Aperio VERSA 8, Brightfield

Sole Source Notice
The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) is the Nation's federal health sciences university and is committed to excellence in military medicine and public health during peace and war. We provide the Nation with health professionals dedicated to career service in the Department of Defense and the United States Public Health Service and with scientists who serve the common good. We serve the uniformed services and the Nation as an outstanding academic health sciences center with a worldwide perspective for education, research, service, and consultation; we are unique in relating these activities to military medicine, disaster medicine, and military medical readiness. USUHS is located in Bethesda, MD on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda.
The mission of the USUHS is to provide the highest quality education programs in the health sciences to those selected individuals who demonstrate dedication to a health profession career in the Uniformed Services.
Intended Recipient: Leica Biosystems, Chicago, IL
Intent to Sole-Source: USUHS intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract to Leica Biosystems for One (1) Aperio VERSA 8, Brightfield, up to three (3) days of on-site installation, one (1) day of on-site training, one (1) Automatic oiler, one (1) OJB HC PL APO 20X, one (1) OJB HC PL APO 40X, one (1) OBJ HC PL FL 63X OIL, one (1) Versa System UPS 110 VAC and one (1) NAS drive for VERSA scanners (24Tb). The Aperio VERSA 8, Brightfield will be used for training medical students on pathology and histology by the USUHS' Pathology (PAT) department. 
Sole Source Justification: Leica Biosystems is the only known source for the Aperio VERSA 8 and the related equipment/attachments. The Aperio VERSA 8, Brightfield is the only known scanner that can be automatically programmed for intermixed dry scanning and oil immersion scanning of glass slides in the same scanning run. Further, the Aperio VERSA 8, Brightfield scanner is the only known machine that is compatible with the Aperio digital slide server and e-slide manager program, which is currently utilized by USU.
In accordance with 5.207(c)(16)(ii), all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. Responses to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition would be advantageous to the Government, would not be cost or time prohibitive, and that the interested potential Offeror could provide the same or similar system that will 1) meet specifications and 2) will not alter the outcome of ongoing studies. Information received will be considered for the purposes of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government will not be responsible for any costs incurred by responding to this notice.
Responses must be received via email at emily.mashek@usuhs.edu by 3:00 pm on Friday, April 26, 2019.