Service Agreement for NICHD Nikon AXR Confocal Microscope Equipment

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a division of the National Institutes of Health under the Department of Health and Human Services, is seeking a 12-month service agreement for preventive maintenance, on-site repairs, laser alignments, genuine replacement parts, labor, and software updates for a Nikon AXR Confocal Microscope and associated equipment (LUNF-XL Laser Unit and DUX-VB4 Detector Unit) located in Building 6B, Room 310. The primary objective is to minimize equipment downtime and ensure continued reliable operation of critical research instrumentation. The agency intends to restrict competition and solicit directly from Nikon Instruments Inc. as the original equipment manufacturer, justified by the requirement that only Nikon-authorized service technicians can perform detailed servicing and repairs and provide exclusive access to critical software updates and technical support. This presolicitation notice is not a formal Request for Quotation, but all responsible sources are invited to submit capability statements, quotations, bids, or proposals for consideration. Responses must be submitted electronically to Jacob Balenson at Jacob.balenson@nih.gov with the presolicitation number 75N94026Q00023 referenced in the subject line, with a deadline of 5:00 PM Eastern Time on January 6, 2026.

This procurement carries no set-aside designation and represents a noncompetitive sole-source contract intended for Nikon Instruments Inc., the original equipment manufacturer and authorized service provider for the specified microscope system. The contract is structured with a 12-month base year anticipated to begin on April 1, 2026, and end on March 31, 2027, with three additional 12-month option years available for renewal. No specific contract value or budget range is disclosed in the presolicitation notice, leaving the award amount to be determined through the quotation process. The scope of work encompasses annual preventive maintenance coupled with responsive on-site repair services for the Nikon AXR Confocal Microscope system, representing a specialized equipment maintenance requirement within the Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance industry classification (NAICS 811210).