Opportunity: Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Maintenance Ag

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) intends to award a purchase order, on a sole source basis, to RBD Instruments, Inc. to renew the annual service/maintenance agreement for Physical Electronics PHI SAM 590 and PHI 548 UHV Systems, for the contract period of September 16, 2016 to September 15, 2017. Maintenance includes one (1) on-site visit and unlimited technical support and factory repairs, not including factory repair of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) equipment or purchase of consumables. This is considered a sole source to RBD Instruments because, to the best of the NETL’s knowledge, based on market research conducted RBD Instruments is the only known source that can maintain the PHI UHV systems. The instruments contain proprietary hardware that can only be serviced by RBD Instruments. The instruments also utilize RBD designed software and that software is proprietary. The PHI systems are older and spare parts are not readily available. RBD Instruments maintains a complete line of spare parts and components as well as loaner equipment. No known potential alternate sources exist which could 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 4:00 PM ET on August 12, 2016. Responses must be submitted in writing to the Contract Specialist, Erin Kirchoff, via email at Erin.Kirchoff@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.