Bid guide
How to bid on LC-MS/MS system service for NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center
What the agency is buying and why it matters
The Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), specifically the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, needs a multi-year service and support agreement for its AB SCIEX ExionLC AE liquid chromatographers paired with QTRAP 5500 tandem mass spectrometers (LC-MS/MS). This agreement would cover one base year and three option years.
This is a notice of intent to award a sole-source contract to AB SCIEX LLC. However, other firms can submit information if they believe they can fully meet the government's requirements. This is an opportunity to demonstrate your capabilities for highly specialized scientific equipment maintenance.
Key dates and what happens at the deadline
This notice was published on August 07, 2026. If you intend to submit documentation, it must be received by August 22, 2026, at 12:00 PM ET. This deadline is 15 days after the publication date.
Submitting documentation by the deadline is crucial. The government will evaluate submissions to decide whether to proceed with a competitive procurement or continue with the sole-source intent. Oral communications are not accepted.
Who this opportunity suits
This opportunity is for firms that specialize in the maintenance and support of highly sensitive and specialized analytical platforms, specifically AB SCIEX ExionLC AE liquid chromatographers coupled with QTRAP 5500 tandem mass spectrometers. The agency states that the maintenance requires specialized factory training and OEM-certified engineers.
The relevant NAICS Code is 811210, Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, with a small business size standard of $34 million. Firms with proprietary data, exclusive licensing agreements, or OEM certifications for AB SCIEX LC-MS/MS systems are particularly suited to respond.
How to respond
This is not a request for competitive proposals, and no solicitation package is available. To respond, you must submit substantiating documentation in writing to the identified point of contact. This documentation should demonstrate your ability to fully meet the government's requirements.
To access the original notice, click “View original source” on the portal. If the first click takes you to the portal's homepage, click it again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view documents.
Practical tips for preparing a competitive response
Even though this is an intent to sole-source, a strong response can change the agency's decision. Clearly articulate how your firm possesses the specific technical competencies, factory training, and access to proprietary information (like internal schematics, alignment protocols, and diagnostic software) that the agency states are exclusive to the OEM.
Provide concrete evidence of your ability to maintain the LC-MS/MS system to the required sensitivity levels for the Environmental Chemistry Program's research. Address the agency's concerns about trial-and-error repairs and the risk of compounding damage to high-value systems. Focus on demonstrating that your firm can provide the necessary level of quality and prevent unacceptable gaps between instrument failures and repairs.
See the live bid — deadline, agency details, and how to respond
Dates and requirements can change via addenda; always verify on the bid page and at the original source before responding.
View this bid on BiddingSimpleThis guide was prepared by BiddingSimple from the solicitation’s public posting. It is not official guidance from Commerce, Department of; the original posting controls.