Preventative Maintenance and Repair Services for Carl Zeiss LSM 800 Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM)

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Engineering Lab (EL), Infrastructure Materials Group intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106(b)(1), with Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC to acquire preventative maintenance and repair services for NIST EL’s Carl Zeiss LSM 800 Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM) for a 12-month base period with two (2) 12-month option years.

Background Information and Basis for Sole Source

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Engineering Laboratory (EL) owns and operates a Carl Zeiss LSM 800 LSCM. The EL Infrastructure Materials Group uses the microscope to study the durability and service life of polymer composite systems and engineering materials for resilience infrastructure applications. The use of the LSCM is critical to the mission for research in IMG/EL, many STRS projects in EL's "Engineering Materials for Resilient Infrastructure " and " Net Zero Energy, High Performance Buildings" programs as well as the characterization of nanoplastics in the NIST "Circular Economic Program". To ensure continuity of research efforts in the NIST laboratories, it is important that the LSCM be maintained at full operational performance.

Results of the market research showed that other vendors offer service for different microscope. However, the design and operational principle are different due to proprietary information on the ZEISS LSM800 LSCM. The ZEISS LSM 800 LSCM is proprietary to its original equipment manufacturer, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC and maintenance support services may only be purchased directly from this contractor. The company issued a sole source letter, dated February 29, 2024, to the government advising Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC is the only entity in the United States authorized to provide comprehensive service and support for ZEISS LSM 800 LSCM. Therefore, the use of any other contractor for the required support services would jeopardize equipment function and reliability. Additionally, it would risk creation of unacceptable disruptions in research activities.

If the Government does not proceed with the procurement of ZEISS LSM800 LSCM service contract with Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, it would cost the government more money to repair the instrument when it is broken down. Furthermore, it would result in the inability of the government to complete several projects in EL's "Engineering Materials for Resilient Infrastructure " and " Net Zero Energy, High Performance Buildings" programs and NIST "Circular Economic Program” in the defined time frames.

As such, the Government’s intent is to negotiate with Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC to acquire preventative maintenance and repair services for NIST EL’s Carl Zeiss LSM 800 LSCM.

General

The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 811210- Electronic And Precision Equipment Repair And Maintenance. The small business size standard is $34.0M.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, responses received by the listed due date, will be considered by the Government.

A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing on or before the response due date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation. Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Seth Kaplan at seth.kaplan@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted so that they are received at seth.kaplan@nist.gov no later than the aforementioned due date.