Nikon NiE Motorized Upright Microscope Body +300 Watt Xenon Light Source Notice of Intent The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with Nikon Instruments, Incorporated for the purchase of a new NiE Microscope Body and 300 Watt Xenon Light source for the existing Nikon E-800 research microscope that is currently being used in the EPA¿s National Health & Environmental Effects Research (NHEERL) Laboratory. This procurement for the Nikon E-800 microscope is recommended to be processed without full and open competition. The circumstances permitting ¿other than full and open competition¿ at this time is FAR 13.501(a), ¿sole source¿. The Nikon E-800 research microscope that is currently being used in NHEERL¿s laboratory to study nanoparticles has a number of limitations which impedes research efforts. The body of the microscope being replaced will correct these problems and deficiencies. The replacement equipment will be compatible with the objectives cameras, light source, and stage. Since NHEERL is currently using objectives and parts from the existing Nikon microscope, which are not exchangeable with another brand of microscope, the equipment must be bought from Nikon Instruments. The NiE Nikon body must be compatible with the current E-800 microscope parts which include the following: objectives, xenon light source Prior automatic stage and Lightform PARISS microspectrophometer equipment, Sola fluorescent light source and Nikon Elements. Nikon Instruments will be responsible for setting up the new microscope parts and equipment onto the new NiE microscope body that is currently located at the EPA-RTP. Nikon must insure that all new components are properly integrated with the current E-800 components, work properly together so there is spectral registration & field illumination, and increased power and efficiency in the optical system. Therefore, EPA believes Nikon Instrument, Inc. is the only vendor capable of providing the above referenced microscope body and parts designed to be used with the existing Nikon E-800 research microscope currently located at the EPA NHEERL laboratory. The circumstance permitting is FAR 6.302-1 ¿Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements¿. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required services should fully explain their capabilities and qualifications in writing within 10 days from the date of this announcement and provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. The intent of this notice is to determine if any other source(s) exist, and therefore, no solicitation is available. Consequently, anyone failing to provide the aforementioned and instead chooses to merely submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the statement of work or more information about the project will be ignored. The information received to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Please submit response to Judy Ancharski at
[email protected] or to the U.S. EPA, Attn: Judy Ancharski (AA-005), RTP Procurement Operations Division, 109 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. No telephone or faxed requests will be honored.