Opportunity: Notice of Intent to Sole Source/Sources Sought to

In accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, the Department of Energy (DOE), National Energy Technical Laboratory (NETL) intends to award a purchase order on a sole source basis to Oregon State University (OSU) for Electron Microscope Facility access. This is considered a sole source to OSU because, to the best of the NETL’s knowledge, based on market research conducted, OSU is the only known source that can provide open (contract for hire) access to their Electron Microscope Facility and usage of their Scanning Electron Microscope with Focused Ion Beam (SEM FIB) and are located within 25 miles of the NETL Albany site (1450 Queen Avenue SW, Albany 97321). NETL requires usage of the Electron Microscope Facility which will be done by NETL employees and they will work congruently with trained staff. The equipment most likely to be utilized for this work of analyzing alloy cross-sections without the need for mechanical polishing will be the Helios dual beam FIB. No known potential alternate sources exist which could satisfy NETL's requirement for this specific equipment, a facility that allows for external users, and that is located near the NETL Albany site. 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 5:30 PM ET on March 21, 2016. Responses must be submitted in writing to the purchasing agent, Lora Stumpf, via email at stumpf@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.