Opportunity: SOLE SOURCE Annual Service Maintenance Agreement

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation 13.106-1(b)(1), the US Environmental Protection Agency intends to award a sole source fixed-priced Purchase Order. NO SOLICITATION OR REQUEST FOR QUOTE (RFQ) IS REQUIRED. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with JEOL USA, Inc.,for an Annual service contract for the JEOL JSM-6490LV Scanning Electron Microscope, the JEOL JSM-7600F Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope and the JEOL JEM 2100 (HT) Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope. This procurement is recommended to be processed without full and open competition. JEOL is the sole manufacturer and distributor of this instrumentation as well as the parts and products they support. JEOL, as the manufacturer of the instrumentation, has the capacity and accessibility to the engineering and electronic specifications to ensure accurate operation of their products. Therefore, EPA believes JEOL USA Inc., is the only vendor capable of providing the above referenced services. The circumstance permitting is FAR 6.302-1 "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements". All interested parties who believe they can provide the required services should fully explain their capabilities and qualifications in writing within 5 days from the date of this announcement and provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. The intent of this notice is to determine if any other source(s) exist, and therefore, no solicitation is available. Consequently, anyone failing to provide the aforementioned and instead chooses to merely submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the statement of work or more information about the project will be ignored. The information received to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Please submit response to Cheri Taylor at taylor.cheri@epa.gov or to the U.S. EPA, Attn: Cheri Taylor, US Environmental Protection Agency, One Sabine Island Drive, Gulf Breeze, FL 32561. No telephone or faxed requests will be honored.