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

66 -- WIDE-FILED, OPTICAL SECTIONING MICROSCOPE WORKSTATION SOL NCI-RFQ-90251-NR DUE 092499 POC Marsha Gorham, Purchasing Agent & Todd Cole, Contracting Officer The National Cancer Institute (NCI), on behalf of the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Neurogenetics Branch, plans on purchasing a wide-field, optical sectioning microscope workstation from Applied Precision, Inc., 1040 12th Avenue, NW, Issaquah, WA 98027 (DeltaVision Image Restoration Microscopy System 483). The above system is required in order to enable 3D imaging, live cell imaging, and high resolution imaging. The research will range from cultured mammalian cells to Drosophila. A resolution beyond that of a confocal microscope is required, and it shall utilize fluorescent light instead of a laser to prevent damage of samples and to enable use with living samples for time lapse photography. To conduct the aforementioned research, the system shall have the following features/characteristics: 1) The wide-field, optical sectioning microscope workstation shall be designed for precise acquisition of three dimensional impages of fluorescently labeled specimens; 2) All light collected through the objective lens shall be measured; 3) The z-axis image collection shall be driven by micromotors that have very high repeatability allowing 0.1-10 um steps to be collected; 4) Collected images shall be deconvolved by the instrument to produce true three dimensional presentations; 5) Shall be capable of multiwavelength imaging of wavelengths ranging from 340 nm -- 685 nm or better; 6) Shall have full achromatic optics throughput (1mm single fiber quartz fiber optic cable and 100 W Mercury arc lamp) capable of transmitting 340 nm of light or greater and high transmission optics for rapid image acquisition (less than 0.2 seconds); 7) Shall have both excitation and emission filter wheels with set of four excitation and emission filters, and the wheels shall be capable of returning a filter to a position within 3.5 microns or better; 8) Shall be capable of employing neutral density filters; 9) Shall have an eyepiece filter wheel for visual observation of visible wavelengths; 10) All shutters shall be isolated from their modules to prevent vibrations from the operation being transmitted to the optical system; 11) The emission shutter shall be mounted to prevent reflections into the imaging light path; 12) Camera imaging chip shall be configured so no intermediate optics are necessary (enhances image); 13) The fiber optic module shall be capable of adjustment on all axes by the operator to obtain optimal Koehler illumination (allows light from the fiber optic cable tip down the optical path of the microscope); 14) Shall have a nitrogen purge system to keep a positive neutral atmosphere in all optical modules; 15) System software shall allow total system integration through control, data acquisition, 3D deconvolution, analysis, and visualization all within a networked workstation environment without a requirement to port data to external computational devices or software packages, and software support shall be provided over the network. The software shall also reassign out of focus light to the point of origin thereby clarifying images and intensifying the origin; 16) Shall have scaleable processing internal to the instrument to perform the deconvolution; 17) Shall have confocality of objectives; 18) Shall be capable of producing multiple color images processed as a single file format upon collection without additional processing (objective lock on color); 19) Shall have a multiwavelength beamsplitter to keep images from shifting between wavelengths; 20) Light management system shall be fiber optic based and light going to the specimen shall be measured as opposed to light emitted from the specimen; 21) XYZ stage shall enable user to collect data from multiple points over time with assurance that the stage returns to the same location in 3D space; 22) Shall supply a full range of wavelengths for imaging (from UV to almost IR); 23) Shall utilize a 12 bit cooled CCD camera to gain greater sensitivity in samples of varying intensities; 24) Shall use 20 percent or more of the available light; 25) The instrument shall capture the entire section at once to reduce total exposure time of the specimen; and 26) The system shall monitor and report light intensity data to the algorithm to correct fluctuations, photobleaching, and inoperable pixels of the camera. The integrated system shall be Year 2000 compliant and warrantied as such. Applied Precision, Inc. is the only source known to the NINDS Researcher that can meet the specific requirement herein. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above upgrade requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement and any other furnished information must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can fully meet the requirements. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 3:00 p.m., EST on September 24, 1999. If you have any questions, please contact Marsha Gorham, PurchasingAgent on (301)402-4509. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received shall be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. Posted 09/09/99 (W-SN378224). (0252)

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