Questions and Answers IFB91215-2.pdf
PDF 117 KB Posted
- Attached to
- IFB91215-2 Zeiss Microscopes
- Solicitation number
- BPM058304
- Issued by
- Maryland
About this file
This is a Questions and Answers document issued by the University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) on August 13, 2026, in response to inquiries from potential vendors regarding Solicitation IFB91215-2 for Zeiss microscopes and accessories. The procurement is structured as a master contract for discounted Carl Zeiss microscopes and microscope accessories to be ordered on an as-needed basis, with no specific set quantities required. The solicitation requires bidders to be authorized sellers or resellers of Carl Zeiss microscopes directly, not through subcontractors or teaming partners, and to provide a Letter of Authorization from the manufacturer or distributor on their letterhead. The contract is anticipated to be awarded prior to the September 1, 2026 start date. Vendors must submit all required bid documents, including the Transmittal Letter, Appendix B, Appendix F Price Sheet with proposed general discounts, manufacturer price list, Letter of Authorization, and insurance certification, preferably as a single PDF upload in eMMA.
Insurance requirements must be in place within five business days of the Award Notice, with brokers' letters of intent acceptable at bid submission time followed by mandatory Certificates of Insurance upon award. The cyber security and data breach insurance requirement has been waived for this hardware procurement. Minority Business Enterprise (MBE) participation is encouraged but not mandated with a specific percentage goal. The procurement does not require specific microscope specifications, allowing vendors flexibility in their offerings within the Zeiss product line. All bid documents should be submitted in a single PDF when possible, though separate submissions are permissible.
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Other files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| APPENDIX F.pdf | ||
| IFB91215-2CM - Carl Zeiss Microscopes.pdf |
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Text version
August 13th, 2026
TO: All Interested Vendors
FROM: Colin Michael
RE: Response to Questions for Solicitation IFB91215-2 CM
This list of Questions and Responses #1, dated August 13, 2026 is being issued to clarify certain information contained in the above named solicitation. The statements and interpretations of contract requirements, which are stated in the following questions of potential offerors, are not binding to UMB, unless UMB expressly amends the solicitation.
1. 1) Question: I was unable to find specifications for the microscopes in the attached documents, could you kindly provide me with the specifications?
Answer: There are no specific specifications for this contract. It is a master contract for discounted Carl Zeiss Microscopes and Microscope accessories.
2. Question: What is the required quantity for Zeiss Microscopes?
Answer: There is no specific set quantity of microscopes or microscope accessories to be ordered, this is a master contract for general ordering on an as needed basis.
3. Question: Could you confirm where we can access the complete Appendix F Price Sheet, or provide it if it was not included in the version of the IFB we received?
Answer: The Appendix F Price Sheet attached in EMMA is for the vendor to complete with a proposed general discount to be applied.
4. Question: Section III.C requires bidders to be an authorized seller or reseller of Carl Zeiss Microscopes. Must this authorization be held directly by the entity submitting the bid, or may it be satisfied through a subcontractor or teaming partner who holds that authorization?
Answer: This authorization must be held directly by the entity submitting the bid.
5. Question: Is there a specific format or template UMB requires for the Letter of Authorization referenced in Section III.D.6, or is a standard letter from the manufacturer/distributor on their own letterhead sufficient?
Answer: A standard letter from the manufacturer/distributer on their own letterhead is sufficient.
6. Question: Section III.E requires the full insurance package to be in place within 5 business days of the Award Notice. Would UMB accept an insurance binder or a broker's letter of intent to bind coverage at that stage, with formal certificates to follow shortly after?
Answer: At time of bid submission, brokers letter of intent is sufficient. However if awarded the 5 business day deadline for submission of the COI would be mandatory.
7. Question: Since this contract is for supply of hardware (microscopes/accessories) rather than data or software services, could you clarify the intended scope and applicability of the $10,000,000 Cyber Security/Data Breach insurance requirement for this particular procurement?
Answer: Cyber Security insurance will not be required.
8. Question: Is there a specific numeric MBE subcontracting participation goal for this solicitation, or is MBE participation encouraged without a required percentage?
Answer: MBE participation is encouraged however there is not a required percentage.
9. Question: Could you share an estimated timeline for the award decision and Purchase Order issuance, given the contract's intended start date of September 1, 2026?
Answer: The contract is anticipated to be awarded prior to the start date.
10. Question: Should all required bid documents (Transmittal Letter, Appendix B, Appendix F, manufacturer price list, Letter of Authorization, insurance certification) be combined into a single PDF upload in eMMA, or submitted as separate individual attachments?
Answer: Submitting all bid documents in one PDF is preferred, however it is not mandatory.
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