Upgrade Zeiss LSM-710 Confocal Microscope to an LSM-780

This is a Notice of Intent. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are not being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The announcement number for this acquisition is NIH-OLAO-NOI-3006543 and is being issued under the authority of FAR Subpart 5.101 under the conditions as described in 6.302-1, 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1) Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-66 dated February 28, 2013. This acquisition is not a small business set-aside. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 333314, which has a size standard of 500 employees. The National Institutes of Health, Office of the Director, Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations, on the behalf of the National Institutes on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, intends to procure a sole source basis from Carl Zeiss Microscopy LLC, an Zeiss LSM 780 Upgrade for LSM 710 in building 50 and Definite Focus Upgrade for AxioObserver with Installation which includes: 1)Upgrade Kit 710 to 780, 2)Objective Nosepiece with Definite Focus Upgrade, and 3)Installation of both instruments. The NIDCD studies cells from the inner ears of mice in order to gain insight into the cellular mechanisms responsible for deafness. The Upgrade LSM-780 Confocal Microscope allow for better resolution than regular light microscopes because they use a laser to excite sample molecules, scan the image from the x, y, and z planes, assemble the resulting pixels into an image, and form a digital image on the computer. This microscope technology is able to prevent light from areas other than the focal plane from being processed and assembled, thus resulting in a sharp, background free image. The lab performs basic biological research on hearing disorders and competes against other labs throughout the world in the field of audiology. The research results are published in scientific journals and are subjected to strict peer review. In order for the lab to remian competitive, the equipment used for experiments must be compitable with other equipment already used in lab to keep top working condition. This is a fixed price contract and the FOB term is Origin and Payment Net 30 days. FAR provisions and clauses that apply to the acquisition: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors, Commerical Items; FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders, Commercial Items; and FAR 52.225-1, Buy American Act-Supplies; FAR 52.204-7, Central Contractor Registration; and FAR 32.703-2, Availability of Funds, FAR 52.232-34, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Other than Central Contractor Registration. In order to be considered for an award, an offeror must have completed the online electronic Representations and Certifications located at http://orca.bpn.gov/ in accordance with FAR 4.1201(a). By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the SAM at www.sam.gov prior to award during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. [Note: Lack of registration in the SAM will make an offeror ineligible for award]. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, the Government will consider responses submitted. Responses must be submitted no later than 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time (EST), July 11, 2013 to Shirlene Smith at NIH/OD/OLAO/OA Simplified Acquisitions - Branch 3. Only emailed submissions will be accepted at contact@example.gov. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the government to determine if it can meet the above specifications described herein. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon 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. Please reference the announcement number on all correspondence.