Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Mass Spectrometer Imaging Package

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Eastern Business Services Center (EBSC) intends to award a sole source procurement to:AB Sciex LLC1201 Radio RoadRedwood City, CA 94065-1217to provide a mass spectrometry imaging system for the USDA-ARS facilities in Ithaca, NY.The contractor is the sole manufacturer and authorized distributor of the required equipment. This imaging package is the only commercially available system that integrates the advantages of LCM image capture with an accurate mass, high resolution mass spectrometer equipped with differential ion mobility technology.Pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901, using SAP up to $7M as authorized by FAR 13.500(a) and implemented by FAR 13.501(a). The Government intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order on or about September 14, 2018. This Notice of Intent is not considered a Request for Quotation (RFQ) nor is it a Request for Proposal (RFP). No solicitation document is available and telephone requests will not be honored.Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The Government will consider all responses received by 1:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, September 21, 2018. Responses will only be accepted via email to the following address:Contracting Office Address:USDA-ARS-EBSCNick