Sol_75N98026Q01163.pdf

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National Institutes of Health Div. Simplified Acq. Policy & Services, OALM 6701 Rockledge Drive, RK II, 4th floor Bethesda, MD 20817

75N98026Q01163

ANDREW DINH

+10

000-000000

09/09/2026

09/16/2026 1400 ED

Multiple

Acquisition of Confocal Microscope Laser

System Replacement

1 7

PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED ACQUISITION

Office of Acquisitions, Office of Management

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

(FAR Subparts 5.101(a)(2))

1. Announcement/Number: 75N98026Q01163

2. Post Date: 09/9/2026

3. Closing Response Date: 09/16/2026

4. Proposed Award Date: 9/30/2026-1/29/2026 (delivery 120 days ARO)

5. Project Title: Acquisition of Confocal Microscope Laser System Replacement

6. Contracting Office: R&D and Professional Services - Division B, OALM Office of the Director, National Institutes of Health, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Rockledge Building 2, Suite 400, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902

7. Contact Point/Contracting Officer/Contract Specialist: Roxanne Burkett - Roxane.burkett@nih.gov / Andrew Dinh – Andrew.dinh@nih.gov

8. Acquisition Authority: This acquisition is being conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures, and the resultant contract award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2026-01.

9.

10. North American Classification System (NAICS) Code: 334516

11. Small business size standard: 1,000 employees

12. Classification Code: 6640

13. Set-aside Status: None, this is a single-sole source (including brand-name) non-competitive action.

mailto:Roxane.burkett@nih.gov mailto:Andrew.dinh@nih.gov

14.Description: The NIDCD Laboratory of Cell Structure and Dynamics requires replacement of the laser system serving its existing high-performance confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscope. The current laser system has experienced a critical failure that substantially limits the functionality of the microscope. Replacement is necessary to restore the instrument’s full imaging capabilities and support ongoing biomedical research activities.

The replacement system must provide the multiple laser excitation wavelengths required for the laboratory’s confocal and TIRF fluorescence imaging applications, with two independent fiber-optic outputs serving the respective imaging modalities. The system must be compatible with and capable of integration into the existing microscope configuration, optical pathways, control architecture, and established imaging workflow.

The objective of this acquisition is to restore reliable multi-wavelength fluorescence excitation and imaging capabilities for high-resolution studies of inner-ear cells and tissues, live-cell imaging of protein localization and dynamics, and other investigations of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying auditory and vestibular function. The replacement system must provide the optical performance, stability, reliability, and reproducibility required to support the laboratory’s established imaging workflows and multiple ongoing research projects.

The replacement laser system shall meet the following minimum requirements:

• Provide laser excitation wavelengths of 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm for multi-wavelength fluorescence imaging.

• Provide a multi-line laser system with two optical fiber outputs capable of supplying the required laser excitation to the existing confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) illumination pathways, respectively.

• Support controlled selection and operation of the individual laser wavelengths required for multi-channel fluorescence imaging.

• Provide sufficient, stable, and reproducible optical output at the specified excitation wavelengths to support the performance requirements of the laboratory’s existing confocal and TIRF imaging system.

• Be fully compatible with and capable of integration into the laboratory’s existing confocal microscope and TIRF imaging system, without compromising the functionality or performance of the existing instrument.

• Provide all required optical coupling components, hardware, electronic interfaces, controllers, and associated components necessary to connect the replacement laser system to the existing confocal and TIRF illumination pathways.

• Provide the communication, synchronization, and triggering capabilities required for integration and coordinated operation with the existing microscope configuration and imaging-control environment.

• Maintain compatibility with the laboratory’s existing microscope control architecture and established imaging workflow.

• Provide stable, reproducible, and reliable laser illumination suitable for high-resolution confocal and TIRF fluorescence imaging, including imaging of inner-ear cells and tissues and live-cell experiments investigating cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying auditory and vestibular function.

• Include all hardware, optical components, fiber-optic connections, interfaces, controllers, adapters, and accessories necessary to connect, configure, and fully integrate the replacement laser system with the existing microscope.

• Following installation, integration, and configuration, the complete system shall restore the existing microscope to operational multi-wavelength confocal and TIRF imaging capability through the respective fiber-optic illumination pathways.

The Contractor shall:

• Provide all equipment, components, hardware, optical components, fiber-optic connections, electronic interfaces, controllers, and accessories required to deliver a complete and fully functional replacement laser system integrated with the laboratory’s existing confocal and total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscope.

• Provide a multi-line laser system incorporating the required 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm excitation wavelengths and dual optical fiber outputs serving the existing confocal and TIRF illumination pathways.

• Coordinate delivery, installation, integration, and testing of the replacement laser system with the Government’s designated technical point of contact.

• Perform installation and complete integration of the replacement laser system with the laboratory’s existing confocal microscope, TIRF imaging system, optical pathways, and associated control system.

• Ensure that installation and integration are performed by appropriately trained and qualified technical personnel familiar with the supplied laser system and its integration with confocal and TIRF microscopy systems.

• Install, connect, configure, and align the two optical fiber outputs required to provide laser illumination to the existing confocal and TIRF imaging pathways.

• Configure all required hardware, communication, synchronization, and triggering interfaces between the replacement laser system and the existing microscope and imaging-control environment.

• Verify operation of the 405 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm, and 640 nm laser excitation wavelengths following installation and integration.

• Verify proper delivery and control of laser excitation through the respective confocal and TIRF fiber-optic outputs and confirm that both imaging modalities are operational.

• Perform all necessary system checks, optical alignment, configuration, calibration, and functional testing required to demonstrate proper and stable operation of the installed laser system.

• Verify that the replacement laser system communicates properly with the existing microscope control and imaging environment and supports the laboratory’s established multi-wavelength confocal and TIRF fluorescence imaging workflows.

• Correct any installation-, integration-, alignment-, or configuration-related deficiencies identified during initial system testing before Government acceptance.

• Upon completion of installation and testing, demonstrate to the Government’s technical representative that the replacement laser system and existing microscope are functioning together as a fully integrated multi-wavelength confocal and TIRF imaging system, including successful operation of both fiber-optic illumination pathways.

15. Statutory Authority:

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1

(b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13— Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements.

16. Single-sole Source (Including brand-name) Determination:

The determination by the Government to make a single-sole source (Including brand-name) award is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10—Market Research, specifically the results of the market research concluded: Nikon has the only manufacturer-supported and technically compatible replacement laser that restores the intended multi-wavelength confocal and TIRF capabilities of the existing Government-owned microscope while preserving the substantial Government investment in the existing imaging platform.

Nikon Instruments is the manufacturer of the existing microscope and provides a replacement laser configuration designed and supported for integration with this Nikon imaging platform. Use of a laser system that has not been designed, validated, and supported for the existing microscope would introduce significant technical and operational risk, including incompatibility with optical fiber coupling and illumination pathways, electronic control and triggering, synchronization, software and driver interfaces, and overall system performance.

Substitution of a non-compatible laser system could require additional engineering, custom interfaces, optical modifications, software or control-system changes, and independent validation, with no assurance that the resulting configuration would provide the required performance or preserve full functionality of the existing microscope. Such modifications could also increase cost and implementation time and create additional service and support issues for the integrated microscope system.

17. Closing Statement:

This notice 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 Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), 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 action 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 September 16, 2026 at 2:00PM EST.

Responses must be submitted via email to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer identified above.

http://www.sam.gov/

“All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.”

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