Sources Sought Notice Optical Microscope

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH), has issued a Sources Sought Notice (Solicitation Number: CDRH-2026-134025) to identify small business concerns capable of supplying an upright bright-field hyperspectral imaging microscope system for market research purposes. The microscope system will support researchers at the Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories (OSEL) in developing bench testing methods for evaluating digital pathology devices. Key technical requirements include an upright bright-field transmissive light design with motorized XY and piezo-based Z stages controllable via joystick and software APIs, a broadband white light source with fiber optics compatibility, an objective turret supporting Zeiss M27-threaded objectives, a condenser with Kohler illumination and minimum 0.55 numerical aperture, an independent autofocus system, a high-resolution low-noise camera, and operation on standard US 120V/60Hz AC power. Interested companies must submit a capability statement of no more than 10 pages (excluding cover page and attachments) by April 30, 2026, at 10:00 AM Eastern Time to Freshta.Javid@fda.hhs.gov, addressing relevant experience with analytical laboratory instrumentation, motorized stage systems with API control, service agreements, and small business work performance capabilities. The FDA is not obligated to issue a formal solicitation based on this notice and will not reimburse response costs.

This procurement carries no set-aside designation beyond the standard small business size standard of 1,000 employees under NAICS code 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing). No incumbent contractors or potential award values are identified in the notice. The newly manufactured system must be delivered to the FDA facility in Silver Spring, Maryland, within six weeks of contract award and include a one-year warranty commencing upon Government acceptance. Interested parties may reference applicable contract vehicles such as GSA MAS, OASIS, NIH NITAAC, or agency-specific IDIQs in their responses. The PSC classification is 6640 (Laboratory Equipment and Supplies), and companies are encouraged to demonstrate whether they can perform at least 51 percent of the work in-house.