Zeiss stereo microscopes W/ boom stands

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB) for four Zeiss Stemi 508 DOC stereo microscopes with accompanying boom stands and specialized equipment, located in Richland County. The comprehensive procurement requires a complete system for each unit, including microscopes with 8:1 zoom capabilities (0.63x-5.0x magnification range), boom stands with articulated arms, tilting bonder arm mounts, Proline 80 LED ring illuminators, Excelis HD cameras with 11.6-inch HD displays, C-mount interfaces, and NIST-traceable calibration certificates. Key submission deadlines included July 12, 2023, for questions and July 19, 2023, at 3:00 PM for offer submissions, with award notification scheduled for July 21, 2023. Vendor requirements include delivering equipment to SLED at 4300 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC within 30 days of purchase order receipt, providing comprehensive training, and committing to future annual service, emergency service, and NIST-traceable calibration support. Award criteria specified selection of the single lowest responsible and responsive bidder, with pricing to be submitted in US dollars as a fixed unit price excluding sales taxes.

The solicitation included specific vendor preferences for South Carolina-based businesses, with eligibility contingent on maintaining an in-state office and meeting statutory requirements such as demonstrating a minimum inventory value of $50,000 or manufacturer status with at least $1 million annual payroll in the state. Preferences were also available for South Carolina or US-manufactured end-products. Vendor qualifications required registration with the state procurement system and compliance with standard certifications regarding independent price determination, debarment status, drug-free workplace, and ethics regulations. The contract was ultimately awarded to Leeds Precision Instruments Inc. from Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a unit price of $7,732.00 per microscope and a total contract value of $30,928.00 for the four units. Vendors were explicitly instructed not to perform work or incur expenses prior to receiving a formal purchase order, with the State assuming no liability for pre-contract expenses. The governing law for the contract was established as South Carolina law, with potential dispute resolution through the Chief Procurement Officer or Richland County courts.