The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) on behalf of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive basis to Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC at One Zeiss Drive; Thornwood, NY 10594 for the purchase of a Carl Zeiss VivaTome Demo system with AxioObserver Z1 demo system.

The Carl Zeiss AxioObserver Z1 with VivaTome is equipped with Colibri Set-Up for live imaging which is pioneering technology for high-resolution, light-efficient imaging of highly dynamic processes. Called VivaTome, the technology combines the speed of a spinning disk with the light efficiency of structural illumination, resulting in rapid frame rates that allow the capture of fast processes in living samples. VivaTome uses a white light source instead of lasers which makes it very gentle for living cell imaging and also economical and maintenance-reducing. The Carl Zeiss AxioObserver Z1 with VivaTome technology is also equipped for live imaging and is supported by Carl Zeiss' new technology, ZEN software, which operates on a 64-bit platform leading to extremely fast acquisition and storage of large datasets. System consists of the high performance LED source, called Colibri, which allows for variable adjustment of intensity and wavelength excitation.

Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC is the sole manufacturer of the Carl Zeiss Vivatome with AxioObserver Z1 and is the only known source that will satisfy agency requirements.

This acquisition is being conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures using FAR Part 12, Acquisition for Commercial Items, and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competition Requirements. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government.

Comments to this announcement, referencing synopsis number 2358889, may be submitted to the NIDA Station Support/Simplified Acquisitions Branch; 31 Center Drive, Bldg. 31, Room 1B59; Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2080 to the attention of Hunter A. Tjugum, Contract Specialist, at [email protected].