RFQ_75N94023Q00017_Zeiss.pdf

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation number is 75N94023Q00017 and is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-01. The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 811210 and the business size standard is $30M. However, this solicitation is not set aside for small business. This acquisition is being conducted using Simplified Acquisition Procedures in accordance with FAR Part 13. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to contract on a sole source basis with Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC., One North Broadway – White Plains, NY 10601 to procure a one-year Protect Premium Service Agreement (Coverage Period: April 29, 2023– April 28, 2024) for Carl Zeiss Microscopy manufactured instruments and their components. See Attached.

Protect Premium Service Agreement to include but not limited to:

• Prioritized/Preferred scheduling for service appointments

• Forward deployment of parts and locals service engineers at key institutions.

• Scheduled and Emergency service performed between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, excluding Zeiss’s holidays

• All labor and travel related charges associated with any service visit in addition to the PM visit as may be required during the contract year, is included.

• One (1) preventative maintenance inspection (where applicable) per Service Agreement year to include all labor and travel associated with conducting this PM visit.

• All covered replacement parts

• System Computer (where applicable): The coverage is limited to the restoration of the system functionality

• Software version upgrades and installation

• Factory trained Customer Support Engineers

Discount on the following:

• consumable purchases and instruments upgrades

• on-site applications user training

• on-site application support

• software modules

• instrument relocation services

• training session at Zeiss microscopy labs

• Unlimited application and technical phone support w/in business hours, instant remote support

• Remote diagnostic, service and support

• Zeiss scheduled remote training webinars

• Loaner Equipment (when applicable) for period of repair, etc.

• All services are/shall be performed by Factory trained Field Service Engineers currently employed by Carl Zeiss.

Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC is the only entity in the US authorized by Carl Zeiss (the manufacturer) to provide comprehensive service and support for the Carl Zeiss instruments.

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 the instruments in optimal condition. Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC can engage directly with the engineers that designed the instruments, to help resolve challenging technical support needs.

Repairing and maintaining Zeiss confocal systems requires extensive training and access to proprietary technical information and replacement parts. Carl Zeiss technicians are trained at the Zeiss Headquarters in Jena, Germany. The technical information available to Zeiss service engineers include proprietary trade secrets which are not publicly available. Some hardware parts and software algo rhythms and routines used in Zeiss confocal microscopes are likewise proprietary. Without access to these custom parts and closed-source software, it would be difficult or impossible for any third-party to be responsible for maintaining and repairing any Carl Zeiss confocal systems. To the best of our knowledge, there is no company (outside of Zeiss) operating in the U.S. that can provide actual service for recent Zeiss laser confocal scanning microscope such as those on this posting. These instruments by virtue of their complex nature containing multiple individual components require regular maintenance as well as alignment and calibrations which can only be carried out by dedicated knowledgeable engineers trained specifically by the manufacturer Carl Zeiss. In addition, Carl Zeiss alone owns the rights to all component parts required during the maintenance of these instruments. No other vendor has either access or can provide these specialized parts, Zeiss has the correct components/parts for these microscopes in inventory. These microscopes are mission critical for the scientific experiments undertaken in the individual laboratories where these devices are maintained in NICHD laboratories. These sophisticated microscopes contain component parts that are both electronics components as well as optical components which have been specifically engineered and incorporated and integrated in a single functioning unit. In addition, the component integration is achieved through dedicated computer control using highly complex software systems developed by Carl Zeiss. Carl Zeiss, in addition holds all patent rights for the entire system. Carl Zeiss under this agreement do not cover service by anyone other than Zeiss’ authorized personnel or cover peripherals not provided by Zeiss, thus use of third parties personnel and parts/consumable would void any warranties on these critically needed instruments. Furthermore, Carl Zeiss trains only their engineers on the functions and system control of all these integrated devices. Carl Zeiss does not offer this training to anyone outside of their personnel resources. Furthermore, a service/support maintenance support directly through Carl Zeiss has numerous advantages such as those listed above. The priority scheduling is very important for the proper upkeep and functionality of these complex microscopes/instruments. Thus, timely service is crucial in the functioning of core facilities and stand-alone research microscopes that student and postdoctoral scientists rely on for their day-to-day work. Acquisition of service contract offering from other entities/third parties’ providers can lead to substantive problems getting timely service engineer dispatched and can lead to down times on devices. NIH is a research organization where critical experiments require many weeks of tissue culture preparations and in animal breeding programs, thus such delays will impose a very large financial burden on research laboratories which are hurting for research funds in the first place. Waste of experimental reagents, animals and human resources are the biggest problem in addition to reduction in research productivities.

The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of the 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1), FAR 6.302.

The offeror must include a completed copy of the provision of FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items with its offer. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-2, Evaluation

– Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-4 and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items; and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items – Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions applies to this acquisition. The offeror must include their Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. Note to Contractor: The contractor shall/must provide a completed copy of FAR 52.204-24, "Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment" with their quote in response to this solicitation. The clauses are available in full text at http://www.acquisition.gov/far/. Interested vendor, equipment service/maintenance management provider; must provide documentation confirming authorization and certified capability from the OEM/Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC to perform and provide all services, training, parts, etc. for the instruments/components identified in this notice. Responses to this notice without this confirmation from the manufacturer will be considered as invalid. Interested vendors capable of furnishing/providing the government with the services, consumables etc.

specified in this synopsis should submit a copy of their quotation via email to robinsti@mail.nih.gov. Offers must also be accompanied by descriptive literature, warranties and other information that demonstrates that the offer meets all the foregoing requirements.

Quotations will be due fifteen calendar days from the publication date of this synopsis or by/NLT January 24, 2023, by 1:00pm EST. via email to robinsti@mail.nih.gov. The quotation must reference “Solicitation number” 75N94023Q00017. Any questions must be sent via email to robinsti@mail.nih.gov and must include solicitation# 75N94022Q00017 in the subject line of email. Note: In order to receive an award, contractor must be registered and have valid certification in the SAM database @www.sam.gov.

mailto:robinsti@mail.nih.gov mailto:robinsti@mail.nih.gov