NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: Preventive Maintenance Services for one (1) Bruker CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Science and Technology Resources, (OSTR), Spatial Imaging Technology Resource (SpITR) core plans to procure, on a sole source basis, preventive maintenance for one (1) Bruker CosMx Spatial Molecular Imager from:

Bruker Spatial Biology Inc

40 Manning Road

Billerica, MA 01821

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

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Office of Science and Technology Resources, (OSTR), Spatial Imaging Technology Resource (SpITR) core requires preventative maintenance services for a government owned equipment. The SpITR core is providing multiple imaging services to advance cancer research. Using spatial molecular imaging will allow to view tissue in a new light by combining high-plex gene expression profiling with the spatial resolution of immunohistochemistry. This technology is useful for examining cellular interactions, tissue heterogeneity, pathogenicity, and response to therapy.

This equipment is manufactured by Bruker, formally NanoString, Inc. Bruker is the only known service provider for the scientific equipment. The equipment is highly specialized and complicated, integrating many proprietary technologies. Bruker is the only known provider of service by factory trained engineers and the only provider of OEM replacement parts. It is critical for the research community that the equipment is calibrated accurately and maintained according to the manufacturer's specifications. Any deviation from the specifications could compromise countless hours of work, distort and destroy the integrity of information and/or compromise further studies, and significantly delay the laboratory's throughput. The software supplied with this equipment is proprietary, and updates and patches are solely available through Bruker. They have unlimited access to parts and technical support, both of which are of a proprietary nature. Bruker, Inc. is the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) therefore:

• Can provide OEM generated software and hardware component updates/revisions as they are released by the OEM, at no additional cost to the Government.
• Can provide immediate access to a full range of OEM replacement parts.
• Have sufficient knowledge of multiple, complex OEM-designed/installed modifications on the SpITR’s equipment that specifically satisfy requirement.
• Can provide toll-free telephone trouble shooting and email support that includes the latest OEM knowledge and recommendations by certified factory trained engineers.

To NCI’s knowledge, there are no authorized resellers available. Original OEM parts are essential for normal operation of the system. Replacement parts must meet OEM specification and must be identical to the original parts to ensure proper functioning and ensure consistency in results. Furthermore, the software supplied with this equipment is proprietary, and all updates and patches are solely available through the OEM.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party, especially a small business, believes it can meet the Government’s needs, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quote for the Government to consider. The response and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient details to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to Contract Specialist / Contracting Officer, Miguel Diaz, at miguel.diaz@nih.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST on Monday, March 24, 2025 (03/03/25). 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 for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.The Government reserves the right to use the information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. To receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid certification through SAM.GOV. Please reference the notice number 75N91025NOI7176583 on all correspondence.

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