Opportunity: Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Syringe Pumps

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Harvard Apparatus to purchase XTRA FORCE HIGH PRESSURE SYR PUMP-PC CONTROLLED, qty 2; HAPC-2: Controller populated with two Channel modules, qty 1; and RS-485 CABLE FOR PUMP-TO-PUMP COMMUNICATION: 2 METERS, qty 2. This pump and controller set will be used for several years to produce and to feed potassium-bearing emulsion to the combustor used in the MHD lab for plasma characterization and material performance/characterization. MHD experiments require smooth, precise delivery of potassium-bearing liquid "seed" to an operating fuel line at pressures up to 200 psi. The MHD combustion system must be able to run for hours at a time. This ensures data collection after the MHD combustion system reaches equilibrium; supports identification and minimization of signal noise in thermal, chemical, and electrical measurements of the system; and provides long term exposure to in situ MHD conditions for materials durability and characterization measurements. NETL is expanding its high-pressure syringe pump equipment to allow for continuous plasma runs. Currently, the MHD lab uses a Harvard Apparatus pump. The additional pumps should match the model currently in use by the MHD lab since NETL will be using Harvard Apparatus’ control-communication protocol. The Harvard Apparatus 70-3314 "XTRA FORCE HIGH PRESSURE, PC CONTROLLED" syringe pump has proven able to provide smooth, precise, liquid delivery at these pressures, but a single pump is unable to provide this flow continuously over hours (in cases where a rapid flow is required, the limit is less than 5 minutes). A matched set of pumps, joined by a common controller, is required to enable continuous flow. One pump fills while the other delivers fluid, and the flow rate in each case can be programmed so the net flow delivered remains at a given, steady, setpoint. By reversing direction, the seed fluid may also be "backed off" from the fuel mixing point when the fuel line must "run seedless" without inadvertent uptake of seed near the mixing point. A search for other high pressure syringe pumps shows no others have the volumetric capacity and pressure capability of the 70-3314. The 70-3314 has 1,000Ib linear force available, and so can drive two 200 ml syringes against that maximum pressure. Flow used to date can approach 270 ml/min. This is considered a sole source to Harvard Apparatus because, to the best of the NETL’s knowledge, based on market research conducted Harvard Apparatus is the only known source that can provide this type of product. No known potential alternate sources exist which could exactly satisfy NETL's requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for quote/proposal. Any interested party that believes it is capable of meeting the NETL requirement described herein may identify themselves and must provide evidence of their capability to fulfill the requirement being requested by 4:30 PM EST on May 21, 2024. Responses must be submitted in writing to the Contracting Specialist, Stefanie Page, via email at stefanie.page@netl.doe.gov no later than the time and date noted above. Telephone responses and requests will not be received. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.