Notice of Intent to Sole Source Hamilton Company

This notice announces the intent by the U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) in support of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR) and the Bacterial Disease Branch’s (BDB), Multidrug-Resistant Organism Repository and Surveillance Network (MRSN) to procure pipette tips that will be used on exisitng equipment without competition as prescribed in FAR 13.106. Specifically, the Government will procure these items manufactured by Hamilton Company.Only Hamilton consumables are interoperable with the automated liquid handlers currently used. These consumables are exclusive to the instruments, and vice versa. No other pipette tips will work with the existing equipment. These consumables will continue an efficient and effective workflow without cross-contamination. Only the Hamilton Company can provide the items that meet the Government’s requirement and no other company will be able to provide these items. The Government has invested significant time and

resources for the existing equipment that would not be recouped if the Government were to compete the pipettes and buy all new equipment.If this requirement is not awarded for Hamilton Company pipette tips, the staff of the MRSN within the BDB will not be able to perform the tasks required by WRAIR and the U.S. Army Medical Research Development Command (USAMRDC). Consumables from a different supplier would not work with the existing instruments and ongoing tasks would be halted, stopping the identification and cataloguing of pathogens involved in ongoing outbreaks. Without the work of the MRSN, infected Soldiers cannot receive the fast and precise treatment they require. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for this requirement is 334516 and FSC 6640. This announcement fulfills the synopsis requirements under FAR 5.102(a)(6) and 5.203(a). USAMRAA intends to publish a solicitation no sooner than 15 days after publishing this synopsis. This Special Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotes. Information received in response to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government. If no written responses are received by the date listed below, which reflects at least fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice, the solicitation will be issued as brand name sole source only. All questions and responses concerning this notice shall be emailed to James Cheng at james.cheng1.civ@mail.mil. Interested concerns must identify their capability in writing to the above email address listed above no later than 2:00 PM ET, 4 June 2020.