A -- Notice of Intent to Negotiate a Purchase Order with the Missouri Botanical Garden

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis under the authority of FAR 13.106(b)(1), with the Missouri Botanical Garden of Saint Louis, MO for the microscopy of Cranberry, Blueberry, and Soy Standard Reference Materials (SRM) and the voucher specimens from which the SRMs were prepared. NIST currently collaborates with other Federal Agencies, including NIH and FDA, on this project. Therefore, NIST is required to utilize the same source for consistency of data. Furthermore, all voucher specimens for this project will be housed at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The Government anticipates the award of a firm-fixed- price purchase order. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, companies that believe they can fulfill the requirement may provide a written response to this notice and provide evidence to substantiate that capability. A determination by the Government whether to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competition.