Maintenance Service for Gatan Imaging Filter (GIF) BioQuantum-K3 and K2 and its Associated Instrumentation

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), The Laboratory of Cell Biology (LCB) plans to procure, on a sole source basis, all labor, material and equipment necessary to maintain and provide preventive maintenance for the following government-owned equipment:

• One (1) Gatan Imaging Filter (GIF) BioQuantum
  
  
  
  • Model Number: BioQuantum 1967
  
  
  • Serial Number: SP.025964
  
  
  
  

• Onw (1) Gatan K3 digital camera
  
  
  
  • Model Number: K3
  
  
  • Serial Number: 20102002W1967
  
  
  
  

• One (1) Gatan K2 digital camera
  
  
  
  • Model Number: K2-Summit
  
  
  • Serial Number: 14041701W1000
  
  
  
  

from: Gatan, Inc.

5794 W. Las Positas Blvd.

Pleasanton, CA 94588

The response close date of the notice for this requirement is in accordance with FAR 5.203(b). This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 – Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR Part 13.106-1 (b)(1) and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance; and the small business size standard is $34 million.

Gatan Inc. has been a main manufacturer of microscope digital camera for more than two decades. Although there are two other companies that produce digital camera for electron microscope, Gatan is known for being the leading camera producer in high image quality and hardware stability according to the microscopy research community. Their cameras have been purchased by microscope facilities around the world and delivered many high-impact scientific publications and ground-breaking discoveries in the last five years.

NCI’s microscope currently equipped with Gatan BioQuantum Image Filter with K3. After many years of operation, hardware or software error or malfunction could occur, which results in delay of active experiments. This is an annual service contract which is the warranty to ensure the productivity and longevity of these advanced instruments. Due to the complexity of the imaging system, LCB is unable to acquire maintenance services from any other vendor because of the incompatibility. With all the features described above, we have decided to purchase this service maintenance contract as a sole source in order to keep the microscopes configuration optimal.

This is a very specialized service. NCI’s microscope is equipped with Gatan BioQuantum image filter so the repair and replacement parts must be fully compatible to this equipment. The competitor camera providers are not compatible and thus cannot provide service and part replacement for this specific microscope configuration.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party, especially a small business, believes it can meet the Government’s needs, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quote for the Government to consider. The response and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient details to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to Contract Specialist, David Romley at David.Romley@nih.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST on Monday, July 14, 2025 (7/14/25). A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government reserves the right to use the information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. To receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid certification through SAM.GOV. Please reference the notice number 75N91025Q00046 on all correspondence.

***Please reference attached Statement of Work for more details pertaining to the nature of the work to be performed.***