FBODaily.com | FedBizOpps: SRCSGT | 66 | Brand Name LSM 780 Confocal Microscope with 34 Channel Spectral Detection for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR)

FBO DAILY - FEDBIZOPPS ISSUE OF NOVEMBER 28, 2013 FBO #4387
SOURCES SOUGHT

66 -- Brand Name LSM 780 Confocal Microscope with 34 Channel Spectral Detection for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR)

Notice Date: 11/26/2013
Notice Type: Sources Sought
NAICS: 334516 — Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Contracting Office: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Bldg 1050, Frederick, Maryland, 21702, United States
ZIP Code: 21702
Solicitation Number: SBSS-N02RC44103-57
Archive Date: 12/21/2013
Point of Contact: Reyes Rodriguez, Phone: 240-276-5442, Terry L. Galloway, Phone: 240-276-5384
E-Mail Address: reyes.rodriguez@nih.gov, gallowaytl@mail.nih.gov
(reyes.rodriguez@nih.gov, gallowaytl@mail.nih.gov)
Small Business Set-Aside: Total Small Business
Description: This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified small business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned business concerns that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 with a size standard of 500 employees is being considered. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NCI may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) through FedBizOpps. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NCI's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. The purpose of this acquisition is to purchase the LSM 780 Confocal Microscope with 34 Channel Spectral Detection. The CCR Fluorescent Microscopy Core Facility was established by the NCI Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression (LRBGE) in 1998. The core facility provides state-of-the-art confocal microscopy, deconvolution microscopy and digital imaging to CCR investigators to perform high quality basic, translational and clinical research in cancer biology and to train students, residents, and fellows in state of the art methods in optical microscopy. The core facility also provides services and opportunities for collaborative research to investigators throughout the NCI as well as other NIH Institutes. Key application areas in the facility include procedures for single, double and triple label imaging of fixed and living specimens. Long-term Time-lapse imaging of live specimens is also a common application. In addition to these procedures, the facility personnel and users have special expertise in several advanced procedures. These include methods for the determination of molecular interactions within live cells. LRBGE is using two different approaches to measure these interactions: fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS) and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Finally, a number of facility users are studying the cellular response to DNA damage, and these researchers wish to use confocal microscopy to induce DNA damage at defined sites within the cell nucleus, and then study the cellular response to that damage. Microscope:  Inverted Microscope stand with Fully motorized 6 position compatible objective nosepiece and 6 position push and click motorized fluorescence filter turret  Motorized integrated Z focus with a step size of 10nm and travel range of 25mm  Motorized X,Y stage with high accuracy and reproducibility. Stage should include joystick but be fully software integrated.  TFT touch panel independent of microscope stand with focus control and access to all microscope motorized functions. Can be placed conveniently by computer and monitors.  Objectives must include equivalent or better EC Plan Neofluar 5x/0.16, Plan Apochromat 40x/1.4, Alpha PlanApo 63x/1.46,, Alpha PlanApo 100x/1.46 Manually controlled Metal Halide Fluorescence burner with variable intensity output.  High Resolution DC Closed Loop Scanning Stage with Joystick and Integrated Computer Control including Universal Specimen Holder Suitable for variety of slide and round dishes upto 60mm,..5u reproducibility over full travel range.  Definite Focus - Integrated focus which maintains focus during long term live cell imaging.  System must include full Environmental incubation system that includes heating and CO2 to maintain optimal live cell conditions for multi day experiments. Features of High Sensitivity Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope:  Must Incorporate a 34-Channel Quasar(Spectral) GaAsP Detector, consisting of calibrated 32-Array GaAsp and two flanking single PMT detectors, enabling image acquisition with freely definable emission spectra and advanced spectral acquisition and analysis Spectral GaAsp detector allows increased QE(>45%) over standard PMT detectors, critical for our low light fluorescence applications.  System must include the following laser lines 355, 405, 458,488,514,561,594,633  Hardware must support simultaneous acquisition from 34 channels plus TPMT and 2 additional detectors for up to 37 simultaneous 16 bit inputs.  Spectral GaAsP should allow image collecting in photon counting mode for single molecule applications or integration mode for standard fluorescence imaging.  Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) to analyze single molecules with GaAsP detector. Up to 6 channels can be used in FCS mode, providing greater flexibility in stainings and samples.  Able to perform FCS analysis with an actively cooled, photon counting GaAsP detector.  Must be compatible with existing c-Apochromat 40x 1.1 NA FCS lens.  Incorporates Primary Dichroioc Beam Splitter(Twin Gate) at 10 degree position, you achieve Extremely HIGH laser suppression on the order of 6-7 OD allowing superb reflection free imaging. The System omits all secondary dichroics for high efficiency emission collection.  Point Scanner must obtain at least 8 fps at 512x512 and e.g. 250 fps at 512x16  Digital gain (noise free contrast enhancement prior to bit depth conversion).in addition to standard master gain pedestal.  Free selection of emission bands for detection, omitting secondary dichroics or emission filters. Must be possible to set the emission bands over laser lines and still have efficient laser blocking to obtain superior signal to noise with low light fluorescent samples.  Freely rotatable scan field (0-360 degree in 0.1° steps) with user definable size and shape due to independent galvo-mirrors.  Real time electronics control offers more flexibility in managing image data in parallel WHILE ACQUIRING! Users can image process and review, not only previously collected images, but also the image data set currently being acquired without interfering with the image acquisition. Parallel image Acquisition and Analysis on the Confocal Platform is a requirement.  Multiple (up to 99) freely definable real regions of interest (rROIs). Pixel precise control of the laser intensity and signal detection. Prevention of photo damage outside the rROIs boundaries necessary for work on living cells, FRAP, uncaging, photoactivation and photoconversion experiments.  Individual AOTF settings (line selection and attenuation) per rROI.  Use up to 8 laser lines simultaneously with full power possible from each laser line.  System must offer at least 15 different scan speed levels (28 levels including bi-directional scans) for the wide variety of specimens and applications we will design. This is especially critical for our single molecule experiments.  It must be possible to select different scan speeds for bleach ROIs and image frame.  Variable scan field size (hardware-zoom) from 0.6 to 40 in 0.1 steps for magnifications until the optical limits of resolution, with a scan field of 20 mm diagonally in the intermediate image plane.  Image format from 4x1 to 6144x6144 pixels in up to 35 detection channels simultaneously with up to 16 bit depth (65536 gray values) in all channels. (8, 12 OR 16 bit user selectable bit depth.)  Spline scan for excitation and data acquisition along a curved line, essential for measurements along biological samples (e.g. cell membranes, cell processes).  Multitracking for the prevention of cross-talk by linewise or framewise switching of the laser excitation line, essential for multi-fluorescence applications and co-localization studies.  Automatic brightness compensation during the acquisition of z stacks by stepped incrementation of the excitation (laser intensity) and/or the detection gain (detector sensitivity). Must support at least a 5 point incrementation.  Advanced time-series module with automatic bleach and direct trigger- control to design the entire experimental protocol. All scan strategies can be applied (line, spline, frame, z-line, z-spline, z-stack, rROIs, z-rROIs) in the time series.  Absolute linear scanner movement to ensure equal pixel dwell-times as a prerequisite for any quantitative studies.  Calibration and linearization of the 32-Array GaAsp detector and the two flanking single PMTs, all 34-channels can be used for spectral acquisition and analysis.  34-Channel GaAsP detector (GaAsp-array with 32 PMTs and two flanking single PMTs) in combination with the highly efficient holographic grating to provide an even spectral dispersion over the entire visual spectral range.  Spectral recycling loop efficiently recovers non-separated light, redirecting it onto the holographic grating.  Fast parallel acquisition in one single scan of the entire spectral range as a lambda stack (391-749 nm) covered by the 34-Channel QUASAR Detector. (Suitable for spectral analysis in living cells, e.g. colocalization studies and FRET-experiments). Up to 10 different fluorescent dyes can be imaged and separated simultaneously.  Spectral bandwidth for lambda stack acquisition must be selectable by the user. A full spectral image is used for unmixing (suitable for spectral imaging of living cells and later unmixing without any spectral distortions).  Reproducible high resolution spectral data acquisition with 3.2 nm or 4.9 nm steps through sequential spectral scanning in addition to the 10nm parallel spectral scanning.  Online Fingerprinting: Image channel definition not by emission bands but by reference spectra and live processing unmixing during image acquisition.  Spectra can be created from a Lambda stack.  Free combination of manually defined, automatically extracted and spectra stored in the database is possible to perform unmixing on a lambda stack.  Potential to use the entire emission spectrum for dyes for detecting with much higher signal to noise ratios (in contrast to detection with bandpass techniques).  Optics are designed for high transmission and aberration free imaging for 350 - 1100 nm.  Pigtailed visible Lasers, are easily upgradeable. Plug and play bayonette mounting for easy maintenance and reliable, reproducible operation. No mirror alignment required for lasers.  Quantitative Colocalization is a part of the basic software with an interactive link between image display, scattergram and data table. The software includes interactive or automatic determination of thresholds, quantitative colocalization analysis with parameters like number of pixels, mean intensities +/-SD, colocalization coefficients, weighted colocalization coefficients, overlap coefficient after Manders, correlation coefficients, export of the analysis result and extraction of the colocalizing structures e.g. from image stacks.  Transmitted detector must be included. Combination of a transmitted- light illuminator (e.g. a halogen lamp) with one of the detectors, fluorescent images can be superimposed with non-confocal transmitted light images. Software Options:  FRAP acquisition and analysis must be software integrated  FCS -integrated Fluorescence Correlation software for single molecular analysis must be included  Multiple Time Series software package permits complex, combined time series with changing application configurations, autofocus and bleach functions.  Tiling and Multiposition Scanning fully integrated into software.  Smart Setup Software for easy hardware control to adapt system configuration according to chosen dyes from a large database of fluorochromes. Different acquisition modes are suggested (e.g. Fastest and Best Signal).  Optimal hardware settings for Channel unmixing are suggested within the Smart Setup Software tool.  System should include self-test tool, with an easy to use maintenance user interface. In combination with a calibration objective Allows automated pinhole adjustment and automatic scanner calibration, securing optimal system performance.  Innovative concept for one touch button for reproducibility of experiments for multi-user environments via a REUSE function allows reactivation of all acquisition parameters necessary to reproduce an experiment (each image stores the entire method).  User-specific Workspace setups can be stored within the ZEN software according to the users needs and application.  Zen Desk full Second copy of software must be included with all capabilities for offline analysis, Software must be fully functional for offline processing as main system.  ZEN Light must also be available to all users for simple process, measure or display your LSM images on an offline workstation. Order and manage your image data using the ZEN File Browser. Use all acquisition parameters and share images through a variety of Export formats. Simple 3D and interactive measurement supported. How to Submit a Response: 1. Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12 point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of a two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. 2. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than 2:00 pm. EST on December 6, 2013. 3. Delivery Point: All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. Written responses can be emailed to Reyes Rodriguez Contract Specialist at reyes.rodriguez@nih.gov or mailed to the address located under Point of Contact. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed to (240) 276-5399 or emailed. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), through sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number SBSS-N02RC44103-57 on all correspondence. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, an RFQ may be published on FedBizOpps. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Point of Contact: Inquiries concerning this Notice may be direct to: Reyes Rodriguez 9609 Medical Center Dr, Room 1E128 Bethesda, MD 20892-9705 reyes.rodriguez@nih.gov
Web Link: FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/FCRF/SBSS-N02RC44103-57/listing.html)
Place of Performance: Address: NIH, Bldg 41, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States; Zip Code: 20892
Record: SN03241773-W 20131128/131126234507-50bd8dc375f8abdff0dd929869b6bea6 (fbodaily.com)
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66 -- Brand Name LSM 780 Confocal Microscope with 34 Channel Spectral Detection for the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR)