BD FACSMelody BRV

NOTICE OF INTENT – SOLE-SOURCE ACQUISITION

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order to BD Biosciences for a Base + Two Option Years service agreement on the BD FACSMelody BRV 9-Color Plate 4way Cell Sorter.

Description of the Requirement

NIAMS requires a Base + Two Option Years service agreement providing remedial repair services and preventive maintenance for the BD FACSMelody BRV 9-Color Plate 4way Cell Sorter, Serial No. R6538850040, located in Building 50, Bethesda, MD. The agreement covers the sorter, its three lasers, and one computer workstation (printers excluded). The service agreement maintains the instrument’s performance and availability for NIAMS Intramural Research Program (IRP) research. The base period is 01/05/2027 – 01/04/2028. Option Year 1 is 01/05/2028 – 01/04/2029, and Option Year 2 is 01/05/2029 – 01/04/2030.

The contractor shall perform one (1) preventive maintenance inspection during each twelve-month period, including one (1) preventive maintenance kit. The inspection will evaluate instrument performance and include cleaning, calibration, laser power checks, optical alignment, and part replacement as necessary to maintain the instrument substantially in accordance with its published technical specifications. Inspections must comply with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) equipment manuals.

The contractor shall provide unlimited telephone technical support and unlimited service visits at no additional cost to the Government. The contractor shall respond to a request for emergency onsite service within two (2) business days.

The contractor shall provide preventive maintenance, service repairs, and technical support between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, excluding BD holidays. Work outside these hours must be approved by both parties in advance.

The contractor shall provide OEM-certified parts for all preventive maintenance and service repairs, including the 405-45, 488-20, and 640-45 lasers, at no additional cost to the Government. Consumables are excluded. The contractor shall not charge the Government for shipping and handling of covered replacement parts. The contractor shall provide software updates released during the agreement term.

The contractor shall use OEM-certified, factory-trained technicians for all preventive maintenance inspections, service repairs, and technical support.

Justification for the Proposed Sole-Source Acquisition

The Government intends to solicit from a single source pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements.

BD is the manufacturer of the FACSMelody and is the only source the Government has identified for the required service agreement. The service requires OEM-certified technicians, BD parts, and BD software updates. Preventive maintenance and timely repair reduce equipment downtime and support the reliability of research data for approximately 110 users.

A service agreement with BD supports continued operation of the instrument and limits disruption to NIAMS IRP research activities.

Response Information

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations or proposals. However, interested parties that believe they can meet the Government's requirements may submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to provide the required preventive maintenance and remedial repair services for the specified instrument and meet all applicable technical and operational requirements.

The Government will review timely submissions to determine whether another responsible source is capable of satisfying the requirement and whether a competitive acquisition is appropriate.

The Government anticipates making an award approximately five (5) calendar days after the closing date of this notice, unless the Government determines that another responsible source can satisfy the requirement.

Capability statements must be submitted electronically to carly.beadle@nih.gov no later than 9:00 a.m. MST on November 13, 2026.

Please reference Notice No. 75N98027Q00051 in the subject line of the submission.

Primary Point of Contact

Carly Beadle

Email: carly.beadle@nih.gov