Notice of Intent to Sole Source PM&R Nikon Laser Systems

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 has published a Special Notice of Intent to Sole Source for Preventative Maintenance and Repair Services for Nikon Laser Systems. This notice pertains to a firm-fixed price, one-time service contract valued at $26,885.00 for maintenance of two specialized microscope systems at the Pittsburgh VA Medical Center: the Nikon A1R Microscope System and the Nikon SIM High Resolution Microscope System. The agency intends to award this contract directly to Nikon Instruments, Inc. as the original equipment manufacturer and sole authorized service provider for these laser systems. The procurement falls under NAICS code 811210 for Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a small business size standard of $34.0 million. Market research conducted by the VA confirmed the proprietary nature of these maintenance services, with no alternative vendors identified through VetCert and DSBS searches.

The primary purpose of this Special Notice is to inform potential contractors of the government's intent to proceed with a sole source award while providing an opportunity for interested parties to demonstrate their capabilities. Contractors interested in challenging this sole source determination must submit a one-page capability statement by July 21, 2025, at 10:00 AM EST to Contract Specialist Emily Hall at emily.hall5@va.gov with the subject line "Pittsburgh Nikon Laser Systems PM&R." The capability statement must include the company name, SAM UEI Number, socioeconomic category, and a brief description of service capabilities. The government retains sole discretion in determining whether to compete the proposed contract based on received responses, and simply responding as an "interested party" does not qualify a vendor as a potential source. The contract is critical to the VA's research program, as these microscope systems are essential for ongoing research and any service interruption could potentially impact patient care.