SOURCES SOUGHT notice - Digital microscope, high resolution with support package for the USDA, ARS, ADRU in Pullman, WA

Sources are being sought to determine if there are manufacturers/contractors available offering a domestically sourced item that meets the minimum description outlined below. This is not a solicitation Announcement or Request for Proposal. It does not constitute any commitment by the Government. No award will result from this notice. The purpose is to conduct market research to gain knowledge of potentially qualified domestic sources. Responses to this Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make an appropriate acquisition decision. The USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) will not award a contract on the basis of responses or pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Respondents will not be notified of the results of this notice. After completing an analysis of the responses, the Government will determine whether to proceed with issuing an unrestricted solicitation, inviting full and open competition.

Purpose:

ARS APD, Acquisition seeks to determine the availability and capability of potential businesses offering a domestically available source of supply and service for the project below. The information received resulting from this market research will be considered for the purpose of determining domestically available sources.

Product Information:

• The Government seeks information from qualified and experienced contractors capable of providing a domestically sourced digital microscope system and all related components and a domestically sources support package for the digital microscope system.

Current Known Source: Keyence Corporation of America

Place of Performance:

The place of performance is the USDA, ARS, Animal Disease Biotechnical Facility (ADBF)  at the Animal Disease Research Unit (ADRU) in Pullman, WA.

Anticipated Solicitation Release: To Be Determined

Estimated Delivery: Delivery is expected within sixty days after award for the digital microscope.  The service contract is expected to be completed by the end of the performance period within the service year.

Description of Supply and Service

EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS must meet or exceed the following:

• High-resolution digital imaging with over 8 million pixels of resolution
• Minimum 27'' high-resolution digital display monitor
• 20x-200x magnification capability without having to switch lens hardware
• Must have an integrated stage camera for sample placement & focusing with a wide-angle view of the stage
• Must incorporate built-in user training resources
• Must include a license-free viewer software for remote analysis
• Must have 1TB hard drive
• Must have dual camera capability to combine a high-resolution observation imaging component with a secondary wide-field imaging component
• Must offer multiple available lighting types and contrast enhancement methods: brightfield/darkfield/transmitted/polarized/DIC
• Combination Stage/Stand Tool (180° rotation & 250° tilt)
• XY Stage Movement up to 40mm x 40mm

PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS must meet or exceed the following:

• Must have built-in 2D/3D measurement capabilities for length, area, angle, radius, volume, and profile
• Must be able to generate a fully rendered three-dimensional surface model by capturing and combining images at multiple focal depths
• Must enable XY Stitching with 1-micron stage positioning
• Dynamic range imaging capability that will allow multiple exposures to be captured and made into a single image
• Must have real-time automatic focus adjustment
• Must allow directional lighting algorithms to simulate shadow and relief on the sample surface
• Must automatically optimize lighting settings allowing optimal combination of lighting type, intensity, and angle 
• Must be able to record all system parameters from a prior inspection and replay them exactly for new samples. System parameters need to include 2D/3D measurements, XYZ /stage coordinates, lighting settings, image capture parameters, magnification settings.
• Must automatically detect, count, classify, and size particulate contamination and generate reports that comply with industrial cleanliness standards.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Installation Required: Yes
• Assembly Required: Yes
• Warranty Required: Standard commercial warranty.
• Training Required: General user training resources shall be provided.
• Maintenance Required: Routine maintenance support shall be available.

Disclaimers:

1. This notice is posted in accordance with FAR Part 5.2.
2. In accordance with FAR Part 4.1102, Procedures, System for Award Management (SAM), potential contractors must be registered in SAM prior to submitting responses, proposals, bids, or quotes. Offerors may obtain information on registration at https://www.sam.gov.
3. Any potential future solicitations will be posted exclusively on SAM.gov. Interested parties are responsible for monitoring this website for the release of solicitation and any updates or amendments.
4. Do NOT submit proposals, bids, or quotes at this time.
5. The Government does not intend to pay for any information provided under this notice.

Instructions For Interested Parties, Capabilities:

Companies who have experience, as well as an interest in doing business with ARS, should submit a Capabilities Statement which, for this notice, is not expected to be a proposal, but rather short statements regarding the company’s ability to demonstrate their expertise and experience in relation to the areas specified in this notice. Companies should also indicate whether they are a Small Business, SBA-certified HUBZone, SBA-certified 8(a), SDVOSB, or Women-Owned Small Business as well as the Country of Origin of the proposed instrument and accessories. Responses should be submitted by July 2, 2026, no later than 3:00 p.m. EDT to the attention of Shelley Steen at shelley.steen@usda.gov.