--Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Contract Chemical Abstract Services

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Acquisition Management (OAM) on behalf of the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) Economics, Exposure and Technology Division (EETD) intends to award a sole source follow-on contract to Chemical Abstract Services (CAS) under FAR Part 15, Negotiated Contracts, pursuant to FAR Part 6.302-1 (current contract EP-W-06-011). The contract will provide chemical expertise to support OPPT in making chemical identity determinations required to support the implementation of the Premanufacture Notification review mandated under Section 5(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) as well as development/update of the TSCA Chemical Substances Inventory. Section 8(b) of TSCA requires EPA to compile an inventory of commercial chemicals in the United States. The initial TSCA inventory was developed by CAS under contract with EPA. Under this contract, CAS developed a chemical nomenclature to enable EPA to systematically identify each commercial chemical reported in the inventory and to be able conduct computerized searches of the chemicals in the inventory. CAS is the world?s authority in chemical information and is the sole provider for CAS Registry Numbers and CAS nomenclature. For the TSCA Inventory to grow without major disruptions, it is critical to continue the use of CAS nomenclature for the identification of chemicals reported under TSCA. The EPA intends to award a contract with a one-year base period and the potential for four one-year option periods for a total potential period of performance of five years. It is anticipated the base period of performance will begin on January 1, 2013 and go through December 31, 2013. NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PROCUREMENT. It has been determined that CAS is the only source that meets the Government's requirements. Notwithstanding, any firm that believes it is capable of meeting EPA's requirement as stated herein, may submit its capability by 4:00 PM on Thursday, October4, 2012, which may be considered by the Government. A determination not to conduct a competitive acquisition based upon the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All questions or comments regarding this procurement shall be addressed in writing to Christine Edwards at [email protected].