any other information considered relevant to this requirement; and
- The government requests that no proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in the response.
Any vendor responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine their 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. After review of the responses received, a combined synopsis/solicitation may be published on sam.gov depending on the responses received.
All responses to this Sources Sought Notice must be received by the notice’s POC by the deadline to be considered. Responses may not be returned. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this Inquiry. Do not submit pricing information in response to this notice.
