SPT Labtech Limited procurement of annual service contract for two (2) Firefly Instruments

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE **NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

NOI-NIAID-25-2261484

NAICS – 811210

This is a Notice of Intent, not a request for proposal. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competition basis with SPT Labtech Limited to procure the renewal of an annual service contract for two (2) Firefly instruments utilized by the Vaccine Research Center located in Bethesda, MD.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Vaccine Research Center (VRC) Viral Persistence and Dynamics Section (VPDS) is a biological science lab that works to understand the persistence of HIV and other viruses in vivo by developing and applying advanced sequencing and other technologies, primarily through the assay of molecular characteristics of viruses. To accomplish this, a specialized instrument is used to assay interactions and responses to vaccines and vaccine-related products. This instrument is the Firefly® manufactured by SPT Labtech Limited. This requirement is to facilitate the renewal of a service contract for the Firefly instrument, as only manufacturer of this instrument can provide the ongoing service and maintenance. The laboratory develops tests that assist in pathologic diagnosis and identify potential targets for vaccine candidates. Use of alternate products/services/service providers could negatively impact the manner in which samples are processed and analyzed. Additionally, use of a different product/service/service provider other than the one requested would require testing by lab personnel and would introduce unacceptable variables during research trials. This brand name equipment/products are embedded into the several research programs, protocols, and laboratory processes of the lab. To have successful research results, methods and parameters must be consistent. Any changes during the study are unacceptable and may render years of existing data invalid. Salient requirements must be maintained and utilizing any alternative that would jeopardize these rare samples and/or cause research/data to be corrupted/destroyed is unacceptable. Considering the human life aspect of this research, the risk is too high, thus is has been determined that only one brand-name source and no other brands or services will satisfy agency requirements.

The statutory authority for this sole source requirement is 41 U.S.C. 1901 (a) (1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1 only one responsible source and no other supply of service will satisfy agency requirements. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. All responsible sources that could provide comparable services may submit a capability statement. All required documents must be submitted via the NIAID electronic Simplified Acquisition Submission System (eSASS) website at https://esass.nih.gov by May 18, 2025 at 5:00 pm ET. All vendors must register in the eSASS system to submit their documentation. Instructions on how to register /submit documents are included on the website. All responses received by the closing date of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.