FlowCam 8000
Closed Pre-Solicitation Posted
- Solicitation number
- 141013-26-0071
- Agency
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Department of Commerce
- Responses due
- Set-aside
- No set-aside
Opportunity facts
- NAICS code
- 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- PSC
- 6640 Laboratory Equipment And Supplies
- Place of performance
- Scarborough, Maine, United States
- Points of contact
-
- Michelle Walton michelle.walton@noaa.gov (757) 605-7411
Notice details come from SAM.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), through its Eastern Acquisition Division-Norfolk office, intends to procure a FlowCam 8000 microscope, a flow-imaging cytometer designed for rapid, automated imaging and quantification of suspended particles in fluid samples. This advanced digital imaging particle analyzer enables users to image, enumerate, and classify particles in a continuous flow medium, with primary applications in quantifying marine and freshwater plankton for academic research and water quality monitoring. NOAA is integrating this technology to improve the speed and accuracy of harmful algal bloom (HAB) species identification, significantly enhancing performance compared to traditional manual microscopy methods. The procurement is being conducted on a sole-source basis under FAR 6.103-1 authority, as Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies is the exclusive manufacturer and only authorized distributor of FlowCam instruments in North America, with no authorized partners or resellers available. The pre-solicitation notice was posted on April 13, 2026, with an April 28, 2026 deadline, though this notice is not a request for competitive proposals and firms interested in demonstrating capability to meet the government's requirements are invited to provide documentation.
This procurement carries no set-aside designation and is intended as a sole-source award to Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technologies of Scarborough, Maine, the sole manufacturer, distributor, and service provider of FlowCam technology in the United States and Canada. The NAICS classification is 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) and the PSC category is 6640 (Laboratory Equipment and Supplies). The government's sole-source determination is substantiated by patent protection of FlowCam technology and comprehensive market research indicating zero alternative sources capable of providing equivalent flow-imaging microscopy capabilities. Delivery is required within 90 days from the date of award, establishing a relatively expedited timeline for fulfillment. While the notice does not disclose the specific contract value or award amount, interested firms may submit relevant documentation to substantiate their ability to meet the stated requirements during the solicitation process.
Notice text
***THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S (NOAA) ACQUISITION & GRANTS OFFICE, EASTERN ACQUISITION DIVISION-NORFOLK, NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE (NOS) NATIONAL CENTERS FOR COASTAL OCEAN SCIENCE (NCCOS) OFFICE, INTENDS TO NEGOTIATE AND AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER, ON A SOLE SOURCE BASIS, UNDER AUTHORITY OF RFO FAR 6.103-1, WITH YOKOGAWA FLUID IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES OUT OF SCARBOROUGH, ME FOR A FLOCAM 8000 MICROSCOPE.
NO SET ASIDE IS TO BE USED FOR THIS SOLE SOURCE REQUIREMENT. THE ASSOCIATED NAICS CODE IS 334516.
***THE SOLE SOURCE DETERMINATION IS BASED ON NOAA’S REQUIREMENT THAT YOKOGAWA FLUID IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES IS THE MANUFACTURER AND ONLY DISTRIBUTOR OF FLOWCAM INSTRUMENTS IN NORTH AMERICA. THERE ARE NO AUTHORIZED PARTNERS OR RESELLERS.
NOAA IS INTEGRATING ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES TO IMPROVE THE SPEED AND ACCURACY OF HAB SPECIES IDENTIFICATION. FLOWCAM IS AN INNOVATIVE FLOW-IMAGING CYTOMETER USED TO QUICKLY CAPTURE HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGES OF THOUSANDS OF SUSPENDED PARTICLES IN A SAMPLE. THIS ALLOWS FOR RAPID, AUTOMATED IMAGING AND QUANTIFICATION, WHICH IS SIGNIFICANTLY FASTER THAN TRADITIONAL MANUAL MICROSCOPY. FLOWCAM 8000 IS A UNIQUE DIGITAL IMAGING PARTICLE ANALYZER THAT ENABLES THE USER TO IMAGE, ENUMERATE, AND CLASSIFY PARTICLES IN A CONTINUOUS FLOW MEDIUM. ONE OF ITS PRIMARY USES IS THE QUANTIFICATION OF MARINE AND FRESHWATER PLANKTON FOR ACADEMIC RESEARCH AND WATER QUALITY MONITORING.
FLOWCAM TECHNOLOGY IS COVERED UNDER VARIOUS U.S. AND INTERNATIONAL PATENTS, AND YOKOGAWA FLUID IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES, INC. IS THE SOLE MANUFACTURER, SOLE DISTRIBUTOR, AND SOLE SERVICE PROVIDER OF FLOWCAM IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA. AN INTERNET SEARCH FOR FLUID IMAGING MICROSCOPY RESULTED IN ZERO SOURCES OTHER THAN YOKOGAMA FLUID IMAGING TECHNOLOGIES.
DELIVERY WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM DATE OF AWARD
***THIS PRESOLICITATION NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION OR A REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IN WRITING TO THE IDENTIFIED POINT OF CONTACT WITHIN 15 DAYS AFTER PUBLICATION OF THIS PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE. SUCH REQUESTS AND DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.
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