Microscope autofocus system

SAM ANNOUNCEMENT: PRESOLICITATION NOTICE, NOTICE OF INTENT ACTION CODE: SPECIAL NOTICE

CLASSIFICATION CODE: 6640 – Laboratory Equipment and Supplies

SUBJECT: Microscope autofocus system

SOLICITATION NUMBER: NB644030-24-01971

RESPONSE DATE: 08/05/2024

DESCRIPTION:

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), with Nikon Instruments, located in Melville,, New York to provide a Perfect Focus Motorized Nosepiece autofocus system for an existing NIST owned Nikon Ti-2 Eclipse microscope.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Biosystems and Biomaterials Division (BBD) is focused on developing methods that will assure reliability and confidence in the measurements that underpin research and applications in genomic measurements, biomaterials, protein therapeutics and cell therapies, cancer diagnostics, nanoparticle safety, and microbial identification and quantification. BBD carries out this work through fundamental research in measurement science and the development of reference materials, reference data, and protocols.

To meet mission requirements, BBD requires an upgrade to an existing Nikon Eclipse Ti2 widefield microscope with a software and hardware integrated near-infrared LED-based autofocus system. The infrared LED-based autofocus system is essential to solving problems currently encountered when imaging. These problems are: signal degradation due to fluorophore photobleaching by image-based autofocus, image-based autofocus missing the exact focal plane with high magnification objectives, focus drift due to thermal fluctuations and vibrations, and slowing down high-speed imaging experiments with time-consuming image-based autofocus.

Sole Source justification is based on the following:

Extensive NIST market research has shown that Nikon is the sole distributor of the Perfect Focus Motorized Nosepiece autofocus system, the only near infrared, autofocus system that is completely compatible with the existing Nikon microscope. Nikon has provided documentation stating “Although Nikon Instruments Inc. has authorized small business dealers/distributors in the United States, contractually the dealers/distributors are not authorized to sell these specific products for research in Gaithersburg, MD. The equipment listed is highly specialized and does not allow other businesses as authorized dealers, distributors, or resellers of the products.”

NAICS code for this requirement will be 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size of 1000 employees.

No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, interested parties who regard themselves as capable of fulfilling these requirements are invited to submit responses to the Government for consideration. Responses received by will be considered by the Government.

Inquiry POCs

Erik.Fycklund@nist.gov    Primary Donald.Graham@nist.gov  Secondary

National Institutes of Standards and Technologies NIST Acquisition Management Division (AMD)

100 Bureau Dr.  Mail Stop 1640

Gaithersburg, MD. 20899-1640