NOI_WEbKnossos_Enterprise_Software_License_and_Technical_Support_1.pdf

United States Department of the Interior

INTERIOR BUSINESS CENTER

Washington, DC 20240

1. Pre-solicitation Notice/Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This pre-solicitation notice is being posted in accordance with the Revolutionary Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Overall (RFO) 5.101.

(1) Point of contact. Department of the Interior (DOI), Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate (AQD), Patrick Jackson (CO)

381 Elden Street, Herndon, VA 20170

Patrick_Jackson@ibc.doi.gov

(2) Set-asides. No set-aside will be utilized. This is a sole source acquisition on behalf of National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR).

(3) Codes for services or supplies. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) NAICS 541519 – Other Computer Related Services

(4) Description.

(i) The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Biomedical Informatics and Information Technology (CBIIT), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), Data Management and Analysis Program (DMAP) support the NCI Intramural Research Program (IRP) microscopy core facilities located on the Bethesda and Frederick campuses. These facilities generate large volumes of high-resolution microscopy data using advanced imaging modalities to support cancer research involving human specimens and animal models. While many microscopy images are managed within NCI's digital pathology environment, three-dimensional (3D) microscopy datasets generated by advanced imaging systems require specialized visualization capabilities beyond those provided by standard image viewers.

(ii) The objective of this acquisition is to provide continued access to the WebKnossos Enterprise software platform, including software licensing, hosting, maintenance, technical support, software updates, and continued support of the existing integration between WebKnossos and NCI's OMERO image management environment.

(iii) The Contractor shall provide WebKnossos Enterprise software licenses sufficient to support NCI's institute-wide implementation for authorized NIH/NCI users and authorized Government support personnel.

The software shall provide capabilities that include, at a minimum:

• Browser-based visualization of large three-dimensional and time-series microscopy datasets;

• Rapid navigation through volumetric image datasets;

• Volume and skeleton annotation;

• Dataset management;

• Collaborative annotation and project management;

• Visualization of precomputed three-dimensional meshes;

• Segmentation proof-reading capabilities;

• Web-based data sharing;

• Single Sign-On (SSO) using OpenID Connect.

The Contractor shall provide technical support throughout the subscription period.

Support shall include:

• Email-based technical support during normal contractor business hours;

• Response to technical support requests within one (1) business day;

• Troubleshooting software defects and operational issues;

• Assistance with software configuration issues;

• Resolution of issues affecting normal system operation.

The Contractor shall provide ongoing maintenance services that include:

• Continuous monitoring of the WebKnossos environment;

• Installation of routine software updates;

• Software bug fixes;

• Security-related software updates;

• Access to software enhancements released during the subscription period that are included within the licensed product.

The Contractor shall provide continued operational support for the existing integration between WebKnossos Enterprise and the Government's OMERO image management environment.

Support shall include maintenance of existing integration capabilities, including:

• Dataset import functionality;

• Metadata synchronization;

• User authentication and authorization;

• Integration supporting OpenID Connect authentication;

• Streaming of image data from Government-managed AWS storage;

• Delivery of datasets through existing application programming interfaces (APIs);

• Troubleshooting integration issues affecting production operations.

The Contractor shall maintain compatibility with the Government's existing implementation throughout the period of performance.

(iv) AQD intends on issuing a sole source acquisition in accordance with RFO Part 12; this acquisition is a bona fide need of Fiscal Year 2026.

(v) It is not anticipated that the World Trade Organization Government Procurement Agreement (WTO GPA) and/or a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) will apply to this acquisition.

(vi) Construction is not applicable to this acquisition.

(vii) Vendors interested in providing alternative compatible software should provide the following information in no more than 2 pages no later than 10:00 AM ET, July 28, 2026:

1. Vendor name

2. System for Award Management Unique Entity Identification Number (UEI)

3. Size standard under the NAICS code referenced in this notice

4. Description of the Description of the proposed service, demonstrating how it meets the salient characteristics identified in this notice

5. If the service and support can be acquired through a re-seller. If so, provide a list of resellers with UEI numbers

6. If the service and support is available through any established government-wide vehicle, such as General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedules.

(viii) The intended source is Scalable Minds GmbH. Scalable Minds GmbH and the developer, copyright owner, and sole proprietary provider of the WEBKNOSSOS software platform. Based on the vendor's published licensing terms and publicly available sales information, subscriptions, hosting services, licensing, and support for WEBKNOSSOS are provided directly by Scalable Minds GmbH. There were no other sources identify as authorized value-added resellers, distributors, or third-party vendors authorized to sell commercial WEBKNOSSOS licenses or subscriptions on behalf of Scalable Minds GmbH. Scalable Minds GmbH is the only known source capable of providing the required commercial WEBKNOSSOS software licenses, associated maintenance, and technical support.

(ix) State whether an offeror or its product or service must meet a qualification requirement in order to be eligible for award; and if so, identify the office from which the qualification requirement may be obtained. No specific “qualification requirements” are required. However, alternate sources other than the Scalable Minds GmbH must meet the salient characteristics.

Salient characteristics:

• The solution shall provide seamless, fully integrated operation within the National Cancer Institute's existing OMERO image management platform without requiring users to switch between separate applications.

• The solution shall support visualization of large, high-resolution three-dimensional microscopy image datasets that cannot be effectively managed by the existing HALO digital pathology platform.

• The solution shall enable rapid streaming and viewing of large volumetric image datasets over standard network connections without requiring users to download complete image files.

• The solution shall allow users to rapidly scroll through multiple focal planes (z-stacks) within thick tissue specimens (greater than 100 micrometers) in a manner comparable to operating a physical microscope.

• The solution shall support image datasets generated by advanced microscopy systems used throughout the NCI Intramural Research Program, including large volumetric and multidimensional imaging data.

• The solution shall operate within the existing NCI OMERO environment without requiring replacement or significant modification of the current infrastructure.

• The solution shall preserve established imaging workflows currently used by NCI investigators, microscopy core facilities, and collaborators.

• The solution shall support secure collaboration and sharing of microscopy image datasets among NCI investigators, microscopy core facilities, and authorized research users.

• The solution shall efficiently manage and display extremely large microscopy datasets consisting of multiple image tiles, channels, and z-dimensions.

• Support hands-free automated sample handling and processing to increase throughput, reduce manual labor, and minimize operator-to-operator variability.

• The solution shall provide browser-based access without requiring specialized desktop software installation for end users.

• The solution shall include commercial software licensing, maintenance, updates, bug fixes, and technical support from the software developer.

• The solution shall maintain continuity of the existing WebKnossos functionality currently deployed and integrated into the NCI OMERO environment without loss of operational capability.

• The solution shall be fully compatible with the custom integration previously developed between WebKnossos and the NCI OMERO environment, avoiding the need for redevelopment or revalidation of existing functionality.

• The solution shall provide reliable, high-performance visualization and management capabilities suitable for cancer research involving tissue, cellular, and molecular imaging datasets generated by NCI microscopy core facilities.

**The Government will not reimburse vendors for any response preparation fees and a request for quote (RFQ) for competitive offerors is not guaranteed from this notice.