NOI - Maintenance Contract for Zeiss Crossbeam 540

The National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director, Office of Acquisitions, is soliciting a non-competitive, firm-fixed-price purchase order for a one-year maintenance and service agreement for the NHLBI EM Core’s Zeiss Crossbeam 540 FIB-SEM instrument (Serial No. 4774) under FAR Subpart 12.6, as a combined synopsis/solicitation issued on June 4, 2026, with responses due by June 11, 2026. This acquisition is conducted under streamlined commercial item procedures and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold, with sole-source authority granted due to the proprietary nature of the instrument, making Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC the only entity capable of providing service using factory-trained personnel, proprietary schematics, calibration routines, and specialized parts. The contract period runs from June 12, 2026, to June 11, 2027, with performance required at Bethesda, Maryland. The solicitation requires offerors to demonstrate manufacturer or authorized provider status through documentation proving factory-trained technician qualifications for the Zeiss Crossbeam 540 platform, and all responses must include a unique entity identifier, taxpayer identification number, business size certification, active SAM registration, and a completed FAR 52.212-3 representation and certification. The scope of work includes one scheduled on-site preventive maintenance visit per year, replacement of critical consumables such as gallium sources, electron cathodes, apertures, vacuum filters, and pumps, as well as unscheduled corrective repairs with all parts included. Pricing must include unit and list prices, shipping and handling costs, delivery terms, F.O.B. point, prompt payment discount terms, and service description, with all invoices required to be submitted electronically via the Invoicing Processing Platform (IPP) and aligned with the purchase order line item using a three-way match process. The acquisition is not set aside for small business and falls under NAICS code 811210, with evaluation based on past performance, technical capability, special features, warranty, maintenance availability, and service life, though specific weightings are not provided. The contract incorporates FAR clauses including 52.212-4 and 52.212-5 for commercial items, 52.217-8 for potential service extension, and 52.204-13 for SAM maintenance, with no