Illinois Public Higher Education Cooperative
RFP #IPHEC2604

Request for Proposal: Microscopes and Optical Accessories

Award Info Published Tuesday May 26, 2026

Evident Scientific MIS, IncWaltham, MA

  • Amount: An estimated $21,000,000
all dollar amounts are estimates only
  • Terms: An estimated start date of 5/26/2026 through 5/19/2031
  • Renewals: 1 five-year
  • Potential Future Renewals: $23,000,000
  • This vendor has agreed to extend their offer to other state universities of Illinois.

Unsuccessful respondents (0)

Summary

Respondents

1 total

1 successful respondent

0 unsuccessful respondents

0 BEP vendors
0 VBP vendors
0 Small businesses

Buyer for this procurement: Graham LaMontagne, (217) 300-6452

Chief procurement officer for this procurement: Bridget McHatton

State purchasing officer for this procurement: Geno Marchizza

The University award process may be delayed as this award goes through a state approval process.

Award Info Published Wednesday May 20, 2026

Carl Zeiss Microscopy, LLCWhite Plains, NY

  • Amount: An estimated $21,000,000
all dollar amounts are estimates only
  • Terms: An estimated start date of 5/20/2026 through 5/19/2031
  • Renewals: 1 five-year
  • Potential Future Renewals: $23,000,000
  • This vendor has agreed to extend their offer to other state universities of Illinois.

Leica Microsystems, Inc.Buffalo Grove, IL

  • Amount: An estimated $21,000,000
all dollar amounts are estimates only
  • Terms: An estimated start date of 5/20/2026 through 5/19/2031
  • Renewals: 1 five-year
  • Potential Future Renewals: $23,000,000
  • This vendor has agreed to extend their offer to other state universities of Illinois.

Nikon Instruments, Inc.Melville, NY

  • Amount: An estimated $21,000,000
all dollar amounts are estimates only
  • Terms: An estimated start date of 5/20/2026 through 5/19/2031
  • Renewals: 1 five-year
  • Potential Future Renewals: $23,000,000
  • This vendor has agreed to extend their offer to other state universities of Illinois.

Thomas Scientific, LLCSwedesboro, NJ

  • Amount: An estimated $21,000,000
all dollar amounts are estimates only
  • Terms: An estimated start date of 5/20/2026 through 5/19/2031
  • Renewals: 1 five-year
  • Potential Future Renewals: $23,000,000
  • This vendor has agreed to extend their offer to other state universities of Illinois.

Unsuccessful respondents (0)

Summary

Respondents

4 total

4 successful respondents

0 unsuccessful respondents

0 BEP vendors
0 VBP vendors
0 Small businesses

Buyer for this procurement: Graham LaMontagne, (217) 300-6452

Chief procurement officer for this procurement: Bridget McHatton

State purchasing officer for this procurement: Geno Marchizza

Comments:
5 vendors responded, and at this time, IPHEC is awarding to 4 of the 5 pending final required documentation. IPHEC intends to award the 5th once documentation received.

The University award process may be delayed as this award goes through a state approval process.

This notice has been modified
Published Friday, February 27, 2026
Please see Addendum 3 for information about attending the virtual RFP opening. Attendance is NOT required.
This notice has been modified
Published Friday, February 20, 2026
Please see Addendum 2, which extends the due date to March 2, 2026 at 2pm central time.
This notice has been modified
Published Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Please see Addendum 1, which covers questions received before, during, and after the pre-submission call held on January 8, 2026.
First published Thursday, December 4, 2025
Sealed proposals will be accepted below until 2:00 PM, Monday, March 2, 2026:
At the following address:
IPHEC
507 E Green Street
Room 514
Champaign, IL 61820
via E-bidding
IPHEC is seeking proposals from multiple qualified businesses to provide unique and essential specialized microscopes, general commodity microscopes, and optical and other accessories, including software, compatible with currently owned and newly purchased microscopes, and access to technical and educational services, maintenance and warranty services, plus other programs and services, which are available on an as needed basis.

For instructions on how to obtain a comprehensive purchase description, disclosure or contract forms, contact:
Graham LaMontagne
IPHEC
507 E Green Street
Room 514
Champaign, IL 61820-0000
Phone: (217) 300-6452
Chief Procurement Officer - Bridget McHatton
State Purchasing Officer - Geno Marchizza
The University reserves the right to accept or reject any and all responses or parts thereof.
Illinois Department of Human Rights (IDHR) eligibility number is required on all proposals, if applicable.
There is no BEP goal for this procurement.
The contract(s) for this solicitation could exceed $50,000 annually.

This transaction is subject to the State Board of Elections registration and certification requirements of Public Act 095-0971.

The State of Illinois has a policy to encourage prospective vendors to hire qualified veterans, minorities, females, persons with disabilities and ex-offenders.

Documents

To obtain any of the following documents, please log into your Bulletin account.

Specification Documents

  • FormA-VendorDisclosures.docx (86 KB)
  • FormB-IPGActiveRegisteredVendorDisclosures.pdf (212 KB)
  • IPHEC2604Addendum1.pdf (183 KB)
  • IPHEC2604Addendum2.pdf (165 KB)
  • IPHEC2604Addendum3.pdf (147 KB)
  • IPHEC2604Microscopes.pdf (1 MB)
  • IPHEC2604PriceFile.xlsx (69 KB)
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