66 -- TECNAI F30 ELECTRON MICROSCOPE

Notice Date

March 27, 2001

Contracting Office

National Institutes of Health, Office of Procurement Management, 6011 Executive Blvd., Rockville, Maryland 20892-7260

ZIP Code

20892-7260

Solicitation Number

263-01-P(BD)-0066

Point of Contact

Marcia Goldman, Contract Specialist, 301-496-2302

Description

This is a combined solicitation/synopsis for commercial items description, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This notice constitutes the only solicitation, a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation, No. 263-01-P(BD)-0066, is issued as a RFP. The solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAC 97-18. The National Institutes of Health, has a requirement for a Tecnai F30 electron microscope with a liquid helium cooled specimen stage to be purchased as a trade-in for National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland . The NIH intends to contract with FEI Company, 7310 Grove Road, Suite 111, Frederick, Maryland 21704, under the authority of FAR 6-302-1 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. FEI Company, is the only known source for this equipment. FEI Company is the original manufacturer of the Tecnai F30 microscope for use at liquid nitrogen temperatures which will be traded for a liquid helium cooled Tecnai instrument. This upgrade is essential for maintaining performance of the transmission electron microscopy experiments at the state-of -the-art. The lower temperature significantly stabilizes the specimens and enhances their resistance to damage from electron irradiation. The microscope shall be capable of the following unique performance specifications : 1. Minimum line resolution when at liquid helium temperatures and 59000x magnification must be as follows; at 0 degrees tilt, 0.205 nanometer information limit; up to 45 degrees tilt must be 0.23 nanometer information limit; up to 70 degrees tilt must be 0.34 nanometer information limit, and at high magnification must be 0.14 nanometer line resolution and 0.18 nanometer point resolution. 2. The final stably maintained specimen temperature must be 15 degrees Kelvin or colder. 3. Must maintain helium temperature for at least six hours without filling Dewar. 4.To allow systematic testing between image quality at liquid helium temperature and liquid nitrogen temperature, the stage and microscope must perform equally well at both temperatures. 5. Contamination rate must be sufficiently low that at liquid helium temperature (less than15 degrees Kelvin) after 10 hours in the stage, a specimen area of 1 micron diameter exposed to 100 electrons per square Angstroms must show a change of contrast of less than 1 percent when viewed in defocus- diffraction mode. 6. The stage must be able to continuously tilt up to plus or minus 70 degrees while operating at liquid helium temperature. 7. Stability must be such as to meet the following maximum drift rates: 1.5 nanometer/ minute within 15 minutes of sample insertion, at zero degrees tilt; 3.0 nanometer/minute within 15 minutes of sample insertion, at 45 degrees tilt; 4.0 nanometer/minute within 15 minutes of sample insertion, at 70 degrees tilt. 8. The microscope must be installed and operate in a 4.5 meter x 5.3 meter room with a door having a width of 1.2 meter in width. 9. System must require not more than 10 minutes after specimen exchange to stabilize to 0.34 nanometer resolution imaging or better at 59,000x magnification. 9. System must include a specimen workstation capable of storing at least 6 vitrified grid-loaded samples without melting or contamination for subsequent transfer into the microscope. 10. Workstation must be capable of operating continuously during one 8 hour work day. 11. Microscope must be equipped with field emission gun and 2k x 2k CCD camera; The contractor shall deliver the microscope with days after contract award. The Government will evaluate based on F.O.B. Destination and acceptance at Bethesda, Maryland. Information provided must demonstrate the equipment's ability to meet the descriptions described herein. The following FAR provisions/clauses are applicable to this solicitation and any resultant contract; FAR provision 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial, applies to this acquisition. A completed copy of the provision 52-212-3, Offeror Representatives and Certifications- Commercial Items, is required as part of the offer. The clause 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions- Commercial Items applies to this acquisition..The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders-Commercial Items applies to this acquisition. Small Business Subcontracting Plan , Alternate II is applicable. A Small Business subcontracting plan needs to be submitted with the contractor's proposal. The contractor will be paid following delivery, and acceptance of equipment. The Government anticipates the award of an Definite Delivery, firm fixed price contract. Sources demonstrating the capability to accomplish the above shall provide pertinent information is sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to perform. Information furnished should include enough material to conduct a proper evaluation. Respondents will not be notified of the evaluation results. Offer is due within 15 days of this notice to the attention of Marcia Goldman at the above address. CBD NUMBERED NOTE: Note 22 applies

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010329/66SOL003.HTM (W-086 SN50H4I8)