Service Agreement for NICHD Spinning Disk Confocal

The National Institutes of Health, specifically the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), intends to award a firm-fixed price purchase order for a service agreement covering Spinning Disk Confocal Equipment to Nikon Instruments Inc. The procurement is a sole-source contract for maintaining two Nikon spinning disk microscopes used in cell biology research focusing on nuclear pores within mammalian cells. The service agreement will include comprehensive support such as certified Biosystem Service Specialist consultation, technical expert support, NIS-Elements software updates, preventative maintenance, repair parts, labor, travel, and pre-approved repair authorization. Interested parties must submit capability statements electronically by 5:00 PM EST on February 5th, 2025, directly to jacob.balenson@nih.gov, and must be registered in SAM.gov. The justification for sole-source procurement is based on Nikon being the exclusive vendor capable of servicing their proprietary software and equipment.

The contract is classified under NAICS code 811210 for Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, with a size standard of $34.0M and will not exceed the simplified acquisition threshold of $250,000. The initial period of performance is set from April 1, 2025, to March 31, 2026, with a subsequent option year extending through March 31, 2027. There are no specific set-aside designations for this procurement, and the contract will be awarded directly to Nikon Instruments Inc. as the sole-source provider. The contract will cover comprehensive service and maintenance for specialized scientific research equipment, ensuring continuous operational capability for the institute's critical research activities. The procurement approach indicates a strategic focus on maintaining specialized laboratory infrastructure through targeted, expert-level maintenance agreements.