Procurement Technical Assistance Centers (PTACs) are an official government contracting resource for small businesses. Find your local PTAC (opens in new window) for free government expertise related to contract opportunities.

This pre-solicitation notice is in accordance with FAR 5.2, Synopses of Proposed Contract Action. The intent of this pre-solicitation notice is for informational purposes only. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Midwest Area (MWA) Administrative Office's Acquisition and Personal Property/Fleet on behalf of the USDA-ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) located at 1815 North University Street, Peoria, IL 61604 intends to award a firm fixed price, sole source Purchase Order to Agilent Technologies for the delivery, installation, and training of a Gas Chromatograph (GC) - Mass Spectrometry (MS) system. The anticipated period of performance is that delivery, installation, and training is to be provided within 120 days of award.

The proposed contract will be awarded using Simplified Acquisition and Sole Source Justification procedures citing the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 13.106-1(b)(1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. (i) Contracting Officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deems only one source reasonably available. The Sole Source Justification form is attached for reference.

The NAICS code for this requirement is 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. The PSC code for this requirement is 6640.

NO solicitation or solicitation package will be issued. This notice does NOT constitute an Invitation for Bids (IFB), a Request for Proposals (RFP) or Request for Quotes (RFQ) nor does it restrict the Government as to its ultimate acquisition approach. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice. No reimbursement to vendors for any costs associated with preparing or submitting a response to this notice will be provided.

However, all responsible sources, meeting the requirements included in the attached Specifications document, which, if received by or before 11:59 PM CT on Thursday, September 21, 2023 shall be considered by the Government. Any submission in response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence as well as be in sufficient enough detail to show that the vendor can meet the Government’s need and that competition would be advantageous to the Government. All responses include a vendor’s Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) and must be submitted via e-mail to the Government primary point of contact Aaron Dimeo at aaron.dimeo@usda.gov. NO phone calls will be accepted. The e-mail subject line shall include: 12505B23Q0372NOITSS.

Responses received shall be considered by the agency; however, determination by the Government whether or not to compete this proposed award upon response to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received by the date and time specified above, the contract will be awarded without further notice.