Notice of Intent to Upgrade Nikon A1R Microscope

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences intends to award a sole-source, firm-fixed-price contract to Nikon Instruments Inc. for the upgrade of an existing Nikon A1R confocal microscope system. The upgrade encompasses HD detection hardware, a high-end workstation, control cards, and software enhancements, all necessary to maintain full compatibility with Nikon’s proprietary NIS-Elements Software platform. This procurement is conducted under FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)(i) due to the exclusive technical integration requirements that only Nikon can satisfy, as third-party components would void the system’s warranty and compromise FDA/CDRH compliance, safety standards, and operational integrity. The contract is non-competitive, with no formal evaluation factors, weights, or competitive trade-off processes applied, and no set-aside or socioeconomic provisions are in effect. The performance location is in Bethesda, Maryland, where the upgraded system will be installed and accepted by the government at the USUHS facility. All deliverables must meet factory specifications and regulatory requirements, with acceptance occurring at the destination in Bethesda. The contract does not include specified delivery timelines, FOB terms, payment office details, invoicing methods, or contract administration personnel such as a COR or PCO. No packaging, marking, or logistics standards are defined, and no formal representations, certifications, or size status information for the vendor are provided in the documentation. While the solicitation number is USU_NoticeOfIntent_Nikon_A1R_Upgrade and was posted on June 24, 2026, responses are due by June 9, 2026, and must be submitted via email to the designated points of contact at USUHS. The NAICS code for this action is 334516, aligning with medical equipment manufacturing, and the acquisition is justified solely by the necessity of preserving proprietary software integration and ensuring continued regulatory compliance without interruption.