Finding a Source - Supplies & Equipment

With the exception of certain specialized acquisitions specified in the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 8.002, the agency shall satisfy requirements for supplies and equipment in the following order.

Priority Sources
With the exception of certain specialized acquisitions specified in the FAR (Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) 8.002, the agency shall satisfy requirements for supplies and equipment in the following order. Acquisition personnel are required to check these sources before purchasing on the open market. If equipment is being purchased, determine if a “trade-in” is available and applicable.

Agency Inventories 
Surplus Property
NIH Stock Supply Catalog
NIH Supply Center 
Self-Service Stores
Trade-in Program
NIH Equipment Rental Program
Scientific Equipment Services (BEP)

Excess from Other Agencies
Information regarding the availability of excess personal property can be obtained through

1. Review of excess personal property catalogs and bulletins issued by the General Services Administration (GSA);
2. Personal contact with GSA or the activity holding the property;
3. Submission of supply requirements to the regional offices of GSA; and
4. Examination and inspection of reports and samples of excess personal property in GSA regional offices.

NIH Indefinite Delivery Contracts
UNICOR/Federal Prison Industries
Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled

Wholesale Supply Sources
GSA Global Supply
Defense Logistics Agency
Department of Veteran Affairs
Military Inventory Control Points

Federal Supply Schedules
NIH Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs) - "F" Vendors

Commercial Sources
Open market sources that include commercial businesses, as well as educational and nonprofit institutions, whose goods are not covered by the mandatory sources listed above. Use of an open market source is then permitted.

NIH Sources
Chief Information Officer- Commodities And Solutions (CIO-CS)
Chief Information Officer – Solutions And Partners 3 (CIO-SP3)
NIH Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPA's) - "O" Vendors
Biacore, Inc. - Scientific Instruments
Ciphergen Biosystems Inc. (GWAC) - Protein Chip System

Open Market Sources