Agilent/BioTek Instrument Maintenance

What the buyer is asking for

1.0 DESCRIPTION This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Offers are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation No. 75N98026Q01228 is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for Agilent/BioTek Instrument Maintenance. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), intends to procure, on a sole source basis, maintenance and calibration services for Agilent/BioTek temperature- and air-controlled automated microscopy systems from the manufacturer, Agilent Technologies Inc. The NIDDK utilizes highly specialized Agilent/BioTek temperature- and air-controlled automated microscopy systems to support high-throughput sickle cell disease drug discovery. These instruments operate continuously and generate large volumes of imaging data used to identify and evaluate potential therapeutic compounds. Due to the complexity and continuous operation of these systems, routine preventative maintenance and calibration are required to maintain proper functionality, performance, and reliability and to support the integrity of the imaging data generated during ongoing research activities. The Government intends to procure a maintenance service plan on a sole-source basis from Agilent Technologies Inc. The required services include preventative maintenance and calibration performed by qualified personnel in accordance with manufacturer specifications; unlimited telephone support for hardware, software, and instruments; repair services performed by Agilent Certified Engineers; labor and travel costs associated with services performed at the National Institutes of Health; consumables required for repairs and preventative maintenance; Agilent Certified Parts; one preventative maintenance visit per year for each instrument; applicable instrument updates provided during the preventative maintenance visit; and the Agilent service guarantee. The contractor shall perform scheduled preventative maintenance and calibration, including inspection, cleaning, adjustment, and performance verification to ensure proper operation of the equipment. The NIDDK conducted market research to identify potential sources capable of meeting the Government's technical and operational requirements. Based on the market research conducted, Agilent Technologies Inc. was the only source identified as capable of providing the complete combination of manufacturer-specific maintenance, calibration, repair, technical support, certified personnel, certified parts, consumables, instrument updates, and service guarantee required for the Agilent/BioTek systems. The required maintenance and calibration services require specialized knowledge of the equipment and access to manufacturer-defined procedures, proprietary diagnostics and software tools, manufacturer-approved parts, and applicable calibration protocols. Agilent provides manufacturer-compliant service using Agilent Certified Engineers and Agilent Certified Parts and is able to provide the required preventative maintenance, calibration, repair, technical support, and service guarantee. Use of non-authorized service providers may result in improper calibration, reduced instrument performance, and potential data integrity issues. Accordingly, based on the market research conducted, Agilent Technologies Inc. was the only source identified as capable of satisfying the Government's requirements. The contractor shall provide a firm-fixed-price maintenance service plan for the Agilent/BioTek temperature- and air-controlled automated microscopy systems identified in the Government's requirement. The contractor shall provide preventative maintenance and calibration services in accordance with manufacturer specifications and shall perform one preventative maintenance visit…