The National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate a contract on a sole source basis with Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC., Thornwood, NY.  The purpose of this acquisition is to purchase five-year service plan contract (Basic Service plan with 4 option years) that would support the Zeiss upright CellObserver SD/Axio Examiner.Z1 confocal microimaging system at the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD). This instrument will utilize significant existing components from NIDCD’s Zeiss Observer.Z1. As Zeiss is only compatible with existing Zeiss equipment, only Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC can achieve this conversion.

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 requested, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement to  [email protected] by  2pm (ET) on Wednesday, February 26, 2020  and reference solicitation number:  NIH-OLAO-OD3-NOI5616648.   

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.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

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).