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COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION

COMPETITIVE

Classification code: 6640

Title: LI-COR Biotech: Odyssey M Chemi/Fluor Imaging Bundle Standard

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number is 75N91026Q00014 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation

(RFQ).

This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) This acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13.

The associated NAICS code is 334516 and the business size standard is 1,000 employees.

The Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Mission Acquisition Solutions, on behalf of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), intends to negotiate and award a sole source purchase order to LI-COR Biotech, LLC for the LI- COR Biotech Odyssey M Chemi/Fluor Imaging Bundle Standard.

This acquisition will be conducted without providing for full and open competition, including on a brand-name basis, because LI-COR Biotech, LLC is the only source capable of providing the required imaging system that meets NCI’s technical, compatibility, and research requirements.

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.”

The solicitation number and a statement that the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ).

This acquisition is conducted as non-competitive for a commercial product or commercial service and is conducted pursuant to FAR 13.106-(b)(1).

The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular, FAC Number: 2026-01 Effective Date: 03/13/2026.

Supplies or Services and Prices

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis requires one (1) new, commercially available Li-COR Biosciences Odyssey M (Chemi/Fluor) – Data Integrity Bundle Plus (Imager) will allow the Center for Cancer Research/Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis to perform several assays in a single unit and will expand the repertoire of biochemical and molecular biology techniques. The Li-COR Biosciences Odyssey M (Chemi/Fluor) – Data Integrity Bundle Plus (Imager) is manufactured by Li-COR Biosciences.

The Contractor shall deliver and install the equipment within 30-45 days after receipt of order. Delivery must be Freight on Board (FOB) Destination and include inside delivery. Within 14 business days after installation, 1 day(s) of onsite training shall be provided for at least 10 users of the equipment on how to use and maintain the instrument and associated software. All training expenses, including materials and/or travel expenses, shall be included. LI-COR Biotech includes unlimited remote Training on New User hardware, software, and application usage with an Expert Coach. In addition, they offer remote Advanced Training on personalized advanced software and application usage with an Expert Coach.

Background and Requirement The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics (LCBG), CCR Microscopy Core requires one (1) new, commercially available, Zeiss Lattice SIM5 super-resolution light microscope.

The National Cancer Institute is the principal federal agency for cancer research and training. It leads, conducts, and supports cancer research to advance scientific knowledge and improve cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and survivorship. The Center for Cancer Research (CCR) is the largest division of the NCI’s intramural research program with both basic and clinical research groups exploring the cutting edge of cancer research involving a wide spectrum of biological and biomedical problems that range from visualizing and understanding the structure of genes and proteins and developing novel assays to detect and potentially treat patients. The CCR Microscopy Core, the main microscopy core in the CCR, serves the imaging needs of a wide range of NCI researchers studying the cell biology of cancer. The core facility has five high-quality research-grade instruments, including confocal, multi-photon and super-resolution microscopes, to apply to the numerous research projects from the over 45 labs/branches within NCI, that use the Core annually. To satisfy the demands for super-resolution fluorescence microscopy, the CCR Microscopy Core requests a new Zeiss Lattice SIM5 structured illumination super-resolution microscope. Structured illumination super-resolution microscopy is an established method for acquiring high resolution images of biological samples and is in high demand from NCI researchers. The demand arises from the need to understand the molecular interactions of cellular proteins and the gene expression profiles of tumor cells. Super-resolution microscopy provides researchers the ability to visualize these molecular interactions within cells, and the newest SIM technology available from the requested Zeiss Latice SIM5 microscope will allow researchers to image these interactions in live cells. Thus, providing this cutting-edge technology to NCI researchers to apply to their cancer research projects and further improve our understanding of the cell biology of cancer provide the imaging capability to satisfy the demand.

The CCR Microscopy Core requires a new Zeiss Lattice SIM5 super-resolution microscope that shall include a high-speed lattice SIM5 scanner, dual high-sensitivity sCMOS cameras with Duolink configuration for simultaneous 2 channel imaging, four high-power lasers (wavelengths 405, 488, 561 and 647 nm), 500 um Piezo stage, stage-top incubation for live cell imaging, and both high numerical aperture oil and water immersion objective lenses for super-resolution imaging. Thus, it provides extended capabilities to image complex samples but also has the capability to perform functional live cell SIM imaging on larger biological samples. All users of the CCR Microscopy Core interested in performing SIM super-resolution microscopy will benefit from the requested Zeiss Lattice SIM5 microscope.

Contract Type and Period of Performance

It is the Government’s intent to issue a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order. The Contractor shall deliver and install the equipment within 30-45 days after receipt of order. Delivery must be Freight on Board (FOB) Destination and include inside delivery. Training must take place within two (2) weeks of equipment installation. The equipment shall be delivered and installed in coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR). The contractor shall provide an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified service technician to perform setup and installation.

Place of Performance

National Institutes of Health - Main Campus National Cancer Institute 37 Convent Drive, Bldg 37, Room 3044 Bethesda MD 20892 (FOB Destination)

Contracting Officer's Representative (COR)

The following Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) will represent the Government for the purpose of this contract:

[To be specified at time of award]

The COR is responsible for: (1) monitoring the Contractor's technical progress, including the surveillance and assessment of performance and recommending to the Contracting Officer changes in requirements;

(2) interpreting the statement of work and any other technical performance requirements; (3) performing technical evaluation as required; (4) performing technical inspections and acceptances required by this contract; and (5) assisting in the resolution of technical problems encountered during performance.

The Contracting Officer is the only person with authority to act as agent of the Government under this contract. Only the Contracting Officer has authority to: (1) direct or negotiate any changes in the statement of work; (2) modify or extend the period of performance; (3) change the delivery schedule;

(4) authorize reimbursement to the Contractor for any costs incurred during the performance of this contract; (5) otherwise change any terms and conditions of this contract; or (6) sign written licensing agreements. The Government may unilaterally change its COR designation.

The Odyssey M is a necessary and valuable instrument for protein analysis that meets and exceeds the minimum requirements in the laboratory. The Odyssey M system scans fluorescent and chemiluminescent protein and has other assay screening capabilities like in-cell westerns that would add detection tools for our teams to use for more accurate target analyte analysis. The software package included for qualitative analysis is found to be superior to other companies we have tested. This system provides everything that our current failing imaging system offers but also allows detection of NIR Fluorescence signals on gel, membrane, and slides. These advanced technological features would enable us to detect multiple targets at one single step, which will significantly reduce noise and variability of experimental results. The system dimensions fit into the lab space allocation. Additionally, the versatility of the Odyssey M Imaging System is a unique feature and of significant benefit to researchers. With a single instrument, researchers can complete a multitude of applications that include fluorescent and colorimetric Western blots, immunocytochemistry (the In-Cell Western and the On-Cell Western), ELISAs, protein and nucleic acid arrays, high-resolution fluorescent and RGB tissue section analysis, fluorescent and colorimetric protein gel detection, nucleic acid detection, and non-isotopic EMSAs. Moreover, the Odyssey M Imaging System was developed and optimized to detect LICORbio’s IRDye infrared dyes and VRDye visible dyes with the highest accuracy and sensitivity. It was not allowed to compromise performance in order to access other applications. It is unique in its combination of ultimate sensitivity and quantitative data output. Especially at the 800 nm range, no other vendors’ systems can achieve the same sensitivity.

The following product features/characteristics are required for this requirement:

Hardware Specifications:

• Four solid state laser diodes emitting at 488 nm +5nm, 520 nm +5 nm, 685 nm +5 nm, and 785 nm + 5 nm respectively must be the means of excitation for the fluorescent labels.

• Two sets of RGB LEDs must be the source for trans and epi illumination.

• Fluorescence detection must be based upon line scanning utilizing scientific Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductors (sCMOS).

• Laser lifetime must be a minimum of 20,000 hours of operation to keep maintenance operational costs extremely low.

• Luminescence detection utilizing a CCD must be offered as an option.

• All functionalities including fluorescence detection, luminescence detection, and trans and epi illumination must be housed within a single imaging system, not multiple pieces of equipment combined to obtain all functionality.

• Dynamic range of the detection system must be at least 6 orders of magnitude in a single acquisition.

• Laser/Microscope must be integrated into a precision scanning mechanism capable of scanning at resolutions of 5 to 100 m.

• The data output must be 16 Bit Floating TIFF file format for each channel of detection.

• The system must utilize a sealed, flat-bed scanning surface to accommodate varying sample media including membranes, multi-well plates, gels, and slides.

Key Application Specifications:

The Odyssey M Imaging System will be utilized for creative and innovative applications developed by our end users. However, there are some minimally required key applications supported by LICORbio’s expert technical support staff that a single instrument, in this case the Odyssey M Imaging System, must be capable of performing the following:

• Up to 4-color quantitative and highly sensitive membrane-based Western blot analysis with signals being detected at 530 nm, 590 nm, 720 nm, and 820 nm for ultimate sensitivity in a single acquisition.

• Detection of membrane-based colorimetric Western blots utilizing epi-illumination.

• Up to 4-color detection of In-Gel-Western assays for immediate detection of proteins prior to blotting.

• Highly sensitive and quantitative detection of fluorescent protein stains including Coomassie Blue, Pro-Q Diamond, Pro-Q Emerald, SYPRO Ruby, and SYPRO Orange.

• Highly sensitive detection of colorimetric protein gel stains including Coomassie Blue and Silver Stain utilizing transillumination.

• Fluorescent detection of nucleic acid stains including ethidium bromide, GelRed, and SYBR Safe.

• EMSA detection and quantitative signal analysis using NIR-labeled DNA oligos must be possible in 2 channels simultaneously without the time consuming need to disassemble the gel/plate sandwich.

• Quantitative detection of target molecules in cell culture grown in 6 – 384 well microtiter plates.

Quantitative analysis must be possible for all target molecules or of surface-exposed target molecules.

Normalization of the target molecule by the cell number must be possible by the simultaneous and quantitative detection of a second target protein, nucleic acids, or a nonspecific cell stain.

• Quantitative detection of fluorescent proteins in both the visible and near-infrared spectra must be possible.

• Quantitative and highly sensitive fluorescent detection of protein arrays with a spot size >150 m on membranes or nitrocellulose coated glass slides must be possible.

• Fluorescent and colorimetric tissue section analysis must be possible at a resolution of 5 m.

• The sample imaging area must be large enough to accommodate the imaging of up to 4 microtiter plates or 12 glass slides.

The versatility of the Odyssey M Imaging System is a unique feature and of significant benefit to researchers. With a single instrument, researchers can complete a multitude of applications that include fluorescent and colorimetric Western blots, immunocytochemistry (the In-Cell Western and the On-Cell Western), ELISAs, protein and nucleic acid arrays, high-resolution fluorescent and RGB tissue section analysis, fluorescent and colorimetric protein gel detection, nucleic acid detection, and non-isotopic EMSAs.

Reagent Specifications:

• Available reagents must include fluorescent IRDye infrared dyes and VRDye visible dyes for labeling antibodies, antibody fragments, peptides, proteins, oligonucleotides, and DNA fragments for emissions higher than 700 nm.

• Reagent offerings should include NIR solutions for the detection of HRP-conjugated antibodies and biotin-conjugated antibodies.

• Reagent offerings should include both NIR and visible membrane stains for the detection of total protein in a sample.

• IRDye infrared dyes must be available for direct detection of samples on membranes, gels, glass and plastic support.

• The system must be able to scan for 2 different IRDye infrared dyes with emissions separated by at least 100 nm to eliminate spectral overlaps.

• IRDye fluorophores must be very stable over several months and should provide the option to be rescanned with equivalent results.

Service and Support:

• The system purchase should include installation and training, a one-year warranty for parts and labor, and an option to purchase support contract within one year of system purchase date.

• The manufacturer shall provide highly knowledgeable, professional and readily accessible PhD Field Application Scientists (FAS) for on-site and / or remote training, servicing and hardware, software and application support of all key applications.

• The FAS team also provides complimentary assay and experimental design consultation for instrument owners and users.

• The manufacturer shall provide highly knowledgeable, professional and readily accessible Technical Support personnel for remote hardware, software and application support.

• The manufacturer shall provide highly knowledgeable, professional and readily accessible Service Technicians for on-site and / or remote servicing of instrumentation.

The manufacturer shall supply customers with up-to-date protocols and application guides.

All questions shall be received via email to Shayna Simpson at Shayna.simpson@hhs.gov before 10:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on Friday, June 5, 2026.

Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria.

In addition, the UEI, Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active mailto:Shayna.simpson@hhs.gov registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received on or before 1:00 PM, Eastern Standard Time, on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and reference RFQ number 75N91026Q00014. Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f). Responses shall be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist at Shayna.simpson@hhs.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted.

For information regarding this solicitation, please contact the Contract Specialist, Shayna Simpson at Shayna.simpson@hhs.gov.

Attachments:

1. Attachment 1 – Purchase Description

2. Attachment 2 – Additional Terms and Conditions

3. Attachment 3 - 52.240-90 Security Prohibitions and Exclusions Rep and Certifications

4. Attachment 4 - Invoice Instructions with IPP http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:Shayna.simpson@hhs.gov mailto:Shayna.simpson@hhs.gov