66 -- LASER CAPTURE MICRODISSECTION SYSTEM

Notice Date

April 5, 2001

Contracting Office

U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Contracts Management Division (MD-33), Attn: ORDSC, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711

ZIP Code

27711

Solicitation Number

X7A010

Point of Contact

Pamela E. Smith (919) 541-0635

E-Mail Address

click here to contact the contracting officer via (smith.pamela@epa.gov)

Description

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate a sole source purchase order under Simplified Acquisition Procedures to with ARCTURUS Engineering, Inc., 400 Logue Ave., Mountain View, CA 94043 for the acquisition of Laser Capture Microdissection System. The system has equipment design features that are specific & unique to ARCTURUS, Engineering, Inc., Laser Capture Microdissection System. In order to meet the requirements of our laboratory, the system must have all of the technical specifications shown below.(1)Perform the capture of cells from frozen or paraffin sections prepared on plain glass slides;(2)Capture the cells by mechanically lifting from the plain glass slides on a thermoplastic transfer film;(3)Perform the capture through activation of the transfer film with infra-red laser that does not damage adjacent cells/tissues ;(4) Allow the operator to visually inspect the captured cells and sections on the slide for quality control and documentation;(5)Low power near-IR solid state laser to activate thermoplastic capture film; -laser spot sizes of 7.5, 15 or 30 microns ;-output power of laser adjustable from 0 to 100 milliwatts; -IR wavelength of laser does not degrade or adversly affect genetic material of specimen; -Microprocessor controlled electronics for accurate laser parameter control;(6)Capture of laser-targeted tissue/cells by thermoplastic transfer film using film carrier for recise microdissection; -specimen transfer effected by lifting of film carrier off of tissue after laser activation of film; -capture of targeted sample does not damage adjacent tissues on sections;(7) Laser capture system integrated to research grade inverted microscope; -with joystick control to maneuver tissue on slide to create "point and shoot" interface for user; -with vacuum chuck incorporated into microscope stage to eliminate need for clamps and reduce sample cross contamination ; (8)Equipment design allows procedures to be performed on specimens mounted on plain glass microscope slides without requiring special tissue mounting or slide preparation;(9)System includes integrated visualizer to allow for "cover slip" quality imaging; -image records can be obtained for specimens on slides and images taken of the cell/tissues captured on the film, -system allows visual inspection of sample and captured cells/tissue on film throughout the processing,-software applications organize and store image records. The EPA has identified ARCTURUS Engineering Inc. the only firm with the required technical specifications i.e. FAR 6.302-1 "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements". Interested parties who can meet the above requirements may submit written qualification statements, fully explaining their capability no later than 15 days after the date of this publication. Submit response to the U.S. EPA, Attn: Pamela E. Smith (MD-33), Contracts Management Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. No telephonic or faxed request will be honored.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010409/66SOL003.HTM (W-095 SN50I4L4)