DHHS, PHS, CDC, NIOSH, ALOSH, 1095 Willowdale Rd., Morgantown, WV 26505-2888

66 -- OLYMPUS BX 50 MICROSCOPE WITH OLYMPUS DENMARK C.A.S.T.- GRID COMPUTER ASSISTED STEROLOGICAL TOOLBOX OR EQUAL SOL RQ98-006 DUE 122397 POC Brenda Goodwin, 304/285-5882/Contracting Officer, Rex S. Wolfe, 304/285-5883 THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; BIDS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This solicitation is issued as Request for Proposal No. RQ98-006. This procurement is being issued unrestricted. The Standard Industrial Classification is 3826 with a size standard of 500 employees. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 90-46. The Government requires equipment for stereologic assessment of tissues and cells for neurotoxicology studies being conducted by NIOSH, HELD, TMBB. Furnish and install at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV one each -- Olympus BX 50 Microscope modified for stereology with the Olympus Denmark C.A.S.T.- GRID System components. Components proposed should include an IBM type PC with sterological software which is Windows based and a 17" IBM type Monitor. (All items brand name or equal). SPECIFICATIONS: This instrument must be specifically designed as an interactive data collection program to be used for obtaining efficient and unbiased estimates of cell number, cell density, cell size and all other stereological quantities in 2-D and 3-D. To achieve valid data from tissues prepared by NIOSH personnel, a quantitation device is necessary that can perform unbiased sampling in sub-regions of brain areas of interest using different sampling densities. To make accurate measurements of brain cells, global spatial sampling is necessary to estimate global length and optical rotator and spatial rotators are needed to calculate cell volume and surface area from 3-D measurements. The Microscope included in this system must be modified for stereology and include a computerized high precision specimen stage with x- and y- axis control, and must have an optical disector/fractionator for high precision of the z- axis. The objective APOs must range from 100x oil to 1,25x. A True split screen physical disector, a specimen rotator and a fixed axis vertical rotator is necessary. This instrument must have the capability of enhanced high precision random start, and systematic sampling using microtitre plates, support several sampling schemes and include numerous grid types to perform the assay designed by NIOSH/HELD/TMBB personnel. Offerors shall include a delivery schedule for all components with their offer. Evaluation Factors: Offers will be evaluated for technical compliance with the stated specification. Offers shall be proposed based on F.O.B. Destination (Morgantown, West Virginia) and the requirements at FAR 52.214.21 "Descriptive Literature" apply. Information provided with your offer must demonstrate the unit's ability to meet the specification or your offer may be rejected. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items; 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions -- Commercial Items and 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders -- Commercial Items. Additionally, the following FAR clauses cited in Clause 52.212-5 are also applicable to this acquisition as follows: FAR 52.222-3 "Convict Labor (E.O. 11755)", 52.233-3 "Protest After Award (31 U.,S.C. 3553 and 40 U.S.C. 759)"; 52.222.26 "Equal Opportunity"; 52.222-35 "Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans"; 52.222-36 "Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers"; 52.222-37 "Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of Vietnam Era"; 52.225-3 "Buy American Act -- Supplies"; 52.225-18 "European Community Sanctions for End Products." Offers are due December 23, 1997, 2:00 p.m. local prevailing time. Submit the following to DHHS, PHS, CDC, NIOSH, ALOSH, Attn: Brenda Goodwin, 1095 Willowdale Road, Morgantown, WV 26505: (1) original and three copies of a completed SF 1449, signed by an individual authorized to bind the organization; (2) Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services containing pricing of Contract Line Items (CLINs); delivery schedule and published price lists (if available); (3) completed Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-3; (4) descriptive literature, tables, etc. which demonstrate compliance with specifications for evaluation purposes; and (5) acknowledgment of solicitation amendments, if any. Facsimile Bids are not authorized. Offers that fail to furnish the required information, or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. Award of a one firm fixed-price contract is anticipated. Information regarding this notice can be obtained from Brenda Goodwin at (304)285-5882 or by fax at (304) 285-6083. All responsible sources may submit a response, which shall be considered by the Agency. (0339)

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