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

45 -- AUTO(TURBO) EVAPORATOR SOL RFQ-NCI-90218 DUE 091799 POC Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent, 301-402-4509, Todd Cole, Contracting Officer The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Clinical Sciences (DCS), Laboratory of Biochemistry plans on procuring instrumentation for specimen preparation and provide for the optimal recording of data from Edwards High Vacuum, 301 Ballardvale Street, Wilmington, MA 01887. The Laboratory of Biochemistry has a need for three items (an Edwards Model 306 Auto (Turbo) evaporator, and Edwards Scancoat 6 Cool Sputter Coater, and an Edwards PD3 Plate Degasser) to be used for specimen preparation and recording of data on an FEI Tecnai 12 electron . These components are an integrated set of instrumentation, and the components will enable better preparation of specimens to further enhance the FEI Tecnai 12's capabilities for 1) structural determination of membrane proteins and membrane protein complexes at atomic resolution and 2) structural determination of macromolecular assemblies from single particle imaging studies. Although the above three components will be used in different stages of specimen preparation and data recording, all three components shall be provided by the same manufacturer to ensure a systematic quality control of performance in preparation and corporate support with regard to guidance on using the equipment together throughout a given protocol. The turbo evaporator, which is the major component of this requirement, must be a state of the art vacuum system. The required minimum research needs and features of the evaporator include: 1) A vacuum system having a pressure of 10 to the negative seventh torr or better. The vacuum shall also have a 500 ls to the negative one or better turbomolecular high vacuum pump (instead of, for example, an oil diffusion pump) with liquid nitrogen trap for clean, fast pumping; 2) The instrument shall have a fast acting poppet high vacuum valve instead of conventional gate valve; 3) Shall have a high vacuum valve with battery back-up to enable the high vacuum valve to close in case of a power failure or accidental shut off (this ensures process integrity evenin case of power failure); 4) Shall have a high vacuum environment and substrates to provide continuous protection from contamination and to prevent stalling; 5) Shall have a microprocessor control providing consistent vacuum operation, preventing vacuum "accidents." Only those functions that are safe to operate shall activate when in automatic mode.; 6) Shall have a standard foreline trap on the rotary roughing/backing pump so the chamber and substrates get protection from back-streaming during the rough pumping. 7) Shall have a connection to allow for venting of the vacuum system with nitrogen gas; 8) Shall have a vacuum chamber leak valve with easily accessible connection; 9) The status of the system shall also be readily available and described via simple descriptors (i.e., Atmosphere, Rough Pumping, Fine Pumping, or a specific error condition, etc.); and 10) Shall have automatic Pneumatic lifting of the Bell Jar to prevent unnecessary contamination due to handling residues (This further insures integrity). Regarding pressure measurement, the system shall have the following features: 1) Gauge heads positioned to eliminate line-of-sight to the high vacuum pump; 2) Shields to protect the gauge heads from evaporant contamination; 3) A high vacuum gauge located in the base plate (rather than in the throat of the pump) to provide a more accurate reading of pressure (This insures that vacuum measurement is equivalent to the actual vacuum in the middle of the chamber); and 4) System pressure continuously displayed from atmosphere to high vacuum. Regarding the mechanical features of the system, the laboratory requires a system that shall have: 1) Utility connections that are on the side of the unit (rather than at the rear) which enables the system to be put up against the wall, saving laboratory space (space in the facility is limited); 2) Convenient access to pumps and other components for easy servicing; 3) a design to give quiet and vibration free operation; 4) a design that is upgradeable with a wide range of modular specimen preparation accessories; and 5) Thermal evaporation facility for carbon rod evaporation source for uniform, fine grain, ultra thin, ultra clean, carbon film deposition at high vacuum, and ability to upgrade for carbon thread evaporation sources and metal evaporation sources. The coater, which is required by the laboratory, shall be capable of glow-discharging carbon coated electron microscope preparation grids immediately prior to the application of a protein sample to the grid. The glow discharge shall ensure a hydrophilic carbon surface to which the proteins can readily attach and allow a smooth distribution of negative stain contrasting medium. This process is an essential step in the preparation of specimens to be viewed in the electron microscope it shall provide better high resolution structural information. The plate degasser is essential to ensure that photographic film placed into the electron microscope for image recording is free of water vapor which would be detrimental to the highvacuum of the microscope. Edwards High Vacuum is the only organization known by the NCI Researcher that can meet all of the above equipment requirements for preparation and data recording. This is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement. The statement of capabilities and any other information must be in writing and in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform this requirement. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 3:00 p.m. EST, on September 17, 1999. If you have 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 whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Please reference solicitation RFQ-NCI-90218 on any and all correspondance. Posted 08/31/99 (W-SN374485). (0243)

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