NPGQC Microwave Waste Sterilization Maintenance

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ), National Plant Germplasm quarantine Center (NPGQC), Beltsville, MD intends to issue a sole source purchase order with Environmental Waste International for monthly maintenance, testing, certification, and a five year extended warranty to repair/replace the system's failed components to meet the original performance standards, for the Microwave Waste Sterilization System. This system sterilizes High Containment effluent that might be contaminated with exotic plant pathogens or Select Agents. The system, designed and built by EWI, is still the only current system in the United States utilizing microwave technology to deactivate Ag Select Agents. The system was designed specifically to meet USDA's requirements and it utilizes proprietary FS6000 EPROM cards, control circuits, and programmable logic controllers controlling 14 magnetrons. The required waste treatment preventive maintenance, repair, testing, and certification can only be accomplished by EWI, as other manufacturers do not offer similar microwave sterilization technology and are not capable of maintaining/repairing the unique waste sterilization system. The microwaves are generated by magnetrons with EWI' s patented proprietary modifications that boost the intensity of the microwave radiation and prevent the magnetrons from interfering with each other. EWI is the only company with the technical expertise to properly diagnosis microwave system malfunctions. This procurement is classified under NAICS code 562211 Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal. Currently the proposed contract action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 "Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements." However, interested sources that are capable of providing the equivalent supplies and services as listed above are encouraged to submit statements of capability to the contracting office. Small business concerns are encouraged to participate. This is not a request for competitive proposals, but instead a market research method to determine the validity of our sole source determination. A decision by the Government not to compete this requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. Please provide past performance and references regarding your ability to provide this supply and service along with your Statement of Capability. The Government will not award a contract based on the information received, nor reimburse participants for information they provide. Information provided is strictly voluntary. Please email Statements of Capability to Bob Zeglin ([email protected]). Telephone inquiries will not be honored.