LSM990 Confocal Airyscan2 System

1 GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with the FAR Part 12.1, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and in conjunction with FAR Part subpart 13.5 This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), Intends to contract on a sole source basis with Carl Zeiss Microscopy – One North Broadway, White Plains, NY 10601 to procure a LSM 990 w/Airyscan-2 Microscope consisting of all the items per the attachment provided in this notice.
The Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order resulting from this solicitation.

2. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

2.1 Background The NIDCD relies on high-resolution microscopy to image mouse inner ear tissues and to perform live imaging of cellular organelle development and function in zebrafish. The LSM990, equipped with the proprietary Airyscan 2 detector, provides the spatial resolution and sensitivity required to visualize subcellular structures that cannot be adequately resolved with conventional confocal microscopy. The 32-channel GaAsP detector array achieves resolution of approximately 90 nm in the lateral dimension and 200 nm in the axial dimension while simultaneously improving signal collection efficiency. The enhanced sensitivity of the Airyscan 2 detector allows imaging at lower laser powers, reducing photobleaching and phototoxicity during long-term live imaging experiments. This combination of high resolution and gentle imaging is essential for studying dynamic cellular processes in living tissues. In addition, the LSM990 offers substantial improvements in data handling compared with the older LSM780, generating raw datasets that are approximately eight-fold smaller and enabling
Airyscan image processing that is up to five-fold faster. These advances improve both experimental throughput and data management for high-resolution live imaging studies. The Zeiss LSM 990 with Airyscan 2 enables gentle, high-sensitivity imaging of both live and fixed samples, including fine structures in the mouse inner ear and zebrafish lateral line. The Airyscan 2 detector array improves signal detection and spatial resolution while allowing imaging at low laser power, thereby minimizing photobleaching and phototoxicity. The Labs’ current Zeiss LSM780 confocal system is heavily used by researchers from three NIDCD laboratories and is no longer covered by a service contract, with many replacement parts no longer available. Zeiss ZEN software is user-friendly and intuitive, allowing new users to become proficient quickly. Because the LSM990 operates on the latest version of the same software platform, it will provide a seamless transition while ensuring reliable, faster, higher-quality, and more efficient image acquisition for the many NIDCD investigators who depend on this system. Overall, the Zeiss LSM 990 will provide essential imaging capabilities and meet current and future microscopy needs at NIDCD.
Brand name only:
The Airyscan detector of LSM990 system represents a proprietary technology from Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC and a continuation of Airyscan detector use in the lab is essential to generate high-resolution publication quality data and efficiently complete the research projects that are ongoing in the lab using this detector, only Zeiss LSM990 system would suffice the goal.
3. DELIVERY / PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Delivery, installation, re-alignment and recalibration once the microscope systems have been added to its permanent location in the lab.
National Institutes of Health 9000 Rockville Pike Building 35A, Room 1D-9333 Bethesda, MD 20892
4. Price Quote The price quote shall include: • unit price, • extended price, • total quoted price, • any shipping charges, • any installation/startup/training charges, • warranty information,
• any other separately priced items. The total quoted price shall include all costs necessary to provide a complete and fully functional system meeting the requirements of this solicitation.

5. SAM Registration In order to receive an award, offerors must maintain an active SAM registration for all awards throughout the entire contract/order lifecycle, from offer submission to final payment. Failure to maintain an active SAM registration can jeopardize the award or result in non-payment. Lack of valid registration in SAM will make an offerors/contractor ineligible for award.

6. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Quotations shall be submitted electronically to: Tina Robinson@ Robinsti@mail.nih.gov Quotations are due no later than: August 6, 2026, prior to 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time Late submissions may be rejected and not considered for award.

7. CLAUSES AND PROVISIONS The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition, in addition to any others required by law or agency policy: FAR Provisions • FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services • FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation—Commercial Products and Commercial Services (The specific evaluation factors are identified in this solicitation.) • FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management • FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance FAR Clauses • FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services • FAR 52.232-25, Prompt Payment • FAR 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors HHSAR Clauses • HHSAR 352.203-70, Anti-Lobbying • HHSAR 352.208-70, Printing and Duplication • HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations • HHSAR 352.232-71, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests