Software Upgrade for Zeiss AxioZoom V.16 Microscope

Introduction

This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. A solicitation document will not be issued, and quotations will not be requested.

Purpose

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate a firm-fixed priced purchase order on a sole source basis with HiTech Instruments, Inc. located at 925 Main St. Suite 200, Pennsburg, PA 18073-1631. The purchase order will specifically procure a Software Upgrade for an existing Zeiss AxioZoom V.16 Microscope, manufactured by Carl Zeiss Microscopy. The Period of Performance of the upgrade shall be 4 months with installation and training completed 2 months after receipt of the upgrade, for a total period of performance of 6 months beginning on or around September 1, 2025.

Authority

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Subpart 13.106(b)(1) allowing the Contracting Officer (CO) to solicit from one source. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541519 - Other Computer Related Services with a small business size standard of $34.0 million.

Description

The Materials and Structural Systems Division (MSSD) in the Engineering Laboratory (EL) at NIST studies the durability and service life of infrastructure materials (polymer, concrete, engineered composites). One of the key research focuses is to understand material properties through visualization of the samples and objects that cannot be seen with the unaided eye. The MSSD operates various microscopes for visual characterization of various materials. Stereoscopy is useful in viewing images from large, multi-dimensional data sets produced by experimental data.

MSSD seeks to obtain a software upgrade to an existing Axio Zoom.V16 zoom microscope, manufactured by Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLC, which currently operates with the Zeiss Zen Core system software. The software upgrade to the existing Zen Core software on the Axio Zoom.V16 microscope shall enable a previously acquired apochromatic stereoscope to use advanced capabilities by adding enhanced tools to the control software. The subject requirement will provide MSSD with the ability to further characterize a wide variety of materials. The Contractor shall deliver and install the applicable software and provide training. Compatibility with existing software and output files is required for continuation of these projects.

The Contractor shall provide a software upgrade that meets all technical specifications identified below. All line items shall be shipped in the original manufacturer’s packaging and include all original documentation and software, when applicable.

Line Item 0001:

Description: Software Upgrade for Zen software (Axios system)

Quantity: 1

A. ZEISS ZEN toolkit 2D

B. ZEISS SW ZEN toolkit AI DLic

C. ZEISS SW ZEN Toolkit Materials Apps DLic

• Installation: The software upgrade shall be installed by the Contractor and meet contract specifications no later than 2 months after delivery receipt, inspection and acceptance.

• Training: The contractor shall conduct an onsite training session for up to three users at NIST. The training shall provide a thorough demonstration of all system/solution functions, maintenance, data administration, and basic troubleshooting.

Sole Source Determination

The sole source determination is based on the following:

The software requested is part of a proprietary system for which there are no other suppliers. The software component must work with the existing Zeiss Zen Core system software and Zeiss Axios Zoom microscope system. It is necessary that the software interoperates with these components. Zeiss is the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the listed equipment and authorizes HiTech Instruments to sell and distribute this Zeiss software in the Eastern region of the United Sates. No other 3rd parties or resellers exist that can perform the software upgrade to this microscope and achieve this requirement. The software upgrade, installation and training must be purchased directly from HiTech Instruments.

Information for Interested Parties

Interested parties that believe they could satisfy the requirements listed above for NIST may clearly and unambiguously identify their capability to do so in writing by or before the response date for this notice. This notice of intent is NOT a solicitation.

Any questions regarding this notice must be submitted in writing via email to Hunter Tjugum, Contract Specialist, at Hunter.Tjugum@nist.gov. All responses to this notice of intent must be submitted via email to hunter.tjugum@nist.gov so that they are received not later than 11:00 AM, Eastern Time, on 8/4/2025.

Each response should include the following Business Information:

a. Contractor Name, Address,

b. Point of Contact Name, Phone Number, and Email address

c. Contractor (SAM) Universal Entity Identification (UEI)

d. Contractor Business Classification (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, HUBZone, veteran owned, etc.) as validated in System for Award Management (SAM). All offerors must have an active registration in www.SAM.gov.

e. Capability Statement