Preventative Maintenance and Service Agreement for the Zeiss Axio Scan.Z7

 PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE –

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N98026Q00229 

2. TITLE: Preventative Maintenance and Service Agreement for the Zeiss Axio Scan.Z7

3. RESPONSE DATE: April 30, 2026, at 1:00 P.M. EDT

4. PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT:

John Johnson

johnsonjr@mail.nih.gov

667-312-5580

INTRODUCTION:

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE NOTICE OF INTENT SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION  

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC. The purpose of this acquisition will be to provide the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) a service maintenance agreement for their Zeiss Axio Scan.Z7 it is utilized routinely by the NIMH Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource (SNIR) users and requires routine preventative maintenance.

II. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

NAICS code 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a business size standard classification of $34 M. This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses.

III. REGULATORY AUTHORITY

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and FAR subpart 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items at an amount exceeding the SAT, and not exceeding $7 million.

IV. STATUTORY AUTHORITY

Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and the statutory authority of [specify the applicable authority: (1) FAR 6.302-1—Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements 41 U.S.C. 3304 (a)(1).

V. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT:

A. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC. The purpose of this acquisition will be to provide the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) a service maintenance agreement for their Zeiss Axio Scan.Z7 it is utilized routinely by the NIMH Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource (SNIR) users and requires routine preventative maintenance.

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B. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

NIMH anticipates a fixed price purchase order. The estimated period of performance shall be as follows: 8/16/26-8/15/27 with the option to exercise 3 additional option periods:

8/16/27-8/15/28

8/16/28-8/15/29

8/16/29-8/15/30

  

C. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS:

The Contractor shall provide the NIMH with maintenance and repair support for the following:

Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC:

Axioscan 7 - SN 4661000613

 The Zeiss Axio Scan.Z7 provides SNIR users the ability to image complete sections from large numbers of slides using up to eight different fluorescent probes including ones in the near infrared range, which is highly desirable in multiplex labeling, especially when loading at multiple RNA species. This microscope system was purchased in 2024 and is utilized routinely in the NIMH Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource and requires routine preventative maintenance. The original warranty for the slide scanning microscope expires on January 27, 2026. This contract ensures minimal downtime due to hardware and software malfunction. Additionally, the contract is required to maintain this research equipment in operable condition and prevent costly repairs.

ZEISS will provide the covered replacement parts required to perform the Service(s) (“Part(s)”). Part(s) may be new or rebuilt, at ZEISS’s discretion, but will always meet original Equipment specifications

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SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS:

LEVEL OF EFFORT:

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform this Statement of Work.

GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES

When the Contractor is on-site for maintenance and repair support provision, The government will provide workspace, desktop computers and telephones for the Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC service technician.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS The contractor shall provide written reports which detail all repair and annual maintenance on a quarterly basis.

VI. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the services required by NIMH. The equipment is proprietary to its manufacturer, Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC and this company is the sole provider of maintenance for this equipment. In accordance with FAR part 10, extensive market research was conducted to reach this determination. Additionally, contacts with knowledgeable individuals both in industry and Government, as well as reviews of available product literature, revealed no other sources. Finally, a review of the GSA Advantage, Dynamic Small Business Search, and previous government acquisitions returned no results that meet all of the requirements. Therefore, only Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC is capable of meeting the needs of this requirement.

The intended source is:

Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC

One North Broadway

White Plains 10601-2310

VII. CLOSING STATEMENT

THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, 75N98026Q00229. Responses must be submitted electronically to John Johnson, Contract Specialist, johnsonjr@mail.nih.gov

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