SYNAPT G2-Si_UGA572 mass spectrometer service agreement

Solicitation / RFP / RFQ

This document outlines the terms and conditions for a "Mass Spectrometer Service Agreement" (Solicitation Number 1232SA26Q0293). It details the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and United States Department of Agriculture Acquisition Regulation (AGAR) clauses and provisions applicable to any order awarded under this solicitation. The terms and conditions herein supersede all other terms and conditions.

This document primarily lists and incorporates by reference numerous FAR clauses and provisions. These cover a wide range of requirements including, but not limited to:

• Terms and Conditions for Commercial Products and Commercial Services

• Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights

• Prohibition on Requiring Confidentiality Agreements

• Combating Trafficking in Persons

• Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving

• Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations

• Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors

• Protest After Award

• Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim

• Security Prohibitions and Exclusions

• Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial Services

• Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government

• Contractor Code of Business Ethics and Conduct

• Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel

• System for Award Management (SAM) Maintenance

• Contractor Identification

• Protecting Government's Interest When Subcontracting with Debarred/Suspended Contractors

• Updates of Publicly Available Information Regarding Responsibility Matters

• Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations

• Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns

• Notice of Total Small Business Aside

• Utilization of Small Business Concerns

• Small Business Subcontracting Plan

• Limitations on Subcontracting

• Liquidated Damages - Subcontracting Plan

• Nonmanufacturer Rule

• Convict Labor

• Child Labor

• Equal Opportunity for Veterans

• Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities

• Employment Reports on Veterans

• Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act

• Service Contract Labor Standards

• Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires

• Fair Labor Standards Act and Service Contract Labor Standards - Price Adjustment

• Exemption from Service Contract Labor Standards

• Paid Sick Leave

• Estimate of Percentage of Recovered Material Content

• Ozone-Depleting Substances and High Global Warming Potential Hydrofluorocarbons

• Maintenance, Service, Repair, or Disposal of Refrigeration Equipment and Air Conditioners

• Sustainable Products and Services

• Privacy Training

• Buy American - Supplies

• Buy American - Free Trade Agreements - Israeli Trade Act

• Trade Agreements

• Contractor Personnel in Designated Operational Area or Supporting Diplomatic/Consular Mission outside the US

• Contractors Performing Private Security Functions Outside the US

• Notice of Disaster or Emergency Area Set-Aside

• Restrictions on Subcontracting Outside Disaster or Emergency Area

• Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements

• Terms for Financing of Purchases of Commercial Products and Commercial Services

• Installment Payments for Commercial Products and Commercial Services

• Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer

• Payment by Third Party

• Protection of Government Buildings, Equipment, and Vegetation

• Continuity of Services

• Security Requirements

• Basic Safeguarding of Covered Contractor Information Systems

• Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels

• Option to Extend Services

• Option to Extend the Term of the Contract

• Anti-Discrimination and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Compliance

• Modification for Contract Closeout

• Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Products and Commercial Services

• Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements-Representation

• Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations - Representation

• Representation by Corporations Regarding Delinquent Tax Liability or a Felony Conviction

• Security Prohibitions and Exclusions Representations and Certifications

• Certification and Disclosure Regarding Payments to Influence Certain Federal Transactions

• System for Award Management - Registration

• Offeror Identification

• Solicitation of Offers from Small Business Concerns and Small Business Teaming Arrangements or Joint Ventures

• Certification Regarding Tax Matters

• Equal Low Bids

• Certification Regarding Knowledge of Child Labor for Listed End Products

• Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment–Certification

• Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards for Certain Services-Certification

• Certification Regarding Trafficking in Persons Compliance Plan

• Recovered Material Certification

• Buy American Certificate

• Buy American-Free Trade Agreements-Israeli Trade Act Certificate

• Trade Agreements-Certificate

• Disaster or Emergency Area Representation

• Tax on Certain Foreign Procurements—Notice and Representation

• Evaluation of Options

• Service of Protest

• Anti-Discrimination and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Certification

• Award Type: Firm Fixed Price contract.

• Option to Extend Services: Up to 6 months.

• Option to Extend Term of Contract: Up to 5 years total duration.

• Offerors must submit pricing for all items to be considered responsive.

• Evaluation will be based on "best value" to the Government, not solely lowest price.

• Technical Acceptability will be evaluated as "acceptable" or "unacceptable."

• Past Performance will be evaluated as "Acceptable," "Neutral," or "Unacceptable."

• Evaluation Method: Lowest price technically acceptable criteria. The lowest priced quote will be evaluated for Technical Acceptability first. If that quote is not acceptable, the process continues with the next lowest priced quote.

• Period for acceptance of offers: 90 calendar days.

• Questions due: March 17, 2026, at 12:00 PM Pacific Time.

• Various clauses related to Small Business concerns, HUBZone, and other set-asides are included.

• The document references the USDA Ombudsman Program for Agency Protests as an avenue for addressing concerns.

• Full text of referenced clauses and provisions may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/far-overhaul/far-part-deviation-guide/far-overhaul-part-52.

Justification to Restrict Competition

This document justifies the restriction of competition for a service agreement to maintain and provide technical/engineering services for a Waters G2-Si_UGA572 Mass Spectrometer. This instrument is critical for mission-critical ion mobility mass spectrometry research conducted by the USDA-ARS Wheat Health, Genetics and Quality Research Unit (WHGQRU) in Pullman, WA.

• Comprehensive Preventive Maintenance: Includes scheduled maintenance labor, parts, travel, and repair labor/parts, following Waters' recommended standards.

• Repair and Replacement: Service Engineer will repair and replace components using genuine Waters parts. Instrument and software upgrades/updates are required and available only from Waters.

• Customer Support: Requires online access to Waters Certified Field Service Engineers/Specialists, technical remote support, and customer technical/applications support.

• Contract Type: Firm-fixed price, sole-source.

• Period of Performance: One (1) base year with four (4) one-year option periods.

• Estimated Total Value: $359,858 for the base year plus all options.

• This is a justification for other than full and open competition, citing FAR 6.103-1 (Only One Responsible Source) and 41 U.S.C. 1901.

• Market research indicates that only Waters Corporation possesses the unique qualifications, trained personnel, and proprietary access necessary to service this specialized instrument and its integrated system.

• This acquisition is restricted to Waters Corporation due to their unique qualifications and the specialized nature of the equipment.

• This is a follow-on contract to 12905B22P0047.

• The agency will continue to explore market options for authorizing other vendors to maintain Waters products in the future.

Statement of Work (SOW) / Performance Work Statement (PWS)

This Statement of Work outlines the requirements for a service agreement to provide maintenance and technical/engineering services for a Waters G2-Si_UGA572 Mass Spectrometer.

• The service agreement covers the maintenance and technical/engineering support for the specified mass spectrometer located at the USDA-ARS Wheat Health, Genetics and Quality Research Unit (WHGQRU) in Pullman, WA.

• The mass spectrometer is critical for research characterizing rhizosphere metabolomes of dryland and irrigated wheat and other crops, aiding in the development of tolerance to drought, heat stress, and soilborne pathogens.

• Comprehensive preventive maintenance is required, including analysis to determine an optimal maintenance schedule based on runtime, application, system location, and manufacturer recommendations.

• Preventive maintenance must adhere to standardized routines meeting WATERS recommended maintenance and safety standards.

• Service Engineers must be WATERS factory-certified.

• All maintenance and repair work orders must include service documentation detailing work performed and any special instructions.

• The service is for the Waters G2-Si_UGA572 Mass Spectrometer located in Pullman, WA.

• The period of performance is not explicitly stated in this document but is implied to be ongoing for the service agreement.

• Component Replacement: Worn components must be replaced with genuine Waters manufactured or certified parts.

• Instrument and Software: Upgrades and updates must be available exclusively from WATERS.

• Customer Support: Requires online access to Waters Certified Field Service Engineers/Specialists, technical remote support and diagnostics (Waters offers the only platform for remote diagnostics), and customer technical and applications support on the instrument, informatics, and chemistry.