The document outlines a Statement of Work for a contractor to deliver emergency and scheduled maintenance for the Malvern Panalytical Empyrean XRD instrument owned by NASA Glenn Research Center. This maintenance agreement covers all hardware associated with the instrument, with certain exceptions. The scope includes unlimited service visits, parts, shipping, and technical support, with a specific focus on labor for emergency situations. A minimum of one preventative maintenance inspection is mandated, with the contractor obliged to respond within 48 hours for inoperable equipment. The government may conduct basic maintenance and simple repairs under the contractor's guidance but retains contractor accountability for successful repairs. All services are to be performed by factory-trained engineers, and costs for third-party items and consumables are excluded from the contract. This document serves to establish clear maintenance responsibilities, ensuring the operational integrity of critical research equipment within the context of federal project specifications.

The NASA Shared Services Center recommends that NASA negotiate exclusively with Malvern Panalytical, Inc. for a service contract concerning the Empyrean x-ray diffraction system. This contract, valued at an estimated cost, will cover the period from March 15, 2025, to March 14, 2026, and is justified under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) due to the unique requirements of the equipment. The Empyrean system is vital for conducting detailed crystallographic analysis essential for aerospace research, and only Malvern Panalytical, as the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), can provide the necessary technical support. This situation arises from the proprietary nature of the system and its components, requiring specifically trained technicians to ensure accurate maintenance, calibration, and operational integrity. Use of non-OEM services could lead to significant downtime, adversely affecting NASA’s research programs. The provided service documentation and replacement parts are exclusive to Malvern Panalytical, reinforcing the impracticality of competition for this contract. Thus, the document underscores the necessity of this service for maintaining critical NASA operations related to aerospace advancements.

NASA/NSSC seeks to renew a service contract for the Panalytical Empyrean, intending to issue a sole-source contract to Malvern Panalytical Inc., the sole provider for this service. This procurement will be conducted in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13, and the NAICS Code assigned is 334516. The performance of this contract will take place at NASA's Glenn Research Center. Interested organizations can submit their qualifications by 7 a.m. Central Standard Time on April 8, 2025. These responses will be evaluated to determine if a competitive procurement process will be pursued, though the government retains discretion over this decision. Oral responses are not permitted. Additionally, potential contractors can find further information regarding the acquisition's ombudsman online. The primary contact for this procurement is Shanna Patterson, a procurement specialist at NASA.