Market Research for Leica microscope Preventative Maintenance

THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI) IS FOR PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) OR QUOTE (RFQ). IT DOES NOT CONSTITUTE SOLICITATION AND SHALL NOT BE CONSTRUED AS A COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT. RESPONSES IN ANY FORM ARE NOT OFFERS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS UNDER NO OBLIGATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT AS A RESULT OF THIS RFI. ANY INFORMATION SUBMITTED BY RESPONDENTS TO THIS TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION IS STRICTLY VOLUNTARY. NOT RESPONDING TO THIS RFI DOES NOT PRECLUDE PARTICIPATION IN ANY FUTURE RFP, IF ISSUED. ALL SUBMISSIONS BECOME GOVERNMENT PROPERTY AND WILL NOT BE RETURNED.

This request is for a combined new preventative maintenance (PM) contract for microscope cleaning whose services have been covered under a service contract, which is expiring. The proposed purchase order fulfills an ongoing need for LS to maintain top performance of microscopes used in casework and training. These microscopes are required to conduct specific laboratory examinations vital to ATF criminal investigations and to train other examiners to create consistency among the organizations to better solve criminal investigations.  Microscope downtime must be kept to a minimum to continue the effective and efficient processing of evidence related to ATF criminal investigations.  Casework is the main mission of the laboratories, and it would have to be interrupted with any microscope downtime. This request is to provide support for the microscopes listed below, located at FSL-A, FSL-W and NFEA laboratories, for one (1) base year and if exercised four (4) option years.  Due to microscope replacement over the life of the contract, ATF requires the ability to add/remove microscopes to the contract.  Option year two (2) ATF intends to add microscopes from FCGIL.  Quoted price for option years 2- 4 shall include a CLIN to add FCGIL. Expected FCGIL will include six (6) each FC M and FS C comparison microscopes and eighteen (18) M60 stereomicroscopes.

SEE "MINIMUM TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS" FOR FULL DETAILS