How to bid on TESCAN Amber FIB-SEM Annual Maintenance Services for NIH

What the agency is buying

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking annual preventive maintenance and repair services for its TESCAN Amber Focused Ion Beam–Scanning Electron Microscope (FIB-SEM) system and its related components. This is a Notice of Intent (NOI) to award a contract on a non-competitive basis.

The NIH intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order to TESCAN USA Inc. because they are identified as the original equipment manufacturer and the only known source for the necessary proprietary technical information, certified service engineers, software access, and OEM replacement parts required to maintain the system.

Key dates and deadlines

This solicitation was published on August 04, 2026. The deadline for responses is August 12, 2026, at 9:00 AM ET. All proposals must be submitted by this time.

Who this opportunity suits

This opportunity is primarily intended for TESCAN USA Inc. due to the non-competitive nature of the solicitation. However, other vendors who believe they can provide these specific services, parts, and expertise for the TESCAN Amber FIB-SEM system should review the solicitation.

The associated NAICS code is 811210, Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance, with a small business size standard of $34.0 million. This requirement is not set aside for small businesses.

How to access and respond

To view the original solicitation, click the “View original source” link. If the first click takes you to the portal’s homepage, click the link again to go directly to the bid. You may need a free account to view all documents, though this is not always required.

Since this is a Notice of Intent for a non-competitive award, any interested party that believes they can meet the requirement should submit a proposal demonstrating their capability to provide the specified services for the TESCAN Amber FIB-SEM system.

Tips for preparing a competitive response

Even for a non-competitive solicitation, if you intend to challenge the sole-source justification, your response must clearly and thoroughly demonstrate your firm's ability to provide identical or equivalent services. Focus on proving you have the proprietary technical information, certified service engineers, software access, and OEM replacement parts for the TESCAN Amber FIB-SEM system.

Ensure your proposal directly addresses each point made by the agency regarding why TESCAN USA Inc. is considered the only source. Provide specific details, certifications, and evidence to support your claims. Submit your response well before the deadline to avoid any last-minute technical issues.