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

66 -- INSTRUMENTS & LABORATORY EQUIPMENT(MICROSCOPE & IMAGING SYSTEM) SOL RFQ-NCI-90101 DUE 052499 POC Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent, 301-402-4509, Todd Cole, Contracting Officer-301-402-4509 The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Urologic Oncology Branch plans to procure a Microscope and Imaging System for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization from Leica Inc., 111 Deer Lake Road, Deerfield, Ill 60015. The Urologic Oncology Branch requires a research grade, upright, compound microscope to be used for the analysis of genetic samples by computer assisted fluorescence microscopy. The microscope will be used to analyze urologic tumors and tumor-derived cell lines by Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and immunofluorescence. It will also be used for brightfield microscopy to analyze and document tumor histology and cell morphology. This work requires that the computer not only be capable of acquiring and analyzing images from the microscope but that the computer be able to directly control many of the functions of the microscope. This requirement shall include a complete integrated system having the following capabilities,salient characteristics,features and specifications: 1) The computer, which includes all necessary software, shall be capable of acquiring and analyzing images from the microscope and it shall be able to directly control many of the functions of the microscope. 2) The microscope must be usable both with and without the computer. 3) The key components, the objective nosepiece and fluorescence turret shall be able to be operated by hand or by electronic stand controls, with or without the computer being in the on position. If the computer is on, manual adjustments shall be fed back to the computer so that mix-registration of component positions does not occur. If the computer is off, the microscope informs the computer of the position of all components even if they have been moved by hand while the computer was off. This will enable the user to trace previous positions and will allow one to determine how results were obtained. This is required to allow routine use of the microscope by other staff without format training in the image analysis end control software. 4)The system shall also provide zero pixel shift" with filter cubes, defined as a maximum of 3 angular seconds of shift,( i.e., 3 microns shift at the intermediate image plane with a lx tube lens, or 1.5 microns with a 0.5xvideo c-mount). This will ensure changing fluorescence filters that the image registration will not shift by even a single pixel on the imaging CCD with factory supplied filter cubes. 5)Motorized light stop is also required on the machine to make sure the computer exposes delicate samples to the arc lamp for no longer than the minimum time necessary to acquire the information image needed. 6)The microscope must have a focus sensitivity of .3 microns or less between intervals because probe sizes are extremely small and multiple probes may be used, the computer shall be required to sample several image planes and compress them into one. The high focus sensitivity in turn will ensure the computer has not missed a probe because it was slightly out of the plane of focus. 7)The microscope must be compatible for use with a PowerMacintosh computer for control purposes. Leica Inc. is the only source known to NCI that produces a Microscope and Imaging System for Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization that can meet the above requirements. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement must be in writing and contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI Researcher to determine if the party can meet the requirement. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 2:00 p.m. EST, on May 24, 1999. If there are any questions, please contact Cynthia Brown,Purchasing Agent, on (301) 402-4509. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed 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 wether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. Please site the solicitation number: RFQ-NCI-90101. Posted 05/06/99 (W-SN328482). (0126)

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