The National Institutes of Health intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC.

The National Institutes of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders needs to purchase a Airyscan Upgrade for LSM 710/780.  The Airyscan is a patented technology and only available from Carl Zeiss Microscopy for the LSM 710, 780, 800 and 880 systems  Patents relevant for US only:  US 8705172.  In addition of Zeiss AiryScan detection unit to an existing Zeiss LSM 780 confocal microscope is requested.  The AiryScan offers a new level of spatial super-resolution with a maximum resolution in the X-Y plane of 140 nM.  This is significantly better than the approximately 200 nM that can be achieved using standard confocal microscopy.  As many of the structures in the inner ear, such as hair cell stereocilia have a thickness of approximately 200 nM, an instrument with the ability to resolve structures at distances of less than 200 nM will allow us to more precisely localize proteins and other cellular elements.  SEE ATTACHED SPECIFICATIONS AND BRAND NAME JUSTIFICATION FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

Responses

The proposed acquisition action is for items and services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1 (b).  If you believe you can provide the items or services, please forward capability statements to [email protected] by July 22nd, 2015.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract acquisition based upon responses to the notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

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Any solicitation resulting from the analysis of information obtained will be announced to the public in Federal Business Opportunities in accordance with the FAR Part 5. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.  No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).