J--MAINTENANCE ON PLASMA ETCHER

NASA/GRC has a requirement for a 1-year preventive maintenance contract on STSystems Multiplex ICP plasma etcher.NASA/GRC intends to purchase the items from ST Systems, Inc. The ST plasma etcher is acomplex system containing components, software and firmware of proprietary design. Because this proprietary information is necessary to perform the required maintenance onGRC existing ST plasma etcher, ST systems is the only company that can perform thisservice.The Government intends to acquire a commercial item using FAR Part 12.The sole source is under the authority of FAR reference 13.106-1(b)(1), only oneresponsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.This procurement is being conducted under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures in FARPart 13.Organizations that believe they are capable of performing the described work may submittheir capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identifiedpoint of contact not later than 4:30pm EST on 5/16/2008.Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determiningwhether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination bythe Government not to compete this proposed effort on a full and open competition basis,based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the government.Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice.An Ombudsman has been appointed. See NASA Specific Note "B".Any referenced notes may be viewed at the following URLs linked below.http://genesis.gsfc.nasa.gov/nasanote.html