NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source: Upgrade of NIH 3i Light Sheet Microscope

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source

SOLICITATION NUMBER:75N95024Q00432

TITLE:  Upgrade of NIH 3i Light Sheet Microscope

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 66 -- Instruments & laboratory equipment

NAICS CODE: 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

RESPONSE DATE: July 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST

PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT:

Michael Horn

Michael.horn@nih.gov

DESCRIPTION:

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with 3i (Intelligent Imaging Innovations Inc.) for the upgrade of NIH’s existing 3i light sheet microscope.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees.  

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting Officers may solicit from one source IF the Contracting Officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization).

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2024-05, dated April 22, 2024.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource (SNIR) requires an upgrade of a 3i light sheet microscope. The purposes are to provide more uniform resolution, more rapid imaging, and imaging of larger samples than is possible with the instrument as currently configured.

A light sheet microscope provides rapid imaging of appropriately prepared samples with much less photodamage than standard microscopy techniques. The SNIR uses a light sheet microscope to image intact brains or large pieces of them that have been made optically transparent, a process referred to as ‘clearing’. This allows three dimensional images to be acquired and avoids the labor and tissue damage associated with microtome sectioning, which is required for image acquisition with most other types of microscopes.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The goal of this acquisition is to upgrade the current 3i CTLS instrument in the SNIR to the configuration of the 3i CTLS AxL.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

The vendor shall upgrade the existing 3i CTLS microscope to the following 3i AxL configuration

Salient characteristics/product functionalities include:

Light sheet with 2 mm waist scanned across sample in synchrony with camera rolling shutter.

Accommodates samples of 10 x 10 x 10mm, 25 x 25 x 20mm, 50 x 25 x 20mm or 100 x 30 x 30mm in different chambers

1. Includes different sample chambers for samples with lengths of 10- and 20-mm.  
   1. Includes both clamping and non-clamping holders for samples with lengths of 10- and 20-mm.
   2. Thermostatically controlled sample chamber.
   3. Integrates with and/or includes necessary modifications to use existing NIMH 3i CTLS instrument including lasers, microscope frame, and software.

Entire system fully warrantied for one year from installation of upgrade including unlimited remote and on-site service as required.

Delivery Date:  No later than 120 days following the award of the contract.

Period of Performance:N/A

Option(s): N/A

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, 3i  is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the products required by NIMH SNIR.  There are no substitutes available.

The intended source is:

3i (Intelligent Imaging Innovations Inc.)

3575 Ringsby Ct., Suite 102

Denver, CO 80216

The essential characteristics of the upgrade of the 3i light sheet microscope that limit the availability to a sole source are the features that are unique to this microscope. Only this suggested source can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because 3i, the proposed contractor, is the sole manufacturer of this instrument. The instrument is a complicated system with intricate hardware and software interactions that must function flawlessly. The details of many of the parts and interactions are proprietary. 3i is the only company that can provide and fully integrate their product within NIH’s current 3i microscope. NIH’s market research indicated that none of the other microscope suppliers are able to integrate their equipment into NIH’s current 3i light sheet microscope.

CLOSING STATEMENT

THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity ID UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size.

Responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture).  All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement, : July 28, 2024, at 5:00 PM EST, and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95024Q00432.

Responses must be submitted electronically to Michael Horn, Contract Specialist, at michael.horn@nih.gov .

U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.