Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Leica Microsystems, Inc. - Leica HistoCore Pearl Maintenance Agreement

Title: Notice of Intent to Sole Source – Leica Microsystems, Inc. - Leica HistoCore Pearl Maintenance Agreement

Reference Number: 75N98026Q01081

Description

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.  THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION OR A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.

The purpose of this announcement is for a maintenance agreement for the Leica HistoCore Pearl automated tissue processor for the Reproductive Developmental Biology Group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Services (NIEHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), to issue a Purchase Order award on a sole source basis, under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name or industrial mobilization).

The objective is to procure a maintenance agreement for NIEHS’s Leica HistoCore Pearl automated tissue processor. This equipment is critical to NIEHS’s day-to-day research operations and must be kept in proper working order. Any equipment downtime will result in unacceptable delays in tissue processing.  This acquisition is sole source due to the fact that Leica is the sole manufacturer of the HistoCore Pearl tissue processor and only Leica-trained service engineers are authorized to service this essential equipment.

Disease and dysfunction of reproduction and reproductive organs are of great public health concern. Most reproductive disorders have unknown etiologies, and environmental factors are likely contributors. To prevent or lessen the burden of environmentally associated disease or dysfunction, research directed at understanding the mechanisms underlying key processes and identifying key target molecules is a crucial first step.

The Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory uses basic research to understand important toxicological principles in the context of reproductive and developmental health at a fundamental level. It is also translating information gained from these studies into applied toxicological testing systems and clinical studies and practice.

The Government anticipates award of a firm fixed-price purchase order for this acquisition, and the anticipated period of performance is as follows:

• Base Period: 9/16/2026 – 9/15/2027
• Option Period 1: 9/16/2027 – 9/15/2028
• Option Period 2: 9/16/2028 – 9/15/2029

Services provided under this standard service agreement include:

• Emergency repair service as required during the hours of 08:00am - 05:00pm, Monday through Friday unless otherwise stated above or in applicable attachments.
• Labor, travel and replacement parts, as required, excluding consumable items, unless otherwise stated.
• One planned maintenance inspection(s) per period at customer request.
• Technical Support - Phone, Email, and Web
• 100% Service labor and travel included
• 100% Certified OEM Replacement repair parts included
• Priority service scheduling
• Planned maintenance inspections
• Reliability Updates

There will not be a solicitation of Request for Proposals (RFP) issued as a result of this announcement.  Any responses or inquiries to this notice must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence that competition will be advantageous to the Government.  All information received from this notice shall be used for planning and market research purposes only.

The statutory authority for this sole source action is implemented by FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand name or industrial mobilization).

Notwithstanding the stated intent, if other organizations believe they can fully meet the Government’s requirement, they must submit a written capabilities statement.  The capabilities statement must contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement and must be received by the response date listed in this posting.  A determination not to compete with this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. 

NIH will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the evaluation of the information received.  Interested parties may respond and provide a capability statement no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), September 8, 2026, via email to Sarah Bank, Contracting Officer, at sarah.bank@nih.gov and Lisa Schaupp, Contracting Officer, at lisa.schaupp@nih.gov.  Emails must reference the announcement number in the subject line.  This is not an RFP, and this announcement does not commit the Government to award a contract.  The reference number to be used is 75N98026Q01081.