Proprietary Software Equipment

The National Institutes of Health Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations is seeking maintenance and support services for proprietary software equipment currently installed in Building 35/35A of the NIH shared animal facility. The procurement will be conducted as a sole-source award under FAR Part 6.302-1, justified by the proprietary nature of the equipment and its controlling software, which can only be serviced by authorized technicians from the original manufacturer. The government has identified qualification and capability requirements that only the incumbent contractor can meet, including exclusive access to replacement parts and specialized technical knowledge. While formal evaluation criteria are not detailed in this pre-solicitation notice, the award determination will be based on the contractor's ability to provide comprehensive maintenance, repair, and operational support services. The solicitation period closes on May 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. EST, with award anticipated approximately ten days after the closing date.

Tecniplast USA (UEI: QHF3J4MS24H4), the original equipment manufacturer, is identified as the incumbent contractor and sole source for this procurement. No set-aside designation applies to this opportunity, though the government invites capability statements from eligible small businesses, including 8(a) firms, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, and women-owned small businesses. The contract is structured as a firm-fixed-price purchase order with a base year plus four option years, running from September 1, 2026 through August 31, 2031, representing a five-year service period. The equipment was installed in multiple phases between 2010 and 2024, indicating a substantial and complex system requiring continuous support. Interested parties should submit capability statements to Lynda.Cole@nih.gov to be considered for potential award.