66 -- Instruments & Laboratory Equipment

This notice announces the General Services Administration, Federal Supply Service, General Products Acquisition Center, intent to solicit offers under Solicitation 7FCM-H6-04-0873-B, covering Worldwide Multiple Award Federal Supply Schedule FSC Group 873 for Laboratory Testing and Analysis Services effective 1/15/04. This solicitation will be available electronically only and no paper copies will be issued. Interested parties may access the solicitation at www.fedbizopps.gov. Search using Solicitation Number 7FCM-H6-04-0873-B (include the dashes). The products or groups addressed in this solicitation are Special Item Numbers (SIN) 873-1 Mechanical testing and Analysis Services, SIN 873-2 Chemical Testing and Analysis Services, 873-3 Electrical Testing and Analysis Services, 873-4 Geotechnical and Thermal/Fire Testing and Analysis Services, and, 873-99 Introduction of New Testing and Analysis Services. This solicitation has been prepared in accordance with FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items which implements Title VIII of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act (FASA) of 1994 (Public Law 103-355), the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-106), and the final rule, published as General Services Administration Acquisition Regulation (GSAM) Change 76, regarding commercial item acquisitions under Multiple Award Schedule Program. The contract format and data requirements in this solicitation differ from previous solicitations. Offerors are strongly encouraged to carefully review the entire solicitation package before submission to ensure compliance with commercial item provisions. This is a standing solicitation with no closing date for receipt of offers. This solicitation will remain in effect until it is replaced by another refreshed solicitation. The Federal Supply Schedule period is continuous and will contain contracts with periods that commence on the date of award (DOA) and expire five years (exclusive of any options) from the DOA unless further extended pursuant to any option to extend the term of the contract, or cancelled sooner. This solicitation contains an option clause, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Evergreen), which allows the Government to extend the contract three additional five-year periods, not to exceed a total of twenty years. All contracts will be indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contracts with a $2500 guaranteed minimum for the contract period. All contracts to be awarded include Industrial Funding Fee provisions. The Trade Agreements clause applies to this solicitation. Small Business Set-Aside provisions are addressed in the individual product/services attachments to the solicitation. A signed/dated original and one copy of the basic solicitation and all applicable exhibits/attachments must be submitted.