The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Office of Acquisitions (OA), on behalf of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Carl Zeiss Microimaging, LLC, 1 Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, NY 10594-1939 for a maintenance agreement on the following equipment:

- NLO Confocal Microscope w/Axiovert 200M Stand

The NLO Confocal is heavily used by multiple investigators in the NIDCR. It requires a service contract to provide preventive maintenance to maintain the system so that it is functional and operating at its best performance at all times. Periodic service calls are also placed to keep the microscope operational and to limit down time.

The sole source justification is based on the fact that the equipment is proprietary to Carl Zeiss Microimaging, LLC and only the manufacturer is authorized to perform maintenance or repair. Replacement parts must also be compatible with existing equipment.

The period of performance is 01/01/12 - 12/31/12.

The delivery point is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Bethesda, MD.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 811219, Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, and is not a small business set aside. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-54 (December 2, 2011).

Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis by December 27, 2011 at 12:00pm Eastern Standard Time. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon 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 future competitive procurements.

Inquiries to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(DE)-2012-047-JML, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6151, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Jonathan Lear. Responses may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative.