Notice of Intent to Sole Source- Maintenance Service Agreement for NINDS' Glacios Cryo-TEM System

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), operating under the Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking to sole source a comprehensive Maintenance/Service Agreement for their Glacios Cryogenic Transmission Electron Microscope (Cryo-TEM) System. The procurement involves specialized maintenance services including one annual preventative maintenance visit, 48-hour repair response time, unlimited scientific phone and remote support, complete parts and labor coverage, and potential electron source replacement for this critical scientific equipment. The contract is specifically targeted to FEI Company/Thermo Fisher Scientific as they are identified as the sole manufacturer and authorized service provider for this specialized scientific equipment located at the NIH Main Campus in Bethesda, Maryland. This equipment is essential to NINDS's Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility's capability to support structural biology research operations. Responses to this sole source notice are due by September 24, 2025, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time and must be submitted electronically to the designated Contracting Officer.

This procurement does not utilize any set-aside designations and is structured as a non-competitive sole source award to FEI Company/Thermo Fisher Scientific, who serves as both the original equipment manufacturer and the only authorized service provider for the Glacios system. The Glacios Cryo-TEM System comprises multiple sophisticated Thermo Scientific components including a Ceta 16M camera, Falcon 4 direct electron detector, the cryogenic transmission electron microscope itself, and associated software licenses that require specialized technical expertise. The contract period is established for one year, running from September 30, 2025, to September 29, 2026, and falls under NAICS code 811210 for Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance. The solicitation number is 75N95025Q00272, and the specialized nature of this scientific equipment necessitates the sole source approach due to the unique technical requirements and proprietary components involved. The maintenance agreement ensures continuous operational capability for this critical research infrastructure that supports the institute's structural biology research mission.