BLM-NML - Scanning Electron Microscope

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BLM-National Minerals Lab - Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) - Source Sought

Purpose: This is a sources sought notice for the purpose of conducting market research. Proposals are NOT being requested, nor accepted at this time. Responses are being requested from both large and small businesses. The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge regarding the type of interested businesses and their qualifications. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will use information obtained through this notice to develop an acquisition strategy. The government anticipates conducting a competitive acquisition for this requirement. The amount of interest or lack thereof will determine the possibility of a small business or other socio-economic small business set-aside for the solicitation. Quality of responses received will be considered when making any small business set-aside determinations for this requirement. Cost Reimbursement: Response to this announcement is strictly voluntary; no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests.

Solicitation: The BLM anticipates issuing a request for proposal toward the end of the 3rd qtr. or early 4th qtr. The proposed price will need to be valid through the end of the fiscal year for last minute funding if it becomes available. Note, this procurement is currently not funded. The Government bears no liability for your costs or time in preparing a response to this notice or a subsequent solicitation.

Background: The scanning electron microscope (SEM) in the BLM National Minerals Testing Laboratory (BLM-NMTL), a national asset, performs elemental dispersive x-ray analyses for the Bureau States Solid Minerals program and other programs when possible. A single test from an outside commercial laboratory can cost upwards of $1500.00 per single analysis, or more. The BLM-NMTL will perform multiple analyses, as many analyses as are needed, on a set of samples. The BLM-NMTL will perform these analyses and variations of them as many times as is necessary to provide the data for administrative managing of subject lands. The SEM is critical in the production and delivery of these analyses for a multitude of reasons for submitting Bureau States such as: administrative records documentation of project area surface mineral stability before and after surface disturbance, preparation for litigation, production verification from mining companies or gravel operations, assistance with management decisions for resource programs, examinations for valid existing rights, common-uncommon variety determinations, and other management questions.

Current Device: The 2010 Tescan Vega LMU III SEM has reached End of Life (EOL) due to age, advancements in technology surrounding the analytical processes that the SEM is used for and those technologies have advanced beyond capabilities to expand or update this machine. Replacement parts are scarce as well as service. This machine will be offered for trade-in.

New Device: The BLM plans to replace and upgrade the 2010 Tescan Vega LMU III SEM fitted with a single external elemental dispersive x-ray detector (EDS) with a new Variable Pressure FE-SEM for Automated Mineral Analysis (SEM) fitted with at least 2 EDS detectors and a cathode luminescence detector or a microscope As an option the SEM should be able to be fitted with 3 EDS detectors and no cathode luminescence detector.

Sources Sought: If you manufacture or sell these devices with the capabilities described above, along with the installation, training, warranty and support services necessary to support such a device, we would like to hear from you. Please email the POC with your interest, capabilities and product descriptions. Please include your SAM Unique Entity Identifier, socioeconomic status and contact information.

POC: Contracting Specialist Robert Hall - rhall@blm.gov - 762-329-0002

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