Special Notice of intent to purchase the Grundium Ocus digital whole slide scanner   2

This is a Special Notice of intent to purchase the Grundium Ocus digital whole slide scanner. The PIFSC Life History program provides critical data on stock assessments, specifically the size and age at maturity as determined by thin mounted otolith slides. The Grudium Ocus is a portable device and will allow training with jurisdictional partners, students, collaborators, and remote work opportunities. The digital scan quality of the Gundium Ocus has been evaluated for a variety of samples and demonstrated to far exceed the digital quality of other comparably priced scanners. The scanner is the only that PIFSC has found on the commercial marketplace that will provide images scans of fish otoliths, this it allows the government to analyze both the reproduction and the age and growth for stock assessments and other life history purposes.

The scanner will be used to scan and archive images of microscope slides.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS (ESSENTIAL SALIENT FEATURES):

1. Portability- it is essential that the unit be easily portable since it will be used in conjunction with multiple PIFSC users and will be used to build life history capacity in the jurisdictions and with agency and university partners.
2. High resolution- 750x magnification
3. High speed - < 3min scan time per slide
4. Automatic focusing during scanning
5. Open optic design that allows for external light sources to be used for imaging otoliths. This is what sets the Grundium slide scanner apart from the rest of the scanners found on the commercial marketplace.

PIFSC proposes to purchase the required instrumentation on a sole source basis from Olympus Lifesciences via their distributor is the state of Hawaii - PAC/RIM Medical Technology & Supplies Corp. The Government intends to acquire the equipment using FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items in conjunction with FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

The Government intends to negotiate a firm-fixed-price purchase order with an approximate delivery date of September 30, 2023. The NAICS code for this procurement is 339112 with a corresponding size standard of 1,000 employees.

***THIS NOTICE OF INTENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS AND NO SOLICITATION PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE. HOWEVER, FIRMS THAT BELIEVE THEY CAN FULLY MEET THE GOVERNMENT'S REQUIREMENTS MAY SUBMIT SUBSTANTIATING DOCUMENTATION IN WRITING TO THE CONTRACTING OFFICER VIA EMAIL AT STEPHANIE.M.GARNETT@NOAA.GOV NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 8, 2023. SUCH DOCUMENTATION WILL BE EVALUATED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER OR NOT TO CONDUCT THIS PROCUREMENT ON A COMPETITIVE BASIS. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT, BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE, IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. ORAL COMMUNICATIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE IN RESPONSE TO THIS NOTICE.

All vendors doing business with the Government are required to be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). No award can be made unless the vendor is registered in SAM. For additional information, and to register, please see www.sam.gov.