Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Background The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource operates several microscopes to support light microscope image acquisition in the NIMH intramural progra... Background The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Systems Neuroscience Imaging Resource operates several microscopes to support light microscope image acquisition in the NIMH intramural program. One of those microscopes is a Zeiss LSM 780 confocal microscope system. This microscope allows high quality confocal imaging using multiple fluorescent probes. It is used by scientists from approximately 10 intramural laboratories and provides critical data for their research programs. Additional instruments have been acquired recently. Thus, while this instrument is still heavily used to provide data for ongoing projects and provides some unique capabilities, it is no longer the sole or most up-to-date instrument available to investigators. It is essential to have a maintenance contract to keep the instrument in optimal working condition, and the maintenance contract should take into account the current usage pattern of the instrument. At the time this instrument was acquired, Windows 7 was the standard operating system for PC-based instruments. Windows 7 is no longer fully supported and operating instruments on Windows 7 creates communication and security challenges. Thus, one of the goals of this acquisition is to upgrade the operating system to Windows 10. Purpose The goal of this procurement is to 1) provide service and maintenance on a Zeiss LSM 780 confocal microscope system in order to maintain the system in normal working condition, and 2) upgrade the operating system of the microscope from Windows 7 to Windows 10 during the base period. Period of Performance The period of performance is a one (1) year base period with three (3) option years. Place of Performance The place of performance shall be the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 49 Convent Drive, Bldg. 49, Room 3A07, Bethesda, MD 20852. The government will provide access to the equipment during normal working hours.