This is a Notice of Proposed Contract Action Synopsis. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for a solicitation will receive no response. This Proposed Contract Action is published to notify potential sources that the National Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, intends to award a sole source firm-fixed price contract, on behalf of the USDA Forest Service to Mantech (USA) Inc., for an MT30 Automated Analysis System with AutoMax401 sampler and various accessories, applicable warranty, delivery and set up.

Mantech automated PH and EC (electrical conductivity) instrument is the only system on the market that is automated allowing the lab to perform PH and conductivity determinations on soils unattended reducing man hours as well as sample handling errors while simultaneously ensuring greater accuracy and precision of pH and conductivity measurements. Mantech is the sole source provider of the MT30 automated analysis system with AutoMax401 Sampler. Mantech develops and manufactures all hardware and software as a single source provider. There is no integration of other brands that enable complete audit trail and viewing in real time the titration curves, calibration curves, and raw data. These results provide high confidence quality controls for the analysis of pH and electrical conductivity of mineral soil samples. The Mantech MT-30 customizable user interface provides us ability to make alterations of methodology if needed. Multiple sample cup sizes allow differing sample sizes within the same run, and automated rinse between samples reduces chances of contamination or carryover between samples. The Mantech instrument is also designed specifically for analysis of larger mineral soil samples which ensures greater precision and accuracy of final determinations, whereas other instruments are adaptations from existing pH instruments that either perform analysis on small sample sizes only, restrict sample cup containers to one specific size, and/or do not rinse between samples that can produce contamination and carryover errors requiring the re-determination, which increases costs.

The proposed contract action is for supplies for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1 Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. 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. Date posted to SAM.gov May 17, 2023. Date posting will close: June 7, 2023 8:00 am. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516. The Size Standard is 1000. The desired delivery date described herein is anticipated to be 120 days after award. The responses to this synopsis will be used to confirm that this is a sole source requirement. This notice is not a Request for Proposals (RFQ); it is a market research tool being utilized to determine the availability and adequacy of potential sources prior to awarding the contract. Any information submitted by respondents to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information that is submitted by respondents to this notice of proposed contract action. Contractors who believe they possess the expertise and experience shall submit technical capabilities in writing to Rochelle Infante electronically to: Rochelle.Infante@usda.gov. Responses must be received no later than June 7th, 2023, 8:00 am MT. All documentation shall become the property of the Government. Firms responding must indicate the following information: Indicate the business size: small business or disadvantaged business, veteran owned small business or HUB Zone certified, indicate the appropriate NAICS code, and UEI #. This synopsis neither constitutes a Request for Quote, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. This synopsis should not be construed as commitment by the Government for any purpose other than market research.