The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of the Director (OD) is conducting a market survey
to determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, including 8(a)
small businesses, small, disadvantaged businesses, woman-owned small businesses, servicedisabled
veteran-owned small businesses or HUBZone small businesses capable of providing a
new Brand name or equal to Leica Microsystems Stellaris Microscope System with Confocal, 3DSTED,
FLIM, and Spectral Multiplexing imaging capabilities.
An NIH lab requires acquisition of a Leica Stellaris microscope system to provide investigators
with substantially improved sensitivity, resolution, and advanced imaging modalities needed for
modern cellular and subcellular research. The current Leica SP8 confocal microscope has served as
an imaging workhorse for more than a decade, supporting approximately 25 laboratories in the past
year and an estimated 50 laboratories over its lifetime. The SP8 will be traded in as a line-item
discount toward the new system. The Stellaris platform is required to enable advanced confocal
imaging, three-dimensional STED super-resolution, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and
high-plex spectral multiplexing workflows (up to 15 colors) to support spatial-omics–type studies
and other complex multi-parameter imaging experiments.
Product Specifications/Features/Salient Characteristics Required Minimum Specifications:
· Confocal excitation: white light laser with tunable excitation range 440–790 nm with
AOBS system.
· Prism-based fluorescence detection: prism-based spectral detection with variable emission
windows to 850 nm.
· Detectors: five (5) Hybrid (HyD) detectors optimized for spectral detection across
approximately 400–850 nm.
· 3D STED super-resolution: pulsed depletion at 775 nm and 589 nm, with threedimensional
STED capability.
· FLIM: integrated fluorescence lifetime imaging module for lifetime measurements,
enhancement of super-resolution performance, and lifetime-based fluorescence species
separation.
· Pulse picker: capability to reduce/adjust the white light laser repetition rate to optimize
FLIM and related applications.
· Scanning modes: ability to fast-switch between galvo and resonant scanning to support
both high-resolution and high-speed imaging needs.
· Objective correction-collar support (existing lenses): motorized correction collar
hardware and software support for existing Leica 100x oil and 93x glycerol objectives.
· New objective: a Leica 86x water-immersion objective with correction collar,
chromatically corrected across the full 440–790 nm excitation range and optimized for 589
nm and 775 nm STED depletion, to ensure accurate multi-color registration and optimal
super-resolution performance.
· High-plex spectral multiplexing: capability to image of 15 (or more) fluorescent colors
per sample, including tools to plan spectral multiplexing panels and perform spectral
unmixing.
TRADE- IN EQUIPMENT:
The lab/government has a Leica Microscope, MDL: TCSSP8, SN: 8100000924, (acquired
new in 2015) that it intends to offer as a trade-in toward the procurement of the new
equipment. Interested vendors should state in their capability statements whether they
accept trade-ins and provide an estimated trade-in value or credit structure.
Interested firms with the capability of providing all the required items shall submit a capability
statement to assist the Government in determining in accordance with the Federal Acquisition
Regulation 19.104-1.
The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industrial Classification
(NAICS) code 334516 with a size standard of 1000e. All respondents are required to identify their
firm’s size and type of business. Interested firms responding to this market survey must provide
(a) capability statement demonstrating their experience, skills and capability to fulfill the
Government’s requirements for the above. The capability statement shall be in sufficient enough
details so that the Government can determine the experience and capability of your firm to provide
the items above. Offers must also be accompanied by descriptive literature, delivery timeframe,
warranties and other information that demonstrates that the offer meets all the foregoing
requirements. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number, and email
address of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with
Government representatives. Capability statements in response to the market survey that do not
provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. A copy of the
capability statement must be received via email to [email protected] Attn: Tina Robinson
prior to 5:00 pm eastern daylight time on June 22, 2026. Capability statement must reference
solicitation# 75N98026R00098. Submission by email must also reference solicitation
# 75N98026R00098 on the subject line of the email. Any questions must be sent via email to
[email protected] and must include solicitation# 75N98026R00098on the subject line of
email. Capability statements, etc will not be returned to firm/sender. This synopsis is for
information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the
Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.