65--NIKON MICROSCOPE

This notice is published for informational purposes only and not as a request for competitive proposals. The Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System James A. Haley in Tampa, FL intends to award a "Sole Source contract, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, to Nikon Instruments Inc. The microscope equipment procured in this request includes Nikon Automation Equipment, NA Objective Lenses for Confocal and Widefield Imaging, DIC Components, all as upgrades to the existing Microscope System in place. This equipment is deemed Medical Devices and as such are specified and provided by Nikon Instruments Inc. They must conform to the specifications needed to comply with exacting standards of operation and reliability to safely interface with various peripheral devices made by Nikon Instruments Inc. They are loaded, configured and tested in their factory to insure proper operation. Purchasing this equipment as separate items from other vendors will ultimately increase cost by having to contract with Nikon Instruments Inc. to build and test equipment supplied by someone else. Additionally Nikon Instruments Inc. will not provide Technical Support the first year on hardware problems if purchase through other sources. This requirement will be classified under NAICS 333314. No solicitation document is available. Interested persons may respond to the requirement by 03:00 pm Eastern Standard Time, February 05, 2011. Send responses to [email protected]. The government will evaluate responses to determine if a competitive solicitation is appropriate for future acquisitions.