SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- Laser Scanner for Fluorescence for NIDA IRP
- Notice Date
- 3/9/2018
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4211, MSC 9559, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9559, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20892-9559
- Solicitation Number
- NIHDA201800098
- Point of Contact
- Lisa Ventrudo Bielen, Phone: 301-451-7167, Andrew Hotaling, Phone: (301) 443-6677
- E-Mail Address
-
lisa.bielen@nih.gov, hotalingar@mail.nih.gov
(lisa.bielen@nih.gov, hotalingar@mail.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Description : This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. 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 notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Background : The goal of the Integrative Neurobiology Section of the Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, a Branch within the the National Institute on Drug Abuse Intramural Research Branch (NIDA-IRP), deals with the discovery of G-protein coupled receptor heteromers that are targets for addictive drugs or that are localized in brain circuits that are involved in substance use disorders. The analysis of their biochemical and pharmacological properties involves studies at the cellular level as well as at the in vivo level. The techniques used to dissect the properties of these receptor heteromers include the use of antibodies labeled with fluorescent molecules, which are used to establish their distribution within the nervous system. Additional fluorescence -labeled antibodies are used to establish the activation of intracellular signaling pathways upon stimulation of the elements of the receptors complexes. The evidence of the existence of a functional receptor complex both in cultured cells and in vivo is obtained by analyzing the response of the signaling pathways in the presence of pharmacological compounds with high selectivity for specific elements of the receptor complex. This response is measured accurately with instruments such as a laser scanner. Furthermore, the anatomic localization of the receptor complexes can be determined if a tissue is processed in such a way that multiple images can be acquired with a laser scanner and superimposed with analytical software. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to provide NIDA-IRP’s Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch a Branch with one (1) laser scanner for fluorescence that meets all of the salient characteristics discussed below. The scanner should be capable of producing images with a spatial resolution compatible with the size of the biological sample under analysis. NIDA IRP intends to acquire images of rodent brain slices labeled with several fluorescent molecules. A single sample may have one or more fluorescent labels simultaneously. NIDA IRP also needs to acquire images of labeled proteins that are bound to membranes by the Western Blot technique as well as images of gels used for DNA and RNA analysis. Furthermore, NIDA IRP intends to analyze cell cultures also labeled with fluorescent molecules and capture images of phosphor-storage screens exposed to samples labeled with radioactive tracers. The equipment needed must have five laser configuration options for excitation of different fluorescent molecules, dichroic beam-splitter filters, photomultiplier tube detection and variable resolution ranging from 10 microns to 200 microns to cover all the imaging modes used in the laboratory. Project requirements: The laser scanner for florescence must possess the following salient characteristics: 1. Scanning bed: at least 40 x 46 cms. This requirement is due to the use of large format protein resolving gels, tissue arrays that are scanned simultaneously for efficient 3D reconstruction and simultaneous multi-plate assays, where there are timed reactions that require quasi-simultaneous measurements. 2. Optic excitation lasers: Five laser beam sources, to be used individually or in combination; LED 488 nm, SHG 532 nm, LED 635 nm, LED 685 nm, LED 785 nm. This requirement is based on physical properties of the fluorescent molecules used to label tissue and proteins. 3. Imaging resolution: 10, 25, 50, 100, 200 μm, and prescan at 1000 μm. This requirement is based on the use of rodent brain slices in which a imaging resolution of at least 10 microns is necessary to identify relevant anatomical structures. 4. Filters: IP 390 nm BP, Cy2 525 nm BP20, Cy3 570 nm BP20, Cy5 670 nm BP30, IR short 720 nm BP 20, IR long 825 nm BP30. This requirement is based as well on the physical characteristics of the fluorescent molecules used in our assays. 5. Imaging depth: 16-bit images.This requirement is based on the degree of accuracy necessary to quantify subtle but consistent changes produced by our experimental manipulations. Anticipated delivery date: approximately 30 days from date of award. Other important considerations: Operative and analytical software included with a node locked license. Capability statement /information sought: Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products specificed in this notice. Also, information must be provided in sufficient details of the respondents’ (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and other management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. Finally, respondents are also encouraged to provide a general overview of the respondent’s opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any other information regarding innovative ideas or concepts that may be applicable. Submission Instructions: One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Lisa Ventrudo Bielen, Contracting Office, NIDA Section, CMB Blue at lisa.bielen@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before March 19, 2018. 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, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
- Web Link
-
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- Record
- SN04849407-W 20180311/180309231058-1a9f22f80d8dc52296276363b326840c (fbodaily.com)
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