Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Maintenance Agreement for the Leica UC7 Ultramicrotome
Department of Health and Human Services · National Institutes of Health · Sol. 75N98027Q00002
Due in 8 days
Track this notice by email. We'll email you if it's amended or awarded, and a week and two days before responses are due.
AI summary Beta
NIH's National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) wants a yearly service agreement for one Leica UC7 ultramicrotome (a lab machine that cuts ultra-thin tissue slices) at Research Triangle Park, NC. The government says it intends to award this without open competition to Leica Microsystems Inc., the manufacturer. The term is one base year plus four option years, starting October 23, 2026.
Watch out for
- Sole-source intent to Leica. NIH says it intends to award to Leica Microsystems Inc. without competition, so a small business that is not Leica or an authorized Leica dealer has little chance of winning.
intends to negotiate and award a contract without
- Only Leica-authorized sources can service the machine. The notice says only Leica and its Exclusive Regional Dealers have factory-trained engineers for this equipment, which limits who can credibly respond.
are the only authorized source of factory-trained engineers to service and repair Leica
- Short response window and tight start date. Responses are due October 19, 2026 and the current agreement expires October 22, 2026, so there is little time to prepare.
- Unlimited repairs and parts included in a fixed price. All parts, travel and labor for breakdowns are covered at no extra cost, so a fixed price carries repair-cost risk over up to five years.
- Source documents contain inconsistencies. The notice mentions an outdated FAC date, generic placeholder language ("Add any additional instructions as required") and mixed product-purchase wording, so details may be adjusted by the contracting specialist.
Add any additional instructions as required.
Full brief
What they want
- One preventive maintenance inspection per year by a factory-trained Leica field service engineer
- Unlimited emergency repair service at no extra cost to the government
- All replacement parts, travel and labor included (consumables and imaging laser parts excluded)
- New parts that meet original equipment specifications
- Written verification that the maintenance tasks were completed
- Coverage for one government-owned Leica EM UC7 Ultramicrotome (SN 597268)
- Contract type
- Firm-fixed price, commercial services (combined synopsis/solicitation, non-competitive notice of intent)
- Period of performance
- 1 base year (10/23/2026 - 10/22/2027) + 4 option years, through October 22, 2031
- Place of performance
- NIH/NIEHS, 111 TW Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
- Estimated value
- Not stated; the notice says it is not expected to exceed the $350,000 simplified acquisition threshold
- How they'll choose
- Lowest price technically acceptable
- Offers due
- October 19, 2026 at 1:00 PM Eastern time
- How to submit
- Email to Luz Casey (Luz.Casey@nih.gov); fax not accepted
What they'll judge offers on
- Equipment capability
- Equipment warranty and maintenance coverage
- Delivery
- Price
- Past performance
- Technical capability
What to include when you submit
- Reference solicitation number 75N98027Q00002
- Include a technical proposal and a cost-price proposal
- Include the period of performance, your Unique Entity ID (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and business size certification
- Price quote should show unit price, list price, shipping and handling, delivery timeframe, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms and F.O.B. point
- Manufacturers or authorized resellers must give product/part numbers, description, documentation that required characteristics are met, quantity, estimated price and delivery timeframe
You must have
- Active SAM.gov registration
All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management
- Service must be done by a factory-trained Leica field service engineer (Leica and its Exclusive Regional Dealers are named as the only authorized source)
are the only authorized source of factory-trained engineers to service and repair Leica
- Business size certification, UEI and TIN must be included in the response
Current contractor
Not named. The existing maintenance agreement on the Leica EM UC7 expires 10/22/2026, and the notice names Leica Microsystems Inc. (Deerfield, IL) as the intended awardee.
Not in the notice text
- Estimated contract value or the current agreement's price
- Exact evaluation factor order and weights (the notice only lists factors that 'may include' several items)
- Whether a response from a non-Leica source will be considered, beyond the statement that the government may decide not to compete based on responses
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Key facts
- Response due
- Oct 19, 2026, 5:00 PM UTC
- Posted
- Oct 9, 2026
- Notice type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- Solicitation
- 75N98027Q00002
- Agency
- Department of Health and Human Services · National Institutes of Health
- Office
- National Institutes of Health Olao
- Set-aside
- No Set aside used
- NAICS
- 811210
- Product/service code
- J066
- Business type
- Equipment repair & maintenance
- Place of performance
- Durham, NC, 27709
- Contracting contact
- Luz Caseyluz.casey@nih.gov
What similar contracts paid
111 contracts at this agency under the same NAICS code, in the same state, had activity in the last 5 years, according to USAspending.gov. Small businesses won 13% of the dollars in this market over the last 3 fiscal years.
Typical contract$29.6KMiddle half: $15.2K to $56.9K
Typical per year$24.3KValue divided by years of performance
Possible incumbent's contract endsNov 2026A similar contract in this state, ending near when this one starts
Before you respond
Full notice text from SAM.gov
Please see attached NOI for Maintenance Agreement for the Leica UC7 Ultramicrotome.
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