Optical Microscope System Upgrade – Counter-Propagating Mode Integration

The contract involves the integration of a counter-propagating mode into the mIRageLS O-PTIR-R-FL microscope to enhance its analytical capabilities, requiring significant hardware modifications, precise software calibration, and rigorous system compatibility testing to ensure seamless operation with FDA and NIST platforms. This technical upgrade aims to improve spatial resolution, signal accuracy, and measurement reliability by leveraging the unique optical properties of counter-propagating light paths within the existing microscope architecture, making it suitable for high-precision analytical applications in regulatory and research settings. All work must be completed in accordance with federal standards and validated through compliance testing aligned with FDA and NIST requirements, with performance centered at College Park, Maryland, under a subcontract arrangement managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. The solicitation, posted on July 30, 2026, has a response deadline of August 13, 2026, and falls under NAICS code 334516 for precision optical instrument manufacturing, indicating the specialized nature of the required engineering and calibration expertise.