New Optical Microscope

The Naval Postgraduate School's Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department is seeking to procure a new optical microscope system through the Department of the Navy Naval Supply Systems Command. The required system must include four primary components: an advanced optical microscope with multiple imaging modes (brightfield, darkfield, polarized light, differential interference contrast), a high-resolution digital camera with USB 3.0 connectivity, a Windows 11-compatible computer with adequate GPU and CPU performance, and comprehensive image analysis software capable of grain size, porosity, and phase analyses. The microscope must accommodate imaging of metallic, ceramic, polymeric, composite, and mineralogical samples, featuring five objective lenses ranging from 2X to 100X magnifications, adjustable binocular eyepiece, built-in power source, and LED or halogen light source with appropriate reflector cubes. This procurement aims to complement and eventually replace an aging Nikon Epiphot 200 microscope that is becoming difficult to maintain due to discontinued parts availability. The pre-solicitation notice was posted on July 31, 2025, with responses due by August 6, 2025, and delivery required by September 30, 2025, to the NPS Warehouse in Monterey, California.

This opportunity is designated as a Total Small Business set-aside, restricting competition to qualified small business entities. The procurement will primarily support educational and research activities conducted by students, staff, and faculty within the MAE department. Deliveries must be coordinated within specific timeframes, accepted Monday through Friday between 0700-1130 and 1230-1600 PST at the designated warehouse facility. The current incumbent appears to be a Nikon Epiphot 200 system that has served the department but is now facing obsolescence challenges. The procurement falls under NAICS code 333310 for Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing and PSC code 6650 for Optical Instruments, Test Equipment, Components and Accessories. While specific contract values are not disclosed in the pre-solicitation notice, the comprehensive nature of the four-component system suggests a substantial investment in advanced microscopy capabilities for the institution's materials science and engineering programs.