NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Maintenance Service for Oxford Nanoimaging, Inc. (ONI) Nanoimager and Associated Equipment

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR) Laboratory of Pathology (LP), Translational Nanobiology Section requires preventative maintenance and emergency services for one (1) government-owned Oxford Nanoimaging, Inc. (ONI) Nanoimager to maintain optimal performance of this equipment.

The Office of Acquisitions (OA) plans to procure, on a sole source basis, maintenance services for this specialized device from:

Oxford Nanoimaging, Inc. (9310 Athena Circle, Ste. 220 La Jolla, CA 92037-1376) SAM UEID: SMPBTM4QLX73

The response close date of this notice for this requirement is in accordance with FAR 5.203(a)(1). This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) and, in accordance with FAR 13, is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6.  The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance; and the small business size standard is $34 million.

The ONI Nanoimager is a benchtop-sized, super-resolution microscope capable of visualizing, tracking, and imaging individual molecules in living cells with precise resolution. This highly advanced instrument is based upon a recently developed technology. It provides specialized resolution imaging for nanoparticle analysis and allows investigators to monitor subcellular processes and biological structures in real time.

The ONI Nanoimager requires intense upkeep and regular maintenance to ensure continuous function.  This equipment is critical to the research of the NCI/CCR/ Laboratory of Pathology, Translational Nanobiology Section. The ONI Nanoimager must be calibrated and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Any deviation from the specifications could jeopardize the functionality of the equipment, which would directly impact the cancer research supported by the Translational Nanobiology Section, which is unacceptable. Therefore, it is crucial that this super-resolution microscope is properly maintained with OEM parts by certified technicians from Oxford Nanoimaging, Inc.  To NCI’s knowledge, Oxford Nanoimaging, Inc. (ONI) is the only provider that can meet the Government’s needs at this time.

ONI produces and distributes this specialized benchtop super-resolution microscope.  The equipment and software that runs the device are proprietary. Only service engineers at ONI are authorized to handle the ONI Nanoimager hardware and operating system. In addition, ONI is the sole-source for replacement parts.

To NCI’s knowledge, ONI does not license third party technicians to perform maintenance on its equipment.  It is understood that if a third-party technician repairs an ONI Nanoimager then the manufacturer would not perform any subsequent repairs or maintenance on the device.  This scenario creates undue risk for the Government because if the third-party technician is unable to resolve an issue or provide adequate maintenance then the Government would be unable to return to the manufacturer for maintenance and repair services. 

This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.  The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement.  Responses must be received no later than 12:00PM EST, March 26, 2024.  All responses and questions must be in writing and emailed to Lena Lee, Contract Specialist, via electronic mail at lena.lee@nih.gov.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid, current Entity Record, including current Representations and Certifications, in the System for Award Management (SAM) through SAM.gov. Reference: 75N91024Q00047 on all correspondence.

***Please reference the attached Statement of Work for more details pertaining to the nature of the work to be performed.***

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use the information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate.

Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).