NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE

Description of supply or service required to meet the agency’s needs:

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), State office of Virginia Soils Division, desires to purchase a Retsch Grinding Mill with accessories to conduct various laboratory and field analyses and studies associated with the soil’s disciplines in support of the Natural Resource Conservation Service mission. To this end, equipment and supplies are required to safely conduct these studies and experiments. As part of the mid infra-red spectroscopy (MIR) analysis pilot project the Southeast Region seeks to purchase a Retsch MM200 grinding mill for use at the Richmond field offices. MIR allows rapid determination of many soil properties without wet chemistry methods, making MIR technology an excellent fit for field office laboratories. For a field office to use MIR calibration models prepared from the Nation Soil Survey Center (NSSC), spectral library, samples must be finely ground, in a manner consistent with sample preparation procedures used at the KSSL. Purchase of the mill will allow MIR capability at the Richmond office by providing materials of appropriate fineness. Also, the Retsch MM200 has a small footprint, making it ideal for field office use.

Notice of Intent to Sole Source:

Notice of Intent to award a sole source purchase order under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Farm Production and Conservation Business Center (FPAC) on behalf of the NRCS Virginia Office, intends to contract with VERDER SCIENTIFIC 11 Penns Trail Ste 300, Newton, PA 18940-4800 to satisfy agency equipment requirement.

Any response to this notice must show clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government. In doing so, interested sources must submit technical capabilities, pricing, and other information that demonstrates their ability to meet the Governments needs no later than response time provided. Detailed capabilities must be submitted to required POC.

This synopsis is not considered a request for bid/quote/proposal. No solicitation document is available and telephone requests for technical information will not be honored. No contract will be awarded on a basis of offers received in response to this notice but offers will be used to determine if a comparable source is available and more advantageous to the Government.

Any questions or concerns regarding this synopsis/notice of intent of single source should be forwarded in writing via email to both Oksana Strekha at Oksana.Strekha@usda.gov and Tamara Sawyer at Tamara.sawyer@usda.gov no later than 12:00pm (EST) Wednesday 23, 2023.

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