Description

1. PURPOSE AND BACKGROUND This Request for Information (RFI) is issued for market research purposes only in accordance with RFO FAR 10. This notice does not constitute a solicitation, a request for proposal, or a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation. No contract will be awarded from this RFI, and the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this notice. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is conducting market research to better understand Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) policies, practices, technical capabilities, and contractual terms that may affect competition in the maintenance and repair of scientific equipment. The Government seeks responses from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) that provide maintenance, repair, calibration, software support, and technical support services for scientific and laboratory equipment using primarily in-house or directly employed technicians. The Government is particularly interested in understanding: • The extent to which OEMs rely on in-house technicians versus authorized or third-party service providers; • Whether OEM service models, technical controls, licensing requirements, or corporate policies restrict the Government's ability to utilize Independent Service Organizations (ISOs), Operations and Maintenance (O&M) contractors, or other qualified third-party service providers; • Access limitations involving parts, software, diagnostics, training, technical data, and firmware; • Post-warranty service restrictions and support practices; • Market conditions affecting competition for scientific equipment service and repair support; • Opportunities to increase competition and support fair and reasonable pricing through the use of qualified non-OEM service providers where appropriate. The majority of equipment covered under the relevant contract portfolio carries a standard 12-month warranty. The Government is therefore particularly interested in OEM service and support practices that apply during the post-warranty lifecycle of equipment, which may span 10 or more years. 2. INSTRUCTIONS FOR RESPONSE Interested parties are requested to respond in writing to the questions set forth in Section 4 of this RFI. Responses should be submitted electronically to the point of contact identified no later than the response due date. Please limit responses only to the questions related to this RFI. Do not submit capability statements, brochures, or exhibits. No formal pricing is required; however, respondents may provide general pricing structures where applicable. Please include the following information on the cover page of your response: 1. Company name, address, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) 2. Point of contact name, title, telephone number, and email address 3. Business size and applicable socioeconomic status (if any) 4. NAICS code(s) applicable to your firm's services 5. Description of your organization's service model, including the ex…

Classification

Place of Performance

Contracting Office

Contacts