Fortessa Cytometer Service Contract

SOL #: PCA-NHLBI-01458Pre-Solicitation

Overview

Buyer

Health And Human Services

National Institutes Of Health

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH OLAO

BETHESDA, MD, 20892, United States

Place of Performance

Bethesda, MD

NAICS

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

PSC

Maintenance, Repair And Rebuilding Of Equipment: Instruments And Laboratory Equipment (J066)

Set Aside

No set aside specified

Original Source

https://sam.gov/opp/d61f18f8a3e842b4b56578fda5f5b75d/view

Timeline

Posted

Mar 12, 2026

Last Updated

Mar 17, 2026

Response Deadline

Mar 27, 2026, 8:00 PM

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 National Institutes of Health (NIH), specifically the NHLBI Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine Branch (PCCMB), has issued a Pre-Solicitation Notice of Intent to Sole Source for a Fortessa Flow Cytometer Service Contract. The government intends to award a Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order to Becton, Dickinson and Company due to the proprietary nature of the equipment and their status as the sole maintenance provider. This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses. Interested parties may submit capability statements by March 27, 2026, at 4:00 pm EST.

Purpose & Scope

The NHLBI PCCMB requires a service contract for their Fortessa Flow Cytometer (Serial Number H647794L5026). This cytometer is critical for ongoing experimental analyses related to immune system studies. A service contract is essential to ensure optimal performance, minimize downtime, maintain data accuracy, and extend the instrument's lifespan, as variations in optical components between cytometers can impact experimental results. The required services include:

Unlimited on-call technical support and service visits.
Free part replacement and software revisions.
Two preventative maintenance inspections per 12-month period.
Response to emergency on-site service requests within 48 hours (Monday-Friday, excluding holidays).
Provision of labor, parts, extended coverage hours, on-site labor response, technical telephone response, planned maintenance, diagnostics software license, and service documentation.

Contract Details

Contract Type: Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order.
Period of Performance: A 12-month base period (April 16, 2026 – April 15, 2027) and two 12-month option periods, extending through April 15, 2029.
NAICS Code: 334516 (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) with a 1250-employee size standard.
Set-Aside: This acquisition is NOT set aside for small businesses.
Authority: Conducted under FAR Subpart 13.5 (Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items) and FAR Subpart 12 (Acquisition of Commercial Items), not exceeding $7 million, with statutory authority under FAR 6.302-1 (Only one responsible source).
Intended Source: BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY, San Jose, California.

Submission & Evaluation

This is NOT a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond. The government's determination to award non-competitively is based on market research indicating Becton, Dickinson and Company as the sole provider for maintenance of their proprietary equipment. Responses will be considered solely to determine if a competitive procurement is feasible. Submissions must include unit price, list price, shipping/handling costs, delivery period, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point, DUNS, TIN, and business size certification. All offerors must have an active SAM.gov registration.