Maintenance Agreement for Hamilton STAR Instrument

FBO ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESOLICITATION NOTICE, NOTICE OF INTENT

ACTION CODE: SPECIAL NOTICE

SUBJECT: Sole source - Maintenance Agreement for Hamilton STAR Instrument

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB644040-25-01384

RESPONSE DATE: 5/27/25

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) Biosystems and Biomaterials Division (BBD) has a requirement for preventive maintenance and repair services for a Hamilton Company automated liquid handler laboratory instrument and associated instruments functioning as an integrated automation system for bioassays and cell culture. This system is used in preparing multi-well culture plates for combinatorial cell culture experiments, gene editing experiments (i.e. transfection, DNA extraction) and protein-based assays.

The maintenance agreement(s) will ensure that the measurements carried out by BBD using the Hamilton STAR Plus Automated Liquid Handler are reliable, reproducible, and of sufficient quality to meet the needs of BBD’s stakeholders.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (1), with the Hamilton Company located in Reno NV to maintain this equipment.

Sole Source justification is based on the following:

Market research has shown that the Hamilton Company is the sole company who can provide this authorized equipment maintain for NIST and has provide the following justification in writing.

Hamilton Company is the sole source provider for replacement parts, proprietary software upgrades, Hamilton factory trained and authorized service representatives, Hamilton Service Agreements and is the sole contact for escalation and services on the Microlab platforms STARTM, NIMBUS and VANTAGE. These services include factory expertise and possible replacement of major components if deemed necessary by Hamilton Company.

NAICS code for this requirement will be 811210– Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a small business size of $34.0M.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by 1:00AM EST on 5/27/25 will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Inquiry POCs

Erik.Fycklund@nist.gov Primary

Donald.Graham@nist.gov Secondary

National Institutes of Standards and Technologies NIST Acquisition Management Division (AMD)

100 Bureau Dr. Mail Stop 1640

Gaithersburg, MD. 20899-1640