Maintenance service contracts for 2 government owned equipment

NON-COMPETITIVE COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION

Title: Maintenance service contracts for 2 government owned equipment

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii) The solicitation number is 75N98026Q00574. This solicitation is issued as a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a non-competitive combined synopsis/solicitation to award a contract or purchase order without providing for full and open competition (including brand-name, if applicable).

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of FAR 12.603, Streamlined Solicitation for Commercial Products or Commercial Services, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Additional authority includes 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii).

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director, Office of Acquisitions, intends to negotiate and award a firm-fixed-price purchase order on a non-competitive basis to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, One Corporation Way, Peabody, MA 01960, for a one-year maintenance and service agreement for the National Institute of Allergy and infectious Disease (NIAID) instruments (serial numbers 2802100114 and 4631001043). Zeiss is the original equipment manufacturer and the only source possessing proprietary knowledge, schematics, calibration routines, parts, and factory-trained engineers required to service this highly specialized instruments. Carl Zeiss have the technical staff that can install and optimally maintain their instruments as well as provide cutting edge technical support and parts.

(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular, March 2026.

(iv) The associated NAICS code is 811210, and the small business size standard is $34.0 million. This requirement is not set aside for small business.

(v) Description of Requirement: NIAID, the Division of Intramural Research (DIR) has been at the forefront of research on immunologic, allergic, and infectious diseases. Its purpose is to make scientific discoveries that promote the development of new vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics that improve human health.
The Research Technologies Branch (RTB) provides DIR investigators with access to state-of-the-art research technologies. The advent of the biotechnology industry and the development of new scientific disciplines have resulted in an explosion of innovative technologies. In addition, advances in optics, lasers, and computer technology have revolutionized well-established disciplines such as light and electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and genomics. This acquisition directly addresses this mission by providing for a service agreement for the repair and maintenance of a confocal microscope and slide-scanning microscope within the DIR, two light microscopes actively and heavily used by every single research group at Rocky Mountain Laboratories (RML).

The purpose of this acquisition is to provide service agreements for Zeiss equipment (serial# 2802100114 and 4631001043) that will maintain the microscopes in optimal operating condition. These microscopes are constantly in use throughout the day and if they were put out of action due to lack of maintenance or mechanical failure, the ability of DIR investigators to conduct their research would be severely handicapped. It is for this reason that these service agreements are essential.
The Contractor shall provide the Protect premium service agreements for the Zeiss LSM 880 confocal microscope and Zeiss Axio Scan.Z1 slide scanning microscope that include the following:

a) One (1) annual preventative maintenance visit (PM). This includes all labor and travel associated with conducting the PM service visit.

b) All labor and travel related charges associated with any service visit is included, in addition to the visit to perform the annual PM.

c) Unlimited on-site repairs, including replacement for service parts, components, or modules necessary for repairs.

d) Prioritized on-site response time for remedial services (critical repairs)

e) Unlimited access to ZEISS Microscopy Digital Customer Engagement Center (DCEC) during standard working hours (Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am – 5:00 pm Mountain Time) excluding holidays.

f) Firmware and software updates when available.

g) All services will be performed by factory-trained and certified field service engineers with genuine Carl Zeiss Microscopy parts to meet original equipment manufacturer (OEM) specifications.

(vi) Delivery Location:

National Institute of Health
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Rocky Mountain Laboratory (RML), 5101
903 South 4th Street
Hamilton, MT 59840

(vii) [Reserved, if needed]

(viii) The provision at FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Add any additional instructions as required.

(ix) The provision at FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.
(a) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, issued to the successful offeror within the time specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party.
The Government reserves the right to accept any offer (or part of an offer) before the expiration date, whether or not discussions are conducted, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received prior to award.

(x) Offerors shall include a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items, with their offer.

(xi) FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(xii) FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.
(xiii) Additional contract requirements or terms and conditions, as determined necessary by the Contracting Officer and consistent with customary commercial practices: None.

(xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) is not applicable to this requirement.

(xv) Submission Requirements: Responses must include sufficient information to demonstrate the respondent’s capability to provide the required product or service. Price quotations shall include, at a minimum: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery timeframe after award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. point (destination or origin), product or catalog numbers, product descriptions, and any other relevant information.
Evaluation factors may include, but are not limited to: past performance, technical capability, special features, trade-in considerations, expected lifecycle, warranty, maintenance availability, and environmental or energy efficiency considerations.
Respondents claiming to be manufacturers or authorized resellers of a specified brand-name product must provide: (a) Product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) Product description; (c) Documentation demonstrating that the offered item meets all required salient characteristics; (d) Quantity; (e) Estimated price or cost; (f) Shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and (g) Delivery timeframe after receipt of order.

Responses must also include the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and business size certification. All offerors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by June 22, 2026 at 5pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) and must reference solicitation number 75N98026Q00574. Responses may be submitted electronically to
Elaine Estrella, contract specialist at elaine.estrella@nih.gov or Calvin Robinson, contract specialist at calvin.robinson@nih.gov
(xvi) Point of Contact: Elaine Estrella, contract specialist at elaine.estrella@nih.gov or Calvin Robinson, contract specialist at calvin.robinson@nih.gov

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, all responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the Agency. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.