The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with Nikon Instruments, Incorporated for the purchase of a Nikon LU4A light source to maintain compatibility with the existing Nikon C1Si imaging system that is currently being used in the EPA¿s Environmental Public Health Division (EPHD) located at the U.S. EPA Human Studies Facility (HSF) in Chapel Hill, NC. This procurement for the Nikon LU4A light source 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 C1Si imaging system is currently being used at the EPA HSF to conduct research studies investigating the molecular basis of the health effects of exposure to environmental pollutants. The system is critical to the fulfillment of committed and planned cross-divisional efforts to develop predictive quantitative models of the mode of action of broad classes of environmental agents, e.g., analysis of oxidative stress, that can inform and reduce uncertainties associated with risk assessments leading to standard setting (NMP5 ACE 242, PEP1, PIP5 Phase 2). The existing monochromatic light source launch is outdated and incompatible with current system software. In order to restore functionality the existing Nikon LU4 light source launch must be replaced with an upgraded Nikon LU4A model for the instrument to retain its utility. Nikon Instruments, Inc. will be responsible for replacing the light source and integration with existing system and performance testing. The replacement light source launch must be fully compatible with all the hardware and software components that currently comprise the Nikon C1Si imaging system including 457.9, 476.5, 488 and 514.5 nm monochromatic light sources, Ti microscope and system software and computers. The replacement must include a compatible control card for the acoustic optical tunable filter (AOTF), connection cables and mounting adaptors. Therefore, EPA believes Nikon Instrument, Inc. is the only vendor capable of providing the above referenced light source designed to be used with the existing Nikon C1Si imaging system at the EPA HSF. 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 7 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 Marsha B. Johnson at
[email protected]. No telephone or faxed requests will be honored.