U.S. EPA, Contracts Management Div, Cinicnnati, OH, 45268-7001

J -- MAINTENANCE OF FINNIGAN TSQ7000 MASS SPECTROMETER SOL 96-123 POC Pam Legare (513-366-2015) The USEPA plans to negotiate on a sole source basis with Finnigan Mat Corporation to provide maintenance and software upgrade services for the Finnigan TSQ7000 Mass Spectrometer System, including Varian Model 3700 Gas Chromatograph component. Negotiations will be conducted pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1), which allows for negotiation without full and open competition if there is only one responsible source. The basis for this determination is that the USEPA/Nerl in Athens, Georgia requires a contractor that possesses the unique capability of system manufacture and integrations of the subject equipment, and can provide the necessary proprietary system software upgrades to insure equipment operation. These unique capabilities are essential in order to assure that the equipment is available and in operating condition to support the research of NERL/Athens. There are no other potential offerors known that can provide the services. Finnigan Mat is the only known source capable of satisfying the Government's requirements. As the manufacturer of the TSQ7000 Mass Spectrometer and the integrator of the Varian Model 3700 Gas Spectrometer as part of the system, there is no other entity with the required skills and knowledge of the system to provide the maintenance,as well as the required upgrades to the operating software as part of the maintenance. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement by submitting documentation to the office identified above. Documentation must be received within ten(10) days after the date of publication of this synopsis to 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. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. (0260)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0035 19960917\J-0008.SOL)