Proprietary Orbitrap Astral Zoom

The National Institutes of Health Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations intends to sole-source a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Thermo Fisher Scientific for a proprietary Orbitrap Astral Zoom mass spectrometry system, with responses due by 3:00 p.m. EST on July 31, 2026.

The acquisition covers the complete Orbitrap Astral Zoom MS architecture, including quadrupole isolation, parallel Orbitrap HRAM MS1/MS2 and Astral HRAM MS/MS acquisition with Astral analyzer scan rates up to 270 Hz, high-field Orbitrap analyzer resolving power up to 480,000 FWHM, and Astral analyzer resolution up to 80,000 FWHM. The system supports advanced workflows including narrow-window DIA, DDA, SQUAD, Hybrid DIA, PRM, and TMTpro multiplexing for up to 35 samples, low-input mode functionality, and integration with a Thermo Scientific EASY-IC ion source with real-time mass calibration. The requirement includes OEM installation, instrument qualification, training, warranty and service coverage, access to certified field service engineers, manufacturer-certified parts, Xcalibur and Ardia Platform integration with on-premises server, and integrated acquisition with an Evosep LC system.

Sole-source justification rests on Thermo Fisher Scientific's exclusive ownership of the proprietary Orbitrap Astral Zoom MS technology, analyzer architecture, acquisition workflows, instrument control software, installation procedures, service tools, and replacement parts. The Government reserves discretion to compete the award if another qualified source is identified. Small businesses, including 8(a), service-disabled veteran-owned, HUBZone, small disadvantaged, veteran-owned, and women-owned small businesses, may submit written capability statements. Award is anticipated approximately ten days after the notice date. Responses are due to Lynda.Cole@nih.gov by July 31, 2026.