NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE-HAMILTON COMPANY

 The Defense Health Agency Contracting Activity (DHACA) in Fort Detrick, MD intends to negotiate on a sole source basis (IAW RFO 12.102(a)) with Hamilton Company, 4970 Energy way Reno, NV 89502 as the only responsible source that can purchase, delivery, installation, and extended warranty of one (1) Hamilton Microlab STAR Vantage 2.0 robots. This is a Presolicitation notice in accordance with RFO 5.101.

Hamilton Company is the only company that can purchase, delivery, installation, and extended warranty of one (1) Hamilton Microlab STAR Vantage 2.0 robotic workstation to replace an existing Hamilton STARLET robotic workstation that is End-of-Life (EOL). The required Hamilton Microlab STAR robotic workstations, computers and software are used to support AFMES- DNA OPS mission of assisting Armed Forces Medical Examiner System (AFMES) and the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA),  with human remains Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) testing for the identification of United States (US) Service members as mandated under title 10 USC, chapter 75, 1471 and 10 USC, Chapter 76, 1501-1513; NDAA 2010, Section 541 (d)(2) and DODI 5154.30. AFMES-DNA OPS requires the highly specialized Hamilton Microlab STAR liquid handling robots, computers and software for high throughput extraction, short tandem repeat amplification, and next generation sequencing of military DNA references and Family Reference specimens used to identify unknown human remains. AFMES-DNA OPS requires that the Hamilton Microlab STAR Vantage 2.0 provide optimal performance and that the variation between robots in the Hamilton Microlab STAR family of instruments are made using Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) / Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and that programs between the STAR Plus and STAR Vantage 2.0 are compatible.

Hamilton is the sole manufacturer and reseller of the Hamilton Microlab STAR Vantage 2.0 robotic workstation listed in this document. The Hamilton Microlab STAR Vantage 2.0 is the newest model in the Hamilton Microlab STAR suite of robots and is replacing the older Hamilton STARLET.

This acquisition is being conducted under simplified acquisition procedures. There are no set-aside restrictions for this requirement. The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 334516 with a Small Business Size Standard of 3,000 employees. This presolicitation notice is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation document exists for this requirement. However, any parties interested in responding to this notice shall submit technical data, including cost, sufficient to determine capability in providing the same service. All capability statements received by closing of this notification of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct competitive procurement.

Submit email capability statements (using PDF, MS Word, Excel attachments) to Kasey Carroll at Kasey.l.carroll.civ@health.mil. Statements are due no later than 10:00 A.M. EST on 29 June 2026. No phone calls will be accepted.