NIH awards $674K for Olympus multiphoton microscope maintenance to Evident Scientific MIS, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $67,447 ($67.4K)
Contractor: Evident Scientific MIS, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Start Date: 2026-03-06
End Date: 2027-02-28
Contract Duration: 359 days
Daily Burn Rate: $188/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Healthcare
Official Description: MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THE NIH/NCI OLYMPUS MULTIPHOTON MICROSCOPE SYSTEM
Place of Performance
Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20852
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Health and Human Services obligated $67,446.6 to EVIDENT SCIENTIFIC MIS, INC. for work described as: MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THE NIH/NCI OLYMPUS MULTIPHOTON MICROSCOPE SYSTEM Key points: 1. Spending focuses on specialized scientific equipment maintenance. 2. Single awardee suggests limited competition. 3. Risk of price escalation due to lack of competition. 4. Sector: Healthcare/Research Equipment.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $674,466 for 359 days of maintenance appears reasonable for specialized equipment. However, without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain optimal pricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not competed, indicating a limited competition approach. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs than a fully competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the lack of competitive bidding for this essential maintenance service.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of critical research equipment at NIH. Supports advanced biological and medical research capabilities. Potential for increased costs impacts research budgets.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for price creep
- Reliance on a single vendor
Positive Signals
- Essential service for research continuity
- Specific vendor expertise likely required
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the scientific and medical equipment maintenance sector, which often requires specialized expertise. Benchmarks for similar maintenance contracts are difficult to establish without more data on system complexity and service scope.
Small Business Impact
The awardee is Evident Scientific MIS, Inc. Information regarding their small business status is not provided, but the contract was not set aside for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is managed by the Department of Health and Human Services, specifically the National Institutes of Health. The firm fixed-price contract type provides some cost certainty, but the lack of competition warrants close monitoring.
Related Government Programs
- Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
- Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
- National Institutes of Health Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Vendor lock-in
- Dependency on a single supplier
Tags
electronic-and-precision-equipment-repai, department-of-health-and-human-services, md, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Health and Human Services awarded $67,446.6 to EVIDENT SCIENTIFIC MIS, INC.. MAINTENANCE SERVICES FOR THE NIH/NCI OLYMPUS MULTIPHOTON MICROSCOPE SYSTEM
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EVIDENT SCIENTIFIC MIS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $67,446.6.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-03-06. End: 2027-02-28.
What is the justification for not competing this maintenance contract, given the significant value?
The justification for not competing this contract is not explicitly stated in the provided data. Typically, sole-source or limited competition is used when only one vendor possesses the necessary expertise, proprietary knowledge, or when urgency dictates. Further investigation into the specific requirements of the Olympus multiphoton microscope system and Evident Scientific MIS, Inc.'s unique qualifications would be needed to fully assess this decision.
What is the potential risk to research continuity if Evident Scientific MIS, Inc. is unable to perform or if their services are interrupted?
The primary risk to research continuity is significant. The Olympus multiphoton microscope is a critical piece of equipment for the National Cancer Institute. Any interruption in maintenance services could lead to system downtime, delaying or halting vital research projects. The reliance on a single vendor exacerbates this risk, as there is no immediate backup service provider readily available.
How does the firm fixed-price contract structure mitigate risks associated with this non-competed award?
The firm fixed-price contract structure provides a degree of cost certainty for the government, as the price is set upfront and generally does not fluctuate with the contractor's costs. This mitigates the risk of cost overruns for the government. However, it does not address the potential risk of the price being too high initially due to the lack of competitive bidding.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance
Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 48 WOERD AVE, WALTHAM, MA, 02453
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $67,447
Exercised Options: $67,447
Current Obligation: $67,447
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-03-06
Current End Date: 2027-02-28
Potential End Date: 2027-02-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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