Ongoing Consortia Research Project to Procure Leather Test Samples for the National Library of Medicine (NLM)

This notice is for the acquisition of commercial supplies and/or services for which the Government intends to negotiate with only one source under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) - Soliciting from a Single Source. The National Library of Medicine (NLM) intends to solicit from and make an award to Pergamena Parchments & Leathers Inc. 11 Factory St, Montgomery, NY 12549 for the services of a professional leather tanner to create 72 leather test samples (five sets of samples at 18 points in accordance with the testing protocols throughout the tanning process) for an ongoing consortia leather research project with NLM, Penn State University, and the Smithsonian Institution. The History of Medicine Division (HMD) of the National Library of Medicine (NLM) located on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) campus in Bethesda, MD, has a collection of leather used primarily to bind and protect the worlds published medical literatures and historical audiovisuals from present day dating back to the 11th century. The condition of certain items within NLMs collection shows signs of deterioration. Over the past six years, a consortia research group, comprised of scientist, conservators, and researchers from NLM, Penn State University (Penn State), and the Smithsonian, began a research project to investigate several variating factors, within the leather tanning process that could potentially promote leather deterioration. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items in combination with FAR 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures, and FAR 16.504 Indefinite Delivery Contracts in accordance with authority 41 USC 3304 Use of Non-competitive Procedures. This requirement will be a single source award in accordance with 16.504 (c)(ii)(b)(1) and (5). This notice incorporates provision and clauses in effect in the FAC 2021-07 effective August 11, 2021, including all FAR Circulars issued as of the date of this synopsis. NLM anticipates that an award will be made on or about September 29, 2021. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) for this requirement is 316110 and the business size standard is 500 employees. It is anticipated that at least ONE (1) Indefinite-Delivery, Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) type award will be made from this solicitation in accordance with FAR 52.216-22, and that the award(s) will commence on or about September 29, 2021. The ordering period for any award resulting from this solicitation shall be for five-years. Funds for any obligations associated with the IDIQ will be allocated by task or delivery order. The IDIQ shall be guaranteed for a minimum $25,000 with a maximum of $125,000 for delivery of all products and services specified by each order. Ordering: Task or Delivery orders may be placed as Firm Fixed Price, Time and Material, or Labor Hour as determined by the Contracting Officer (CO) at award. All orders will be confirmed in writing by the CO who is the only individual authorized to place orders binding the Government. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. An RFQ is not available for distribution nor are quotes being requested; however, if an interested party believes that it can meet the requirements, they may submit a price quote in writing along with a statement of capabilities. Vendors submitting a quote shall comply with all applicable Federal, State and Local laws, executive orders, rules and regulations applicable to its performance under this order. The following clauses and provisions cited herein are incorporated by reference into this announcement: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (June 2020) and FAR 52.212-2. Vendors submitting a quote are advised to provide with their offer a completed copy of the following provisions: FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items (June 2020). The following FAR clauses apply to any contract order resulting from this notice FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (October 2018)-With Addenda [Stop Work Order, FAR 52.242-15 (August 1989)]; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (July, 2020); FAR 52.216-18 Ordering, August 2020; FAR 52.216-19, Order Limitations, 1995; FAR 52.216-22, Indefinite Quantity (Oct 1995) FAR 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services and FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract; . Quotes and related materials, or any questions must be submitted in writing by email to the Contracting Officer, Patricia Brown at [email protected] no later than 11:00 am local Time on September 27, 2021. NO collect calls will be accepted. NO facsimile transmissions will be accepted. Any quotation, if timely received by an eligible offeror, shall 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. Any information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information.