Notice of Intend to Sole Source for Zeiss Microscope Lasers and Arivis Pro Software

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE-SOURCE CONTRACT AND IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), in support of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD), intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, IAW FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i), with Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC., 1 North Broadway Ste 1501, White Plains, NY 10601, as the only responsible source that can provide the replacement Lightsheet Lasers and Analysis Software for Zeiss Z.1 Lightsheet Microscope. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-04 are incorporated. USAMRICD intends to procure a firm-fixed-price requirement for a contract to provide replacement Lightsheet Lasers and Analysis Software for Zeiss Z.1 Lightsheet Microscope. Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC., will provide the Lightsheet Lasers and Analysis Software, including: Lightsheet Microscope Lasers 1 each @ 400600-9011-000 - Laser 405nm 50mW 1 each @ 400600-9020-000 - Laser 445nm 25mW 1 each @ 400600-9051-000 - Laser 488nm 50mW 1 each @ 400600-9080-000 - Laser 515nm 50mW Must be compatible with the Carl Zeiss Z.1 Lightsheet Microscope. This is the microscope the government already owns, and there are no substitute lasers available from other suppliers; - similar items will not be acceptable. Zeiss Lightsheet microscopes require Zeiss lasers designed to be compatible with Zeiss Lightsheet microscopes. The government currently owns a Carl Zeiss Z.1 Lightsheet microscope, which requires these specific lasers to function. Must include Solid State Laser 405nm, 50mW (D) Variability of wavelength from Laser to Laser: 405nm +/- 5nm Must include Laser 445nm 25mW Variability of wavelength from Laser to Laser: 445nm +/- 5nm Must include Solid State Laser 488nm, 50mW (D) Variability of wavelength from Laser to Laser: 488nm +/- 5nm Must include Laser 515nm 50mW Variability of wavelength from Laser to Laser: 515nm +/- 0.5nm Compatible for use with Zeiss Zen Software program Installation at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD Software Three years of Zeiss Arivis Pro for 2 workstations Must be compatible with the Carl Zeiss Z.1 Lightsheet Microscope and all components File formats must be compatible with existing database in the laboratory, including .sis and .czi file formats. Import of image data sets (x, y, z, t, ch) of unlimited size, which often exceed 1 TB Media-handler for import of a wide range of biological image data formats Working on data regardless of available RAM Fast 2D/3D/4D Viewer, Gallery Viewer, Info Viewer Create and export sectional planes Navigational Plane to ensure optimized observer orientation in the 3D/4D view Viewer for Projections in x, y, z, t Link Views for simultaneous 2D, 3D/4D exploration 4D-Volume Clipping Storyboard to create movies Movie-Export in 2D, 3D and 4D 3D-Rendering in native resolution Alignment and Stitching Pixel Filter, Color Handling, Annotations Simple Measurements, Simple Dynamics, Extended Focus Python Scripting Audit Trail, Restore Points History Panel for UNDO/REDO Export Arivis data format to other image formats Sharing data with built-in Personal WebView via intranet Analysis Framework & Interactive Analysis Pipeline Pixel/Voxel Filter Processing Voxel Operations, Segmentations, Volume Attribute Filter, Report Viewer, Report Export Integration of Ilastik machine-learning segmentation Application Programming Interface (API) for MATLAB scripts Particle Tracker, Track Attribute Filter, Track Reports & Export Track Editor for interactive quality control, editing and correction Market research was conducted by the USAMRICD through the World Wide Web (WWW), consulting vendors, collaborators, other laboratories, and reviewing previous purchases, and resulted in finding that no other vendors are capable of providing the necessary replacement parts and software. Only the microscope manufacturer, Carl Zeiss, can provide the replacement Lightsheet Lasers and the Arivis Pro Software. Additionally, USAMRAA published a Request for Information (RFI) on July 26, 2023 requesting that any vendor capable of providing the required Lightsheet Lasers and the Arivis Pro Software, to respond by August 02, 2023. There were no responses received, other than the response from Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC., informing USAMRAA that - Zeiss is the sole supplier of these items. On top of being the sole supplier for the lasers, due to laser and radiation safety maintenance, any repair, modification, removal or exchange of these items MUST be performed by Zeiss engineers, making Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC. a Sole Source provider of replacement Lightsheet Lasers and Analysis Software for Zeiss Z.1 Lightsheet Microscope. The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 333310 - Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,000 Employees. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals, and no solicitation document will be posted for this requirement. However, parties interested in responding to this notice shall submit technical data, including cost, sufficient to determine capability in providing the same product. All capability statements received by closing of this notification of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. Submissions that request documentation, request additional information or that solely ask questions will be determined to not be an affirmative response. Responses determined to be not an affirmative response are not valid and no further action will be taken with the response. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. This announcement fulfills the synopsis requirements under FAR 5.102(a)(6) and 5.203(a). Based on the above information, the only technically acceptable Lightsheet Lasers and the Arivis Pro Software are provided by Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC., 1 North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601. Submit capabilities statements (using PDF, MS Word, Excel attachments) to Ireneusz Jozwiak at ireneusz.a.jozwiak.civ@health.mil. Statements are due no later than 10:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on 31 August 2023. No phone calls accepted.