The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Office of Acquisition (OA) on behalf of the National Human Genome Research Institute, (NHGRI), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Carl Zeiss MicroScopy, LLC, One (1) Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, New York 10594-1939 to procure a Zeiss AxioImager M2 Microscope.

The sole source determination is based on the fact that National Institute of Health (NIH) is the nation's largest medical research agency and the primary Federal agency conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives. The National Human Genome Research Institute, Cytogenetics and Microscopy Core proposes to procure a new AxioImager M2 microscope from Carl Zeiss microscopy, LLC to replace the existing microscope that is non-functioning, a older model, and now discontinued by the manufacturer. The AxioImager microscope was chosen based on performance and compatibility with existing Zeiss equipment. The Zeiss AxioImager M2 Microscope will enable NHGRI to re-use existing objectives (40X, 63X and 100X) and filter sets that are already developed, as well as, the ASI Spectra-cube specialized equipment (86K), that needs to be aligned and placed on a dedicated microscope. ASI Spectra-Cube/software is also configured to control the Zeiss microscope filer wheel and objective turret to perform experiments without manual interactions. This unique piece of equipment will allow post-docs and principal investigator's to obtain Karyotyping, SKY, chromosome analysis and FISH that cannot be done on any other piece of equipment at NHGRI. Due to the old and malfunctioned microscope already in place, this new equipment, will allow the core to continue with their research studies without disruption to the analyses or data collected.

The delivery point is the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Human Genome Research Institute, NHGRI), Cytogenetics and Microscopy Core, 49 Convent Drive, Building 49, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.

The following instrument will be covered under the Service Agreement:

1. Zeiss AxioImager M2 Microscope, Quantity: One (1).

Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 333314, Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing and the Small Business Size Standard is 500 Employees. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, simplified acquisition procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6 B Competitive Requirements are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001) and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-56 (March 2, 2012).

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis, by March 9, 2012, 7:30 a.m. 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 procurement.

Inquires to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(HG)-2012-088-DLM, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisition, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6149, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Dorothy Maxwell. Response 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.

Note: In order to receive an award from NHLBI, contractors must have a valid registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov, and ORCA https://orca.bpn.gov/login.aspx.