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Contract Opportunity

BLM-NML - Scanning Electron Microscope - Sources Sought

Purpose: This is a sources sought notice update from a similar notice posted last year which was cancelled due to lack of funding. This year, we are starting earlier and with hopefully a better chance of funding. This notice is for the purpose of conducting market research. Proposals are NOT being requested, nor accepted at this time. Responses are being requested from both large and small businesses. The purpose of this notice is to gain knowledge regarding the type of interested businesses, their qualifications and the places these devices are manufactured. In accordance with the Buy American Act, the preference would be for a domestic source if available. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will use information obtained through this notice to develop an acquisition strategy. The government anticipates conducting a competitive acquisition for this requirement. The amount of interest or lack thereof will determine the possibility of a small business or other socio-economic small business set-aside for the solicitation along with a Buy American Act waiver. Quality of responses received will be considered when making any small business set-aside determinations for this requirement. Cost Reimbursement: Response to this announcement is strictly voluntary; no reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement or any follow-up information requests.

North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Small Business Size Standard: 1000 Employees

Solicitation: The BLM anticipates issuing a request for quotes toward the end of the 3rd qtr. or early 4th qtr with a short response time. The quoted price will need to be valid through the end of the fiscal year for last minute funding if it becomes available.

Background: The scanning electron microscope (SEM) in the BLM National Minerals Testing Laboratory (BLM-NMTL), a national asset, performs elemental dispersive x-ray analyses for the Bureau States Solid Minerals program and other programs when possible. A single test from an outside commercial laboratory can cost upwards of $1500.00 per single analysis, or more. The BLM-NMTL will perform multiple analyses, as many analyses as are needed, on a set of samples. The BLM-NMTL will perform these analyses and variations of them as many times as is necessary to provide the data for administrative managing of subject lands. The SEM is critical in the production and delivery of these analyses for a multitude of reasons for submitting Bureau States such as: administrative records documentation of project area surface mineral stability before and after surface disturbance, preparation for litigation, production verification from mining companies or gravel operations, assistance with management decisions for resource programs, examinations for valid existing rights, common-uncommon variety determinations, and other management questions.

Current Device: The 2010 Tescan Vega LMU III SEM has reached End of Life (EOL) due to age, advancements in technology surrounding the analytical processes that the SEM is used for and those technologies have advanced beyond capabilities to expand or update this machine. Replacement parts are scarce as well as service. This machine will be offered for trade-in.

New Device: The BLM plans to replace and upgrade the 2010 Tescan Vega LMU III SEM fitted with a single external elemental dispersive x-ray detector (EDS) with a new Variable Pressure FE-SEM for Automated Mineral Analysis (SEM) fitted with at least 2 EDS detectors and a cathode luminescence detector or a microscope that meets or exceeds the TIMA's capabilities. As an option the SEM should be able to be fitted with 3 EDS detectors and no cathode luminescence detector.

Response Requested: Please email your contact info, SAM UEI, capability narrative and a relevant product brochure including the place of manufacture to the POC listed below.

POC: Contracting Officer Robert Hall - rhall@blm.gov - 762-329-0002

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