Intent to Sole Source Leica EM

NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT

INTENDED SOURCE: Leica Microsystems Inc.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT (75N96023Q00102)

This contract action is for the acquisition of an Electron Microscope ICE for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) – Soliciting from a Single Source in conjunction with FAR 8.406-6(a)(1)(i)(B) - Only One Source. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Office of Acquisitions (OA) intends to award a sole source purchase order to Leica Microsystems Inc., 10 Parkway North Blvd., STE 300, Deerfield, IL 60015 for the purchase of laboratory equipment for use at the NIEHS in Research Triangle Park, NC.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Equipment with a size standard of 1,000 Employees.

Description of requirement:

Cryogenic Focused Ion Beam Scanning Electron Microscope

NIEHS has deployed a productive program in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), a powerful set of emerging technologies capable of solving the structure of complex macromolecular assemblies from small quantities of purified material and/or in their biological environment. The newly established Cryo-EM Core, working in the context of the Molecular Microscopy Consortium, a strategic alliance with Duke and UNC, has contributed to the adoption of the methodology by over two dozen research groups. The effort resulted in several publications in high-profile journals. The Cryo-EM core has also established intramural collaborations, most notably with several groups in the intramural program (NCATS, NCI and NIDA) in the context of structural biology research related, among other topics, to the COVID-19 epidemic. Our research in viral fusion proteins applied to HIV and SARS-CoV-2 is extending to the cellular environment. To enable structural studies in the context of the cell, the Core deployed a state-of-the-art scanning electron microscope system furnished with a secondary focused ion beam (Cryo-FIBSEM) capable of detecting objects of interest and shaping the specimen to make is suitable for sub-nanometer resolution cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET). This request is for a High Pressure Freezing (HPF) device that will extend the reach of the Cryo-FIBSEM to the study of cells in the context of tissues and organoids.

The HPF must meet the following specifications:

High pressure freezing to preserve ultrastructure.

Fully automated freezing process.

 Seamless specimen transfer into LN2.

Automated sample loading,

Integrated Liquid Nitrogen Dewar,

Segmented sample storage

Automated refilling of cryogen.

NIEHS will solicit and negotiate directly with Leica Microsystems, Inc. for this laboratory equipment and no solicitation will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or quotations; however, if an interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities must be submitted in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Government to determine if the party can perform the requirement. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All interested parties must express their interest and capabilities in writing via email to christopher.fisher@nih.gov within three (3) days after the date of publication of this notice. No faxed documents will be accepted. If no responsive statements are received within three (3) days, an award will be made to Leica Microsystems, Inc.