BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter

The National Institutes of Health, through the Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations on behalf of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research’s Division of Intramural Research, intends to execute a firm-fixed-price sole source contract with Becton, Dickinson and Company / BD Biosciences for the acquisition of one BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter. This acquisition is necessary to replace aging equipment and to meet the advanced technical demands of current and future intramural research at the Combined Technical Research Core in Bethesda, Maryland. The instrument must provide a full suite of capabilities including high-parameter cell sorting, spectral flow cytometry, integrated real-time imaging during acquisition and sorting, analysis and sorting based on fluorescence, morphology, and image-derived parameters, support for rare-cell, index, and plate sorting, and a biosafety-compliant configuration suitable for human cell work. The requirement is designated under NAICS code 334516 and is being processed as an open-market acquisition under statutory authority 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) and FAR 6.302-1, which permits sole source procurement due to the unique and irreplaceable nature of the BD FACSDiscover™ S8 system, as no other commercial product satisfies the specified technical requirements. The award will also invoke 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 13.501(a)(1)(ii) in support of this procurement approach. The contract includes delivery, installation, and commissioning of the sorter along with a biosafety-compliant hood and a standard one-year warranty commencing after successful acceptance. The anticipated timeline for completion of delivery, installation, and acceptance is between 60 and 90 days following award. The acquisition encompasses the main instrument and multiple specified components as detailed in the Bill of Materials, including auxiliary equipment and subsystems necessary for full operational capability. A notice of intent was issued with a response deadline of June 25, 2026, to allow for public input on potential competition, though the government has clearly indicated its intent to proceed solely with BD Biosciences. Responses to the notice are not solicited for competition but solely to evaluate whether alternative sources exist; the government retains full discretion to proceed without competition regardless of submissions. Payment will not be provided for any information submitted in response to this notice, and all technical requirements are non-negotiable for award. The point of contact for inquiries is Linda Smith and Danielle T