Sources Sought - Nikon Ti2-E Inverted Microscope

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration Veterans Integrated Service Network 15, specifically the St. Louis VA Medical Center Research Department, has issued a sources sought notice to identify potential suppliers of a Nikon Ti2-E Inverted Microscope and associated accessories, or equivalent equipment. This pre-solicitation notice seeks to determine market capabilities for providing analytical laboratory instrumentation under NAICS code 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing), with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees. The equipment will be located at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and the anticipated contract structure is firm, fixed-price. Interested companies must submit responses limited to five pages that include company details, capability to meet requirements, business size and socioeconomic status, and authorized distributor information. The response deadline is 11:59 PM CST on July 6, 2025, with submissions required via email to Jessica Barton, and all respondents must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM).

This opportunity does not include any set-aside designations and is open to all qualified contractors regardless of size or socioeconomic status. No incumbent contractors or current service providers are identified in the notice, nor are any specific award values or budget ranges disclosed. The government has not specified quantities beyond the singular microscope system and its accessories, and no performance timeline or service duration details are provided. The agency emphasizes that this sources sought notice does not constitute a solicitation for proposals and creates no obligation for contract award, but will be used to assess market competition and determine the appropriate solicitation approach. The classification under PSC code 6640 (Laboratory Equipment and Supplies) indicates this procurement falls within standard laboratory equipment acquisition procedures.