BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), on behalf of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) Division of Intramural Research (DIR), intends to award a firm-fixed-price, sole source contract to Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD Biosciences) for a BD FACSDiscover™ S8 Cell Sorter. This acquisition, identified by project number PCA-NIDCR-01222, is categorized under NAICS 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing and PSC 6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies. The purchase includes the cell sorter instrument, a biosafety-compliant hood, required configuration, delivery, installation, and a one-year standard warranty. The government is pursuing this requirement as an open-market acquisition under the authority of FAR 6.302-1, as only one responsible source is capable of satisfying the agency's needs.

The required instrument will replace end-of-life equipment at the Combined Technical Research Core (CTRC) in Bethesda, MD, providing advanced capabilities for high-parameter research. Necessary technical specifications include spectral flow cytometry, integrated real-time imaging during acquisition, and the ability to sort cells based on morphology and image-derived parameters. The system must also support rare-cell sorting, index sorting, and plate sorting in a configuration suitable for human cell research. The anticipated schedule for delivery, installation, and acceptance is 60 to 90 days following the contract award.

This special notice was published on June 15, 2026, and includes two attachments: a Notice of Intent (BD NOI.pdf) and a Bill of Materials (BOM.pdf). While this is not a request for competitive proposals, the response deadline for the notice is June 25, 2026. The primary point of contact for this requirement is Linda Smith at the NIH Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (OLAO).