SliceScope Pro 6000 with Two Patch Stars

This contract action is for the acquisition of supplies for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 as supplemented by the procedures in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 13.5. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Office of Acquisitions (OA) intends to award a sole source purchase order to Scientifica, 9 Trenton Lakewood Road Suite 5, Clarksburg, NJ 08510 for MotorIzed Microscope, Manipulators and Staging.

 The equipment being requested for purchase is required to investigate the neurophysiological mechanisms that a simple neural circuit uses to obtain a balance of excitatory and inhibitory transmission. This is a central question in the field of Neuroscience that remains unsolved, and so, requires further investigation. One physiological function of the human brain is adapting the organism to its environment. In the brain, a primary effect of sensory exposures during postnatal development is on the strength of the synaptic contacts between neurons. NIEHS main interest, therefore, has been to determine the molecular basis of long-lasting synaptic plasticity.

The applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing and a size standard of 1000.

NIEHS will solicit and negotiate directly with Scientifica and no solicitation will be issued.  This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals or quotations; however, if an interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities.  The statement of capabilities must be submitted in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Government to determine if the party can perform the requirement.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.  All interested parties must express their interest and capabilities in writing via email to shields3@niehs.nih.gov within five (5) days after the date of publication of this notice.  No faxed documents will be accepted.  If no responsive statements are received within five (5) days, an award will be made to Scientifica.