Repair and Installation services for the Heat Exchanger System on a Bruker 9.4 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisitions intends to solicit by requesting quotation from Bruker BioSpin Corporation for award on or around September 2, 2026. The purpose of this acquisition will be to provide the “Repair And Installation Services For The Heat Exchanger System On A Bruker 9.4 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) System” owned and operated by the Neuroimaging Research Branch (NRB) of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Intramural Research Program (IRP).

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 3204(a)(1) and in accordance with RFO 6.103-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

NIDA IRP requires repair parts and installation services for the Triple Loop Heat Exchanger System on NIDA IRP's Bruker 9.4 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) system. The Neuroimaging Research Branch (NRB) within NIDA IRP operates a 9.4 Tesla MRI scanner dedicated to addiction research. The heat exchanger system, a critical component of the scanner, has recently failed. Although a temporary workaround has been implemented by us, it is not a reliable long-term solution and could fail at any time. Failure to permanently resolve this issue poses a significant risk of a magnet quench, which could result in catastrophic damage to the MRI system.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS:

NIDA IRP requires a Bruker triple-loop heat exchanger; delivery of parts, installation and setup; 12-month warranty.

Salient characteristics: NIDA requires a Triple-loop Heat Exchanger System with the following brand-name or equal salient characteristics:

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  • Interface with existing scanner software control;
  
  
  • Use existing building water supply;
  
  
  • Interface with the magnet cryomech system, gradient and shim coil cooling system
  
  
  • Ensure stable cryomech working conditions.
  
  
  • The Magnet pressure must stabilize at 1040 mbar;
  
  
  • Sufficient cooling to the gradient and shim system so that the temperature in these systems do not exceed specified ranges, i.e. do not trigger over temperature protection, using current demanding scan methods (echo-planer imaging).
  
  
  • All replacement parts furnished must be new, unused, OEM parts manufactured or authorized by Bruker Corporation. Refurbished, remanufactured, or third-party equivalent parts will not be accepted.
  
  
  • Installation must be performed by technicians who are certified by Bruker Corporation to service the 9.4 Tesla MRI Heat Exchanger System.
  
  
  • All work must be performed in a manner that preserves and does not void the current manufacturer's warranty on the MRI system.
  
  
  
  

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Bruker Biospin Corporation is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the services required by NIDA.

In accordance with RFO part 10, market research was conducted to reach this determination. Only one vendor was identified that could manufacture and provide the required compatible parts and services for the existing system. Therefore, only Bruker BioSpin Corporation is capable of meeting the needs of this requirement.

The intended source is:

Bruker BioSpin Corporation

15 Fortune Drive

Billerica, MA 01821

United States of America

CLOSING STATEMENT

THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. FAR clauses 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items and 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items apply to this acquisition.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, 75N98026Q00967. Responses must be submitted electronically to Joshua Lazarus at josh.lazarus@nih.gov U.S. Mail and Fax responses will not be accepted.