NOI - Automated Slide Scanner Evident Scientific

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.
(ii) The solicitation number is 75N98026Q00476. This solicitation is issued as a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a non-competitive combined synopsis/solicitation to award a contract or purchase order without providing for full and open competition (brand-name).
This acquisition is conducted under the authority of FAR 12.603, Streamlined Solicitation for Commercial Products or Commercial Services, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Additional authority includes 41 U.S.C. 1901 and FAR 6.302-3(a)(2)(ii).
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director, Office of Acquisitions, intends to negotiate and award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order on a non-competitive basis to Evident Scientific, 48 Woerd Avenue, Waltham, MA 02453, for an Evident Scientific VS200 Automated Slide Scanner and associated components in support of the National Institute on Aging, Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (CARD).
The VS200 Automated Slide Scanner is required to ensure methodological continuity across multi-year research initiatives investigating potential therapeutic targets in Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias. The Center for Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias is conducting ongoing longitudinal studies using the VS200 Automated Slide Scanner (reference POTS Requisition 21-005574). Existing research data, image formats (VSI), and analysis pipelines are specific to the VS200 system. Substitution with a different scanner model would require re-processing of prior imaging data and recalibration of quantitative image analysis parameters, introducing inconsistencies in longitudinal data comparability and invalidating statistical power of ongoing studies.