Notice of Intent - Maintenance Agreement for Lightsheet Microscope
Overview
Buyer
Place of Performance
NAICS
PSC
Set Aside
Original Source
Timeline
Qualification Details
Fit reasons
- NAICS alignment with historical contract wins in similar service areas.
- Scope strongly matches core technical capabilities and delivery model.
Risks
- Past performance thresholds may require one additional teaming partner.
- Potential clarification needed on staffing minimums before bid/no-bid.
Next steps
Validate eligibility requirements, assign capture owner, and schedule partner outreach to confirm teaming strategy before submission planning.
Quick Summary
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), on behalf of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), has issued a Special Notice indicating its intent to award a sole source, Firm Fixed-Price contract to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC. This contract is for maintenance services for a critical Zeiss Lightsheet Z.1 Fluorescence Microscope located in Bethesda, MD. The purpose is to ensure the continuous operation of this instrument, which is vital for NCI's research on cancer cell dynamics and other biological processes. Interested parties must submit capability statements by April 2, 2026.
Scope of Work
The requirement is for comprehensive preventive maintenance services for a Carl Zeiss Lightsheet Z.1 Fluorescence Microscope. This includes all necessary labor, materials, and equipment to maintain the instrument's operational readiness. The microscope is essential for the Tissue Morphodynamics Section of the NCI Center for Cancer Research (CCR) Laboratory of Cell Biology (LCB) for research on cancer cell extravasation, immune cell dynamics, and blood-brain barrier integrity.
Contract Details
- Contract Type: Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order
- Intended Awardee: Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC
- Period of Performance: Base period from May 1, 2026, to April 30, 2027, with two additional option periods.
- Product Service Code (PSC): J066 (Maintenance, Repair And Rebuilding Of Equipment: Instruments And Laboratory Equipment)
- NAICS Code: 811210 (Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance)
- Place of Performance: Bethesda, MD 20892
Sole Source Justification & Market Research
HHS intends to award this contract on a sole-source basis under FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1)(i). The justification stems from Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC being the original designer and manufacturer, possessing proprietary knowledge, certified engineers, and exclusive access to parts required for servicing this specific instrument. Market research was conducted, confirming that no other vendors could provide the necessary maintenance for this specialized Zeiss model, and that any downtime would severely impact critical, ongoing research.
Response Information
This is a Notice of Intent to Award Sole Source, not a solicitation. However, interested parties who believe they can provide the required maintenance services and demonstrate that competition would be advantageous to the Government are invited to submit capability statements.
- Submission Deadline: April 2, 2026 (within five calendar days of the March 26, 2026 publication).
- Submission Method: Via email ONLY to wendy.wallace@hhs.gov.
- Requirements: Statements must provide clear and convincing evidence of capability.
- Note: The Government's decision not to compete this procurement is at its sole discretion, and no reimbursement will be provided for submission costs.