Notice of Intent.pdf

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation Number: 75N94025Q00043 Solicitation Type: Sole Source (Non‐Competitive) Title: NICHD: Service: Service Agreement for Zeiss Microscopes NAICS / Size Standard: 811210 / 34 Million

Introduction

THIS IS A PRE‐SOLICITATION NON‐COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Carl Zeiss Microscopy to provide a microscope service agreement.

Background Information

NICHD has had a Service Contract for the last 18+ years with Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC. They have purchased multiple Carl Zeiss microscopes over the years and when the initial Purchase Warranty ends, NICHD has put these expensive microscopes on a Service Contract. These microscopes are crucial for ongoing research and imaging activities at the NICHD – Microscopy and Imaging Core (MIC) facility. The service agreement includes proactive maintenance, on‐site service visits, and technical support by factory‐trained engineers, which is vital for the sustained operation of the microscope systems.

Preventative maintenance (PM) will ensure that the instruments are functioning according to Carl Zeiss's factory specifications, minimizing downtime and maximizing research output.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this contract is to obtain a preventative maintenance and service agreement for the Zeiss Microscopes.

Period of Performance

The Period of Performance will be April 29, 2025 through April 28, 2026.

Contractor Requirements

The contractor needs to provide the following in their service agreement:

One (1) preventative maintenance inspection per agreement year.

All labor and travel charges associated with conducting the preventative maintenance inspection visit.

All labor and travel charges associated with any service visit in addition to the PM visit as may be required during the contract period.

Priority on‐site service support.

Telephone technical support and priority on‐site service.

Remote diagnostics and service capability, including corrective service via phone and remote connection with factory trained customer support engineers.

All covered replacement parts.

Services to be performed by Factory trained Field Service Engineers.

Sole Source Justification

These microscopes are crucial for ongoing research and imaging activities at the NICHD – MIC facility.

Priority on site service support is vital in reducing downtime for ongoing vital research. Carl Zeiss Microscopy is the only entity in the United States authorized by the manufacturer to provide comprehensive service and support for Zeiss LSM 800, LSM 880 and Axioscan.Z1 instruments. They are the only qualified service provider to provide the required care and maintenance using Carl Zeiss genuine components, hardware, and software that run the Carl Zeiss computers operating these microscopes. They hold the patents to all related technologies and possesses the necessary proprietary components, hardware, software, configurations, and trained technicians to service these highly specialized and expensive instruments. They have the fully trained technicians to perform these services in a timely manner, so the lab has less downtime for these microscopes and delays for researchers. Only Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC has technical service representatives who receive comprehensive and on‐ going factory training and regular technical updates, as well as having direct access to original manufacturer’s parts to help maintain Carl Zeiss instruments in optimal condition. Only Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC technical service representatives can engage directly with the engineers that designed the lab’s Carl Zeiss instruments to help resolve highly complex technical support needs.

Regulatory Authority

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106‐1(b) Soliciting from a single source. (2) For purchases exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold. The requirements at 13.501(a) apply to sole‐source (including brand‐name) acquisitions of commercial products and commercial services conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5.

FAR Clauses

The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference:

FAR clause 52.204‐8 Annual Representations and Certifications (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause 52.212‐1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause 52.212‐2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable. The Government will award a contract resulting from this notice to the offeror listed above. The following factors shall be used to evaluate the offer: The contractor shall demonstrate its ability to provide the detector listed that meets the specifications provided above.

FAR clause 52.212‐3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (MAY 2024) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause 52.212‐4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (NOV 2023) applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause 52.212‐5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders

– Commercial Products and Commercial Services (JAN 2025) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause 52.222‐48 Exemption from Application for the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment Certification (MAY 2014) applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause 52.223‐10 Waste Reduction Program (MAY 2024) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause 52.223‐23, Sustainable Products and Services (MAY 2024) (DEVIATION FEB 2025) applies to this acquisition.

Per FAR CLASS DEVIATION 2025‐02 Amendment 1:

“System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations, including 52.223‐22, Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Goals— Representation, and paragraph (t) of 52.212‐3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Agencies will not consider or use these representations. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in

SAM.”

Additional Information

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 811210 and the Small Business Size Standard is 34 Million. This 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 award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2025‐03 effective January 17, 2025.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona‐fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non‐competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by March 11, 2025 5:00 PM ET and must reference solicitation number 75N94025Q00043. Responses shall be submitted electronically to nicole.freid@nih.gov. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.