Cryo-Electron Microscopy (Cryo-EM) Services

The National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute seeks cryo-electron microscopy services for specimen preparation and in situ cryo-electron tomography of hair cell structures, with quotations due September 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM EST. This is a sole-source, non-competitive action under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures; the University of Virginia Molecular Electron Microscopy Core was identified through market research as the only source capable of meeting the complete technical and operational requirements.

Performance is at the contractor's facility. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, Laboratory of Cell Structure and Dynamics requires an integrated cryogenic workflow encompassing Correlative Light and Electron Microscopy, fluorescence-guided identification of regions of interest, cryogenic focused ion beam milling, specimen preparation, cryogenic screening, high-resolution cryo-ET data acquisition, and initial data preprocessing and tomographic reconstruction. The contractor must provide access to all necessary instrumentation and software, qualified technical personnel experienced in cryo-EM and cryo-FIB techniques, technical assistance for imaging parameter optimization, maintenance of appropriate cryogenic conditions, data delivery in agreed electronic formats, and support for direct Government scientist participation in specimen screening and data acquisition. The workflow must enable real-time scientific decision-making and continuity across preparation, targeting, screening, and acquisition phases.

The NAICS code is 541714 (Research and Development in Biotechnology). PSC is Q301, Reference Laboratory Testing. The proposed award period runs September 30, 2026 through September 29, 2027. Responses must include unit pricing, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery period, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. point, DUNS number, Taxpayer Identification Number, and business size certification; all offerors require active SAM registration. Points of contact are Roxanne Burkett (Roxane.burkett@nih.gov) and Andrew Dinh (Andrew.dinh@nih.gov).