BD FACSymphony A5

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Contract Opportunity

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 FACSymphony A5 Flow Cytometer.

Description of the Requirement

NIAMS requires a Base + Two Years service agreement providing remedial repair services and preventive maintenance for the BD FACSymphony A5 Flow Cytometer, Serial No. R66096400046. The service agreement is necessary to maintain the instrument's operational performance, reliability, and continued availability for research activities.

Contractor shall perform two (2) preventive maintenance inspections during each twelve-month period. Each inspection will evaluate instrument performance and provide calibrations, alignments, lubrication, and part replacement as necessary to maintain the instrument operation substantially in accordance with the published technical specifications for the instrument. Inspections must comply with Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) equipment manuals.

Contractor shall provide unlimited technical support (telephone) and service repairs at no additional cost to the Government. If technical support is unsuccessful, contractor shall provide a service technician on-site within 48 hours.

Contractor shall provide preventive maintenance, service repairs, and technical support between the hours of 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM, Bethesda, MD local prevailing time, Monday through Friday. Emergency service repairs and technical support must be provided as needed, based on MD local prevailing time, Monday through Friday, excluding BD Biosciences holidays.

Contractor shall provide OEM-certified parts for all preventive maintenance and service repairs, except for consumables and lasers, at no additional cost to the Government. Shipping and handling for parts under warranty or contract shall not be charged to the Government.

Contractor shall provide an OEM service technician to perform 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 Biosciences is the manufacturer of the FACSymphony A5 Flow Cytometer and is considered the sole source for the required service agreement. Maintaining the instrument through appropriate preventive maintenance and timely remedial repairs is essential to preserving its performance, minimizing equipment downtime, and ensuring the reliability and integrity of research data supporting approximately 75 users.

A service agreement with BD Biosciences is intended to support the continued operation of the instrument and minimize disruptions to NIAMS Intramural Research Program (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. 75N98027Q00036 in the subject line of the submission.

Primary Point of Contact

Carly Beadle

Email: carly.beadle@nih.gov

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