66--Notice of Intent to Sole Source Automatic Spiral Plating System

The U.S. EPA intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b), with Advanced Instruments, Inc. to purchase two AP-5000 Automatic Spiral Plating Systems, 1 Color Q-Count Automatic Colony Counter and 1 Spiral Biotech Q-Count ColorCount Software, Installation, Training and Set-up. The nature of the acquisition requires a vendor that possesses the unique capabilities of supplying an automatic bench-top spiral plating system with a wide bore stylus (1 mm) to accommodate potential spore agglomerates in our solutions. The required system shall also have a range of at least 2 to 1,000,000 cfu/mL without manual dilutions and be able to achieve at least a 4-log reduction on each plate. It shall have an automated sterilization bleach-based cleaning sequence specifically for gram positive bacterial spores so cross contamination between plates is not an issue; and a method by which system performance and plate accuracy can be validated and monitored in-house. This procurement will be accomplished under FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13 Procedures. Interested firms may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirements. THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETATIVE QUOTATIONS. Any firm that is capable of meeting EPA's requirement as set forth above may submit a response; which, if received within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date of this announcement, will be reviewed for consideration. A determination not to compete the described requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Responses to this posting must be submitted via the FedConnect website at https://www.fedconnect.net. Mail, fax, phone and email submissions shall not be accepted. One or more of the items under this acquisition is subject to Free Trade Agreements. EPA anticipates that award will be made by February 13, 2015.