NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Maintenance Agreement (EMD Millipore Corp.)
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The USDA, Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) intends to issue a sole source award to EMD Millipore Corporation for a Maintenance Agreement covering three Millipore Water Filtration Systems. This is a Special Notice and not a request for competitive quotes. Interested parties may submit capability statements by February 6, 2026, to demonstrate their ability to provide identical services.
Scope of Work
FSIS requires a maintenance contract for three critical Millipore Water Filtration Systems used in laboratory testing of meat, poultry, and egg samples. These systems provide high-purity reagents essential for identifying chemical and microbiological contaminants.
Technical Requirement Justification:
- Regulatory Compliance: As an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, FSIS requires OEM-certified service to meet strict purified water quality standards and internal SOPs.
- Proprietary Diagnostics: Maintenance involves OEM-approved firmware updates, e-Sure tag traceability for consumables, and specific Automatic Sanitization Module (ASM) protocols unique to Millipore hardware.
- System Integrity: OEM calibration and IQ/OQ requalification using proprietary certified standards are necessary to maintain ISO 17025 compliance.
Service Scope includes:
- System Inspection & Diagnostics (serial numbers, firmware, Q-POD® dispensers).
- Water Quality Verification (Resistivity, TOC, flow rates for Type 1 and Type 3 water).
- Consumables & Sanitization (OEM-certified cartridges/filters, ASM cycles).
- Troubleshooting & Repairs (as-needed visits, spare parts).
Contract & Timeline
- Type: Notice of Intent to Sole Source (Special Notice)
- Duration: 12-month Base Year with four (4) 12-month Option Years.
- Set-Aside: None specified (sole source intent).
- Capability Statement Due: February 6, 2026, by 6:00 PM ET.
- Published: January 28, 2026.
Evaluation
This is not a solicitation. Capability statements will be reviewed to determine if any other sources can provide identical services. A determination by the Government not to compete is at its sole discretion.
Additional Notes
Capability statements must be submitted via email as a Microsoft Office Word, Excel, or Adobe PDF attachment to angela.carey@usda.gov.