Sources Sought Notice.docx

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability and capability of small businesses (including certified 8(a), Small Disadvantaged, and HUBZone firms; veteran and service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, and women-owned small businesses. This notice is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposals, Solicitation, Request for Quotes, or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained herein. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this notice. The Government does not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this sources sought. Any responses received will not be used as a proposal.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Eye Institute (NEI), Ocular Genomics and Visual Function Branch (OGVFB), Translational Research Core (TRC) is seeking to identify any sources with capabilities or prior experience that can provide a fully integrated dual YAG/SLT ophthalmic laser system with associated accessories. This equipment will be used to support both ongoing clinical procedures and high-impact translational research projects involving porcine surgical models. The NEI requires a (new, replacement) dual therapeutic laser system for development of novel ophthalmic surgical techniques, treatment paradigms, and animal models of degenerative eye disease using porcine eyes.

OBJECTIVE: NIH/OLAO/OALM/HLS wishes to learn about available vendor capabilities for providing a fully integrated dual YAG/SLT ophthalmic laser system with associated accessories.

Statement of minimum system capability requirements:

(Bold indicates features that are uniquely or disproportionately critical) To meet the needs of inventive surgical research in pig models, the ophthalmic laser system must deliver the following critical operational capabilities:

1. Wide, continuous anterior and posterior Nd:YAG focal offset adjustment sufficient to compensate for porcine ocular anatomy and experimental variability without increasing pulse energy.

As a critical differentiator, the laser system must be capable of wide and continuous YAG offset adjustment which support a continuous anterior/posterior Nd:YAG offset range of up to +/-500 um, allowing precise displacement of the photodisruption focal point relative to the aiming beam and ocular structures.

This capability is decisive for pig eye work. The larger porcine lens and altered optical power frequently require offset values well beyond what is sufficient in human eyes. Continuous adjustment allows the operator to place plasma formation exactly at the desired tissue interface rather than accepting a coarse approximation.

By contrast, commonly available alternative YAG/SLT systems provide only a small number of discrete offset positions (for example, -150 um, +30 um, +150 um). In pig eyes, these discrete steps are often insufficient, forcing the operator to compensate by increasing energy or accepting suboptimal focal placement.

This limitation cannot be mitigated by technique or training and represents a hard functional constraint and establishes one of the most critical minimum requirements for final purchase. Laser systems which fail to meet this specification will be deemed technically unacceptable.

1. Fine-grained, stable Nd:YAG energy control enabling consistent plasma formation at low energy levels.

1. High-precision aiming and small YAG spot size appropriate for delicate, non-standard anterior segment targets.

The laser system must support fine control of multiple interdependent parameters, including:

· Nd:YAG energy range from approximately 0.3 to 10 mJ, continuously adjustable

· Small YAG spot size (approximately 8 um) for localized photodisruption

· Selectable burst modes (1, 2, or 3 pulses) allowing controlled energy delivery tailored to tissue response This combination is particularly important for novel applications where tissue response is being studied or optimized. In experimental settings, the ability to adjust offset, energy, and burst structure independently allows researchers to explore safe operating envelopes without exceeding damage thresholds.

Systems with coarser control or fewer adjustable dimensions inherently limit experimental design and force higher-energy operation, which is incompatible with our research goals.

1. Combined Nd:YAG and SLT capability in a single, integrated platform, avoiding workflow disruption, optical re-registration errors, and inter-device variability.

1. Operational reliability and calibration stability suitable for scheduled large-animal experiments where downtime or drift results in lost animals and lost data.

Beyond raw specifications, the ophthalmic laser system must provide sufficient documented design validation to demonstrate shot-to-shot stability, clean plasma formation, and reduced optical breakdown variability. In practice, this translates to:

· More predictable tissue response at lower energy

· Reduced need for repeated shots

· Lower cumulative energy delivered to the eye Platforms used in similar settings which have demonstrated a tendency toward calibration drift and variability are not technically acceptable as this calibration drift and variability are particularly problematic in research environments where precision and reproducibly are required to support result validity. For example, in large-animal studies, a system going out of calibration does not merely delay work; it can invalidate entire experimental cohorts.

The reliability and stability standards, as described are anticipated to directly support experimental reproducibility, improve animal welfare, and contribute to cost control.

1. Parameter flexibility across multiple axes (offset, energy, burst structure) to support exploratory and iterative surgical technique development.

1. Add a statement about the wheelchair-accessibility for the laser stand.

Services to be performed The vendor will provide the following services to NEI, OGVFB, TRC:

- Delivery of a Combined YAG / SLT ophthalmic laser system and mobile wheelchair-accessible laser stand.

- Professional on-site installation and system calibration, performed by certified technical staff.

- Initial system orientation and user training, including instruction for safe operation, emergency shut-down procedures, and basic troubleshooting.

DELIVERY LOCATION:

NIH

Building 10 10 Center Drive Bethesda, MD 20892

Companies are encouraged to respond if they have the capability and capacity to provide the identified products and services with little or no disruption of services to the current users at the NIH/NEI.

Interested small business potential Offerors are encouraged to respond to this notice. However, be advised that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of respondents' capacity and capability to satisfy the specific work as requirements herein. Pricing information is encouraged, but not required. Responses must directly demonstrate the company's capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform each of the tasks described above at a sufficient level of detail to allow definitive evaluation; and evidence that the contractor can satisfy the minimum requirements listed above while in compliance with FAR 52.219-14 ("Limitations on Subcontracting"). Failure to definitively address each of these factors will result in a finding that respondent lacks capability to perform the work.

Responses to this notice shall be limited to 20 pages, and must include:

1. Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and fax numbers, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives.

2. Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail addresses of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses.

3. Business size for a NAICS: 339112 with size limitation standards of the employees and status, if qualified as an 8(a) firm (must be certified by the Small Business Administration (SBA), Small Disadvantaged Business (must be certified by SBA), Woman-Owned Small Business, HUBZone firm (must be certified by SBA), and/or Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (must be listed in the VetBiz Vendor Information Pages).

4. UEI number, CAGE Code, Tax Identification Number (TIN), and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc). Companies also must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov to be considered as potential sources.

Please submit copies of any documentation, such as letters or certificates to indicate the firm's status (see item #3 above).

Teaming arrangements are acceptable, and the information required above on the company responding to this announcement shall also be provided for each entity expected to be teammates of the respondent for performance of this work.

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure.

Interested Offerors should submit their capability statement not exceeding twenty (20) pages in length, excluding standard brochures. SUBMISSIONS ARE DUE no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, April, 2026. The capabilities response shall be e-mailed to: david.shen@nih.gov All information received in response to this notice that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Information provided in response to this notice will be used to assess alternatives available for determining how to proceed in the acquisition process. This notice is part of Government Market Research, a continuous process for obtaining the latest information on the commercial status of the industry with respect to their current and near-term abilities. The information provided herein is subject to change and in no way binds the Government to solicit for or award a competitive contract.

The NH/NEI will use the information submitted in response to this notice at its discretion and will not provide comments to any submission; however, the content of any responses to this notice may be reflected in subsequent solicitation. NIH/OLAO/OALM/HLS reserves the right to contact any respondent to this notice for the sole purpose of enhancing NIH/OLAO/OALM/HLS 's understanding of the notice submission.

This announcement is Government market research, and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses.

It is emphasized that this is a notice for planning and information purposes only and is not be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into a contractual agreement, nor will the government pay for information solicited.

Responses to this Sources Sought Notice shall be submitted before the closing date and time to the attention of the Contract Specialist listed below.

Primary Point of Contact.:

David Shen, Purchasing Agent david.shen@nih.gov

Contracting Office Address:

6701 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, Maryland 20817

Place of Contract Performance:

NIH, Building 10 10 Center Drive Bethesda, Maryland 20892 United States