SAM #75N98026Q00410

NIH Procurement of Thorlabs Desktop OCT Instrument for Biological Imaging

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), through the Office of Logistics and Operations (OLAO) and the Hospital and Laboratory Support Division, is seeking to acquire a Desktop Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) instrument for advanced, non-invasive imaging of biological tissues. - Government Buyer: - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Office of Logistics and Operations (OLAO) - Hospital and Laboratory Support Division - OEM Highlight: - Thorlabs, Inc. is the sole named manufacturer and intended vendor - Product Requested: - Desktop Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) instrument - Purpose: Non-invasive imaging of cell and tissue cultures, organoids, and small live animals - No specific part number or quantity provided - Notable Requirements: - Instrument must support advanced research for the NIH's intramural research communities - Procurement is non-competitive due to Thorlabs' unique capabilities - Place of Performance and Delivery: - Delivery/performance associated with Newton, New Jersey (Thorlabs, Inc.) - Contracting office located in Bethesda, Maryland (NIH headquarters) - Classification: - NAICS code 333310 (Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing)

Description

Document Type:

Presolicitation

Synopsis Number:

75N98026Q00410

Posted Date:

May 20, 2026

Original Response Date:

May 29, 2026

Current Response Date:

May 29, 2026

Set Aside:

N/A

NAICS Code:

333310

Contracting Office Address

National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director (OD)

Office of Logistics and Operations (OLAO)

Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management (OALM)

Hospital and Laboratory Support Division

6701 Rockledge Drive

Bethesda, MD 20817 

Description

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate and award a contract without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to:

Thorlabs, Inc.

43 Sparta AVE

Newton, New Jersey 07860-2401

United States

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 333310 with a Size Standard $1000.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2026-01, March 13, 2026. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($350,000).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Title: Desktop OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) for non-invasive imaging of biological tissues Background Information: OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) imaging provides non-invasive approach for 3D optical section to exam structure and integrity of live biological tissues.  While this approach is widely used in eye clinics and vision research labs for study structure and function of the eye, Thorlabs recently developed a desktop version to image other biological samples, including cell and tissue cultures, organoids, and small live animals.  National Eye Institute Visual Function Core is seeking to purchase this instrument to expand research capacities for intramural research communities.

CLOSING STATEMENT

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include a technical proposal, a cost-price proposal, the period of performance, the Unique Entity ID (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by May 29, 2026 at 9:00 AM Eastern time and must reference solicitation number 75N98026Q00410. Responses may be submitted electronically to Mr. James Law, Contracting Officer at James.Law@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted.

"All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency.”

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