NOTICE OF INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE: PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR NIKON CSU-W1 SORA SPINNING DISK MICROSCOPE

This is NOT a solicitation.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics (LCBG) Microscopy Core requires preventative maintenance and emergency services for one (1) government-owned Nikon CSU-W1 SoRa Spinning Disk confocal and super-resolution microscope.  This state-of-the-art microscope is used extensively for the imaging work of the LCBG Microscopy Core and must have a comprehensive preventative maintenance and repair contract to ensure its continued operation.

The Office of Acquisitions (OA) plans to procure, on a sole source basis, maintenance services from:

Nikon Instruments Inc. (1300 Walt Whitman Road Melville, NY 11747-3064) SAM UEI: SP3XF3BGBSB3

The response close date of this notice is in accordance with FAR 5.203(a)(1). This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) and, in accordance with FAR 13, is exempt from requirements in FAR Part 6.  The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 8811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance; and the small business size standard is $34 million.

This acquisition is to acquire maintenance services for one (1) government-owned Nikon CSU-W1 SoRa Spinning Disk Microscope (Serial # 95V50006), equipped with one (1) Ti2-E microscope stand (Serial # 541934) and one (1) LUNF XL laser unit (Serial# 19001547)

The Nikon CSU-W1 SoRa spinning disk microscope was designed and configured by Nikon Instruments, Inc. It is a state-of-the-art instrument that requires professional maintenance including scheduled service visits and periodic parts replacement. The internal components and mechanisms of the microscope are proprietary to Nikon Instruments Inc.  Nikon service technicians are trained and certified on the latest models of the instrument. Nikon does not license third party technicians to perform the required work on this specialized equipment.  Nikon Instruments Inc. holds exclusive proprietary rights to the internal components of the spinning disk microscope, and it is a sole source for the replacement parts. 

It is critical that the equipment in NCI LCBG Microscopy Core continues to be calibrated accurately and maintained according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Any deviation from OEM specifications could jeopardize the use of the spinning disk microscope system, resulting in inconsistent data acquisition.  Inconsistent data would have a direct, negative and unacceptable impact on the cancer research and patient care supported by the LCBG Microscopy Core. Therefore, it is crucial that the systems are properly maintained with OEM parts and serviced by Nikon technicians. To NCI’s knowledge, the manufacturer does not license third party technicians.  It is understood that if a third-party technician repairs a Nikon microscope system, then the manufacturer would not perform any subsequent repairs or maintenance on the device.  This scenario creates undue risk for the Government because if the third-party technician is unable to resolve an issue or provide adequate maintenance then the Government would be unable to return to the manufacturer for maintenance and repair services.  Therefore, Nikon Instruments, Inc. is the only provider that can meet the Government’s needs at this time.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.  The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement.  Responses must be received no later than 4:00PM EST, December 30, 2024.  All responses and questions must be in writing and emailed to Lena Lee, Contract Specialist, via electronic mail at lena.lee@nih.gov.  A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid, current Entity Record, including current Representations and Certifications, in the System for Award Management (SAM) through SAM.gov. Reference: 75N91025Q00013 on all correspondence.

***Please reference the attached Statement of Work for more details pertaining to the nature of the requirement.***