Notice of Intent to Sole Source special purpose laboratory equipment components

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) intends to procure components and accessories to brand name special purpose microscope configurations on a single Federal Supply Schedule delivery order (GSA). The Government plans to conduct an acquisition for Nikon SMZ18 Zoom Stereomicroscope, DS-Fi3-L4 CMOS Camera Sets, and Eclipse Ni-U Upright Microscope equipment under the authority of the Multiple-Award Schedule Program (FAR Part 8). The Nikon SMZ18 Zoom Stereomicroscope, DS-Fi3-L4 CMOS Camera Sets, and Eclipse Ni-U Upright Microscope are solely manufactured and distributed by Nikon Instruments, Inc., 1300 Walt Whitman Road, Melville, NY 11747. Nikon Instruments Inc. has exclusive rights and holds the patents on these instruments. The special purpose microscopes and camera set configurations, with the exception of the components and accessories listed in the attached justification (open market items), are available on Nikon Instruments, Inc.'s Federal Supply Schedule # GS07F078CA. For administrative convenience, an ordering activity contracting officer may add items not on the Federal Supply Schedule (also referred to as open market items) to a Federal Supply Schedule individual delivery order in accordance with FAR 8.402. See attached justification for other than full and open competition. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, all responsible sources may submit capability information/quotations which shall be considered by the agency. All inquiries and responses must be submitted to Lisa Draves by email at [email protected] no later than July 26, 2018. Information received will be considered soley for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement for the open market components and accessories listed in the attached justification.