Versa 730 X-ray Computed Tomography Microscope

NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE
Zeiss Versa XRM 730 X-ray Computed Tomography Microscope

Announcement Type: Special Notice
Announcement Number: NIST-NOI-26-305-00006
Subject: X-ray Computed Tomography Microscope
NAICS: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
PSC: 6650 - Optical Instruments, Test Equipment, Components, and Accessories

Introduction
This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis with Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC (Zeiss) located at One North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601-2310. The purchase order will be for a Versa XRM 730 X-ray Computed Tomography Microscope with options for additional features and extended warranties. This product has a USA place of origin in accordance with FAR RFO Part 25. Delivery of the microscope will be required within eight months after contractor receipt of order. The exercise of the options for extended warranty may extend the award period of performance up to five years.

Authority
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR RFO Part 12.102(b) and 41 USC 1901, allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1,000 Employees.

Description
The purpose of this requirement is to procure one Zeiss Versa 730 X-ray Computed Tomography Microscope for micro-scale three-dimensional imaging of semiconductor materials and devices. Please see the attached specifications document for details.
 

Sole Source Determination
The sole source determination is based on the following:
 

Use of the statutory authority 41 USC 3304(a)(1) requires that the supplies or services required by the agency are available from only one responsible source. 

Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC is uniquely qualified to provide the required microscope system due to requirements for continuity of research and compatibility of equipment and existing data.

This acquisition will replace a no-longer-serviceable Zeiss Versa XRM 500 microscope owned and operated by NIST that has been in use over the past decade for several on-going NIST, Other Agency, and CHIPS Act research projects. This instrument, manufactured by Zeiss, operates using proprietary software called “Scout and Scan” which includes a proprietary method for collecting and reconstructing data. NIST requires that all data collected on a new instrument be compatible with data collected and analyzed by the “Scout and Scan” software on the Versa XRM 500 so that research projects may continue with scientific accuracy and integrity. Carl Zeiss is the only contractor which can guarantee data interoperability between the required new Zeiss Versa 730 and NIST’s older Zeiss Versa XRM 500. Data interoperability is critical so NIST can compare data collected a decade ago to data that is collected today.

Additionally, NIST intends to re-use hardware related to the current Versa XRM 500 on future research projects. The Versa XRM 500 has been deemed as End of Life (EOL) but some custom mechanical testing hardware that NIST has been utilizing for more than five years remains usable. Current projects and programs (especially the CHIPS Act) require that NIST uses identical mechanical testing hardware between a new microscope and the legacy (Versa XRM 500) microscope. Carl Zeiss Microscopy is the only contractor which can guarantee that the hardware installed on the Versa XRM 500 will be compatible with a new/updated system.

Further, NIST scientific and programmatic priorities require a microscope system which can provide data to current and future artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) applications. These applications require a high pixel count camera (greater than 40 MP, more is better) with the ability to change the magnification of the sample projected onto the camera. Most contractors use geometric magnification to solve this, but the Carl Zeiss Versa 730 has a proprietary lens-based magnification system which, along with stage translation, allows for continuous magnification adjustment over several magnification ranges while other contractor products are limited to simple geometric magnification. Zeiss is the only contractor which can provide a 60-megapixel camera with near-continuous magnification adjustment that does not rely solely on geometric factors. NIST requires the combination of the ultra-high resolution camera along with the ability to change magnification in order to feed data into ML/AI models, noting that AI Innovation is one of NIST’s critical and emerging technologies.

Carl Zeiss is the only contractor that can provide an XCT microscope system that meets these requirements, and the contractor does not authorize resellers. Therefore, only a Carl Zeiss Versa 730 microscope system can meet the Government’s needs.
 

Information for Interested Parties
Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is not a solicitation.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Ms. Lauren Roller, Contract Specialist, at contact@example.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to contact@example.gov so that they are received no later than June 11, 2026 at 11:00 AM Eastern Time.

Each response should include the following Business Information:

1. Contractor Name, Address,
2. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address
3. Contractor DUNS
4. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, hubZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.
5. Capability Statement