National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSAS, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS/Room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

66 -- WIDE-FIELD OPTICAL SECTIONING MICROSCOPE SYSTEM SOL RFQ-NCI-80157-NV POC Debbie Moore, Purchasing Agent 301/402-4509, Todd Cole, Contracting Officer, 301/402-4509 This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation, No. RFQ-NCI-80157-NV will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR FAC 97-04. The acquisition is being made in accordance with the test program for using simplified procedures for certain commercial items authorized in FAR 13.6. The Standard Industrial Code is 3827 and the business size is 500 employees. This solicitation is set-aside for small businesses. Requirement: The National Cancer Institute is soliciting quotations for a wide-field optical sectioning microscope system capable of multi-wavelength imaging of wavelengths from 340 nm to 685 nm. This system shall be able to collect the entire optical image plane in a single exposure using a 12 bit cooled CCD camera. The system shall be a total integrated system meeting the following minimum hardware and software requirements: HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS: The system shall possess the following hardware items and characteristics: 1) A light scrambling system consisting completely of achromatic optics with a quartz fiber optic light scrambler of two meters in length, a 100W mercury vapor lamp, a collector assembly with achromatic optics with efficient light transmission of 340 mm, and a module for incorporating additional light sources. 2) Excitation and emission filter wheels with four excitation and emission filters with the capability of returning a filter to a position within a 0.5 camera pixel width(3.4 microns). A precise control of excitation and emission filter wheels shall allow ratio imaging and fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments with ease and image accuracy. 3) A neutral density filter wheel with a seven filter neutral density set to enable users to attenuate light in order to prevent camera saturation or reduce bleaching when multiple images are necessary. 4) Eyepiece filter wheel with filters for visible wavelengths for visual observation in order to allow the user to visualize fluorescent images captured by the camera. 5) Shutters that are isolated from the respective modules to prevent vibrations from their operation being transmitted to the optical system. 6) Emission shutter that prevents reflections into the imaging light path. 7) Fiber optic module that allows adjustment of all axes to insure optical path centering and to obtain the optimal Koehler illumination from the fiber optic cable tip down the critical path. 8) A nitrogen purge system to maintain positive pressure and neutral atmosphere in all critical optical modules. 9) Nanomotion control, including filter wheels positioned within one pixel of the CCD camera to prevent filter wedge effect, shutter speed ramped to minimize vibration, and XYZ mechanical stage with 0.01 micron precision. 10) A live cell chamber for microscopy withprecise control of bath temperature, media addition, and perfusion and gas exchange to reduce optical aberrations and for long-term monitoring at temperatures greater than 10 degrees Celsius from ambient that can cause condensation. 11) An inverted microscope and differential interference contrast (DIC) optics (with a full range of prisms for all lenses) as the base for the system with maximum flexibility through multiple video ports; a standard range of optics; and a 60X/1.4 water immersion PSF objective lens for live cell imaging that includes a correction collar for deep sectioning into samples (400 to 600um) with little spherical aberration. 12) A Unix-based workstation with a minimum of a 200MHz processor, 1 MB SC, 256 MB Memory, 2 GB System Disk, 9.0GB 8.5ms Internal Hard Drive, with 17" monitor. SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS: Three dimensional deconvolution software for image acquisition, processing, visualization, and analysis is required and shall include the following features: 1) A stand-alone mode ofoperation without the need to export data to external computational devices. 2) User friendly software with a desktop environment and icons to facilitate drag and drop operations. 3) A data analysis system to process the entire three dimensional data set concurrently to maintain quantitative integrity of data. 4) The ability to keep image data in a single file containing all optical sections, up to five wavelengths, and infinite time points. 5) Software that shall run on a Unix-based 24 bit workstation 6) Visulaization software that is displayed in 24 bit color 7) The capability to construct 3D volumetric visualization of data 8) A system totally controlled from a Unix-based keyboard 9) Point Spread Function calculation module supplied and Optical Transfer File creation routine supplied and a corresponding library that allows creation supplied for each function 10) Capable of network file system (NFS) and remote network operation Offerors must provide a descriptive literature, warranties, and/or other materials that demonstrate that their offer meets the foregoing requirements. The purchase order will be issued to the responsible offeror with the lowest-price that fully meets the requirements of the solicitation. Furthermore, delivery shall be FOB Destination or FOB Origin with transportation insurance provided by the vendor, and inside delivery shall be provided to The Lab of Receptor Biology, 41 Library Drive, Room C615, MSC 5055, Bethesda, MD 20892-5055 within 120 days after receipt of the order. The Government shall reimburse those vendors with standard commercial terms of FOB origin for all transportation insurance. This solicitation incorporates the provisions at FAR 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS, and at FAR 52.212-3, OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS. The latter provision includes the DUNS Number Addendum. The resulting contract will incorporate the requirements of the Clause at 52.212-4, CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS, and the requirements contained in paragraphs (a) and (d) of the clause at FAR 52.212-5, CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS- COMMERCIAL ITEMS -- DEVIATION FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS. The Contract will also incorporate the following FAR clauses cited in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the latter clause: FAR 52.222-26, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY; FAR 52.222-35, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR SPECIAL DISABLED AND VIETNAM ERA VETERANS; FAR 52.222-36, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR HANDICAPPED WORKERS; FAR 52.222-37, EMPLOYMENT REPORTS ON SPECIAL DISABLED VETERANS AND VETERANS OF VIETNAM ERA; and FAR 52.225-3, BUY AMERICAN ACT -- SUPPLIES. Offerors must submit a complete copy of Representations and Certifications, including the provision for the DUNS Number (FAR Clause 52.204-6), with their offer. Offers are due 20 days after the publication date of this notice by 3:30 p.m. EST. Facsimile submissions are permissible with follow-up of an original copy. Offers must be in writing and should be submitted as follows: 1) a completed SF 18 or SF 1449, signed by an individual authorized to bind the organization; 2) a Schedule of the offered materials containing pricing and a delivery schedule; 3) completed Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with DUNS Number addendum; 4) descriptive literature indicating that the offer meets the stated requirement; 5) acknowledgment of amendments, if any. The Representations and Certifications or other cited provisions and clauses may be obtained from Debbie Moore, Purchasing Agent, on (301)402-4509 or by fax on (301)402-4513. Offers and related materials must be submitted to Debbie Moore at the listed address or the fax number above. Offers that fail to furnish the required information or reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. Please cite the solicitation number on your offer. (0174)

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