SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Redacted JOFOC for the Brand Name or Equivalent, the DeltaVision Elite Base Imaging Research microscope system
- Notice Date
- 10/20/2014
- Notice Type
- Justification and Approval (J&A)
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Room 1E128, Rockville, Maryland, 20852, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20852
- Solicitation Number
- N0RC42599-83
- Archive Date
- 11/14/2014
- Point of Contact
- Gwennifer K. Epps, Phone: 240-276-5445, Terry Galloway, Phone: 240-276-5384
- E-Mail Address
-
eppsg@mail.nih.gov, gallowaytl@mail.nih.gov
(eppsg@mail.nih.gov, gallowaytl@mail.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Award Number
- HHSN261201400649P
- Award Date
- 9/26/2014
- Description
- Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition "Source Selection Information - see FAR 2.101 and 3.104" 1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity. a. Federal agency and contracting activity. National Institutes of Health b. Sponsoring organization. The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LBMB) c. Project Officer information. 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. a. Acquisition purpose and objectives. The Telomere Biology section within the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (LBMB) plans to procure on a sole source basis the DeltaVision Elite Imaging research microscope system for the purpose of conducting cutting-edge microscopy to investigate the underlying mechanisms of chromosome biology, including heterochromatin formation, chromosome segregation, chromosome organization, and telomere maintenance, and to discover the causative effect of defects in these fundamental processes, in particular as they pertain to the initiation of cancer cell states. b. Project background. The Telomere Biology section investigates many aspects of chromosome biology, including heterochromatin formation, chromosome segregation, regulation of genome stability, and maintenance of telomeres. Particularly relevant to this acquisition is our focus on the cell biology of chromosome structure and telomere biology. Telomeres are specialized protein-DNA structures located at the ends of chromosomes. Proper telomere maintenance is critical for many fundamental cellular processes, such as chromosome segregation, stem cell proliferation, and prevention of translocations that can lead to cancer. In order to investigate telomere function as well as other aspects of chromosome biology, such as chromosome organization, compaction, and structure, a high speed, super-resolution microscope capable of multiple imaging applications is needed to meet the goals of the laboratory. These microscope systems will be used by members of Telomere Biology to image live cells in 3D at high speed and with high resolution. 3. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs (including the estimated value). A. Project title. DeltaVision Elite Research Microscope System B. Project description. The Telomere Biology section within LBMB investigates the fundamental mechanisms of chromosome biology. LBMB laboratories study how chromosomes are accurately segregated, how they are organized, how compacted domains are formed, how gene expression patterns are regulated, and how structure contributes to the maintenance of genome stability. We also investigate the biology of telomeres. Telomeres are located at the ends of chromosomes in eukaryotic cells and are critical for maintaining the stability and function of the genome. Disruptions in telomere function can critically impair cellular function, and lead to undesirable translocations and genome instability that can result in development of cancers. The lab takes a multidisciplinary approach, leveraging the power of yeast genetics, biochemistry, and cutting edge cell biological techniques, in the investigation of the biology surrounding chromosomes and the many mechanisms that ensure their stable maintenance. C. Requirement type.  Research & development (R&D)  R & D support services  Support services (non-R&D)  X Supplies/equipment  Information technology (IT)  Construction  Architect-engineer (A & E) services  Design-build  Other (specify): ____________________ a. Type of action. X New requirement  Follow-on  Other (specify): ______________________ b. Proposed contract/order type. X Firm-fixed Price • Other fixed-price (specify, e.g., fixed-price award-fee, fixed-price incentive-fee): __________Cost-plus-fixed-fee • Other cost reimbursement (specify, e.g., cost-plus-award-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee): ___________ • Time and materials • Indefinite delivery (specify whether indefinite quantity, definite quantity, or requirements): ___________ • Other (specify): ___________ • Completion Form • Term form c. Acquisition identification number. Requisition number: 3437993 Presolicitation number: N02RC42599-83 d. Total estimated dollar value and performance/delivery period. The total cost, including delivery, set up and training, is estimated to be $. Delivery estimate is 90 days. 4. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. a. Acquisition Authority •. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c)(__) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302- __. X This acquisition is conducted under the authority of section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996 in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) b. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited. • Name and address of the proposed contractor(s). GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences Corp, 800 Centennial Ave., Piscataway, NJ 08855-1327 • Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s). NCI has the need of an advanced microscope imaging system capable of high resolution microscopy. The system LBMB seeks to acquire consists of the DeltaVision Elite Imaging Systems, from GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences. This system comprises revolutionary and cutting edge technology that combine to deliver a product capable of super high resolution live cell imaging. Listed below are some of the required features that are provided exclusively on the DeltaVision Imaging Systems: 1. TruLight Illumination, developed and offered exclusively on the DeltaVision Elite system, eliminates the need for excitation filters, providing instead a 7 channel box. This allows for extremely rapid automated switching between illumination channels, and between viewing and imaging modes. This reduces the exposure time needed for imaging. TruLight allows detection and imaging of small organelles due to reduced signal to noise and concentration of light to the sample. This feature is particularly important for structural imaging of fission yeast. 2. Ultimate Focus technology that maintains the Z-series focus throughout long time lapses within 25nm. This technology is exclusive to DeltaVision Elite system and is a patent pending design. The absolute accuracy of the stage system is <1 Oum per 25mm (x,y), and <.6um per 13 um (z). This also ensures superior repeatability in all planes (0.2um in x,y and 0.1 um in z axes). 3. Stage control with patented NanoMotion III Precision Control motors allows precise control and stability for 3D imaging, offered exclusively on the DeltaVision Elite system. 4. Environmental control that is required for long term imaging experiments, allowing control of temperature and C02 conditions throughout the experiment. 5. Ability to do point-visiting within a single or time-lapse experiment (up to 4,000 user designated points can be imaged in a single experiment). We need the ability to combine high temporal resolution with the high structural and spatial resolution provided by the combined technology offered with the DeltaVision system. 6. Deconvolution of acquired stacked images, allowing improved image resolution and contrast. Applied Precision offers the best deconvolution system currently on the market. 7. Optical Axis Integration, allowing rapid acquisition of a Z axis defined range with lower total light exposure, preserving the sample integrity while gathering the total cellular image. 8. The CMOS camera for the DeltaVision Elite offers an expanded field of view (2k x 2k pixels) and has only 1 e- of read noise. It can be run at over 400 frames per second. 5. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable. The NCI contract specialist will consider the independent government estimate and previous purchase order prices as a determining factor for reasonableness. Based on the aforementioned, there is no reason to believe that price will not be fair and reasonable to the Government. A final determination will be conducted prior to the award of this contract. 6. Description of the market research conducted among schedule holders and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted. To the knowledge of the Contracting Officer's Representative, GE Healthcare is the sole US manufacture of the DeltaVision Elite. NCI has discussed LCMB research needs with colleagues, at universities and at the NIH, and with company representatives to determine the state of technology on the market and how DeltaVision compares. As a result, LCMB research has led to the following conclusions: 1) no other company or small business manufactures these systems, 2) no other company makes a device or system that can perform similarly, or at least achieve comparable imaging results, and 3) no other company offers a device or system with the necessary features to achieve similar or superior results. In particular, the TruLight Illumination, Ultimate Focus technology and ability to do point-visiting (marking up to 4,000 locations for imaging), as well as the inclusion of the sCMOS camera capable of an expanded field of view with low noise capable of over 400 frames per second are unique to the DeltaVision system. These features are described in Section 4b. Thus, LCMB have concluded from our research that the DeltaVision Elite systems offer the unique features that we require for our research. 7. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies. A sources sought notice was posted on September 12, 2014 with a response date of September 18, 2014. A combined synopsis/ solicitation notice was posted on FedBizOpps on September 18, 2014 with a response date of September 24, 2014; 11:00 am EST. No responses were received in response to the sources sought notice and combined synopsis/ solicitation notice. 8. Any other facts supporting the justification. None. 9. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services. a. Removal of barriers to competition. There are no future plans to acquire this device again. b. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed an interest, in writing, in the acquisition. No other sources expressed interest in this acquisition.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/RCB/N0RC42599-83/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: 37 Convent Dr., Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN03554117-W 20141022/141020234317-56ad8d4dfa71ec6287c7f3f9ca0eeadd (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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