The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, with The Smithsonian Institute, Office of Sponsored Projects, 750 9th Street N.W., Suite 9200, Washington, DC 20560 to perform careful and detailed fish vouchering services to verify and validate the taxonomic identification of aquatic vertebrates from samples collected in U.S. western streams and rivers and to preserve portions of the samples as permanent archival records for future reference and use in a scientific/fish museum (assuming 5 voucher samples per site and a maximum of 117 sites or 585 samples)) for the current period ending 09/30/02 and two remaining 12 month option periods. The Smithsonian currently provides these samples under a valid purchase order and the additional samples would allow for a uniform presentation of data to complete on-going tasks. The Smithsonian has historical experience in providing this service and continued support will ensure consistency and comparability of samples. EPA believes that the Smithsonian is the only vendor capable of satisfying the requirements stated above. The circumstance permitting "Other than Full and Open Competition" 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 15 days from the date of this announcement. Interested parties shall: 1) include information on the proposed services which clearly supports the requirements outlined above; 2) provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. The intent of this synopsis is to determine if any source(s) exist, and therefore, no solicitation (RFQ) is available. Consequently, any response(s) failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing to merely submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ will be ignored. Submit response to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP Procurement Operations Division (E105-02), Attn: Robin S. Harris, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored. Email address:
[email protected]. Any information must be received by 12:00 PM on September 20, 2002. If no affirmative responses are received by the deadline to determine whether a qualified source is more advantageous to the Government, the current purchase order with the Smithsonian will be modified.