Notice of Intent to Sole Source - Tescan Vega Scanning Electron Microscope

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to award a sole source firm fixed price purchase order to Tescan USA for a Tescan Vega LMS SingleVac Tungsten Filament SEM. The purpose of this contract is to provide equipment for the Miner health and safety branches. The miner safety branch will currently be utilizing this microscope for corrosion and backfill studies as a part of the Managing Ground Support for Long-term Stability project. This new microscope and software will be able to provide high resolution images to analyze corrosion mechanisms, as well as identify corrosion products with the EDS detector. Particle size distribution analysis can be performed with the microscope and the desired software, which is very important for backfill studies and safety. The miner health branch can use this microscope to image their nanoparticle work, as well as analyze products deposited on filters for respirable hazard studies. Other SEMs offer similar magnification abilities, but the wide field imaging is unique to the Tescan Vega. Other Vendors do sell SEMs, but lack the capabilities of the Tescan Vega. Beyond the necessity of the wide field optics, acquiring a newer Tescan SEM would prevent data loss for current and prior projects. This contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (SAP) and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within seven (7) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the government. 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. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any quotation/response should be emailed to contract specialist at [email protected] by COB 27 March 2023.