65 -- MICROPLATE SCINTILLATION AND LUMINESCENCE ANALYZER

Notice Date

July 23, 2001

Contracting Office

Contracting Officer (90C), DVA Medical Center, 3701 Loop Road East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35404

ZIP Code

35404

Solicitation Number

521-1175-1470

Response Due

August 8, 2002

Point of Contact

Sylvia Harris (205) 554-2000,ext. 2639 and Dr. Marianne Egan (205) 933.8101, ext. 6439

E-Mail Address

Re: 521-1175-1470 (Sylvia.Harris@med.va.gov)

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial item prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented, with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation. Written quotations will not be issued and each contractor is expected to respond on his/her letterhead with all required product information. RFQ 521-1175-1470 is hereby assigned to this procurement and shall be referenced on all correspondence relating to this acquisition. This RFQ is issued using Simplified Acquisition Procedures and incorporates all provisions and clauses as those in effect through FAC 97-27 and VAAR 97-1. The DVA Medical Center, Birmingham, AL intends to negotiate a sole source contract with Packard Instrument Company, 800 Research Parkway, Meriden, CT 06450 for a Topcounte, 2-Detector, Variplate Micro-plate Scintillation & Luminescence counter. The following are the minimum specifications for the purchase of a Micro-plate Scintillation and Luminescence Analyzer, similar to the Packard TopCounte NXT model C9904V: The system must utilize patented, triple-mode, single photo multiplier tube technology for counting samples directly from the top in standard micro-plate format. The system must use patented "TR-LSC" background noise reduction technology for scintillation counting, and high-speed single photon counting for luminescence detection. The system must include two (2) detectors dedicated for counting two samples simultaneously in the 14 nun size well of the 24-well plate, and two detectors dedicated for counting two samples simultaneously in the 7 mm size well of the 96-well plate. The system must be capable of analyzing samples in opaque standard micro-plates to prevent optical cross-talk between samples within a plate. The system must be controlled by an integrated "IUBM" compatible Pentium'OH computer with 64 MB of RAM, one 3.5 inch 1.44 NM floppy disk drive, DC ROM drive,=/> 4 GB hard drive, RS-232 input/output, parallel printer port, Windows NT9 operating system, Windows NT-based instrument software, true 32, bit multitasking, and SVGA color monitor. The system must include either an inkjet or a laser-jet printer. The system must include a pair of either 20 or 40 plate stacker cassettes. System must also be capable of reading without stackers. The System must have an automatic bar code reader, which reads bar codes on the micro plate itself, to provide positive sample I.D. Software should accept code 39 bar codes with up to eight alphanumeric characters for positive I.D. The system must include an isothermal counting chamber to maintain a constant counting temperature for counting samples, normalization, and calibration of multiple detectors. Temperature must be user-selectable for optimized luminescence counting. The system must include TSIS (transformed spectral index of the sample) quench indicating parameter for monitoring sample sequence, and may include an optional low energy external standard source for TSIE (transformed spectral index) calculations, for automatic DPM calculations. The system must be capable of solid scintillation counting in the 96-or 24- well formats using Luma-Plate solid scintillation plates. The system must be compatible with Uni-Filter plates to allow for harvesting and counting of the sample micro-plate with no individual sample filter handling. The system must be capable of direct analysis of adherent cells grown in 96- or 24-well, sterile, tissue culture treated white or 96-well transparent bottom (patented) white plates with no transfer or harvesting steps. The Systems must be capable of luminescence counting with two simultaneous detectors in the 96-well format. The system should also be capable of using opaque black micro-plates for reduced background counting of glow and enhanced-flash luminescent labels. The system must use high-speed electronics for luminescence counting to provide a large dynamic range, without saturation, to>20x10 CPS. The system must have an easy access, external, front loading automatic plate stacker, that accepts at least 20 96-well plates, or at least 15 24-well plates for loading and unloading of plates without interruption of sample counting. The system must be capable of counting samples in Eppendorf tubes using Cerenkov or scintillation counting. The system must provide automatic data storage to a built-in ODBC (open database compatible) relational database to protect against data loss due to printer and network failures, and for user-selectable data recall, printing, ASCII file transmission, and results processing. The data must be recallable by assay I. D., user I.D., date, plate number or bar code number. The system must include a simplified user setup guide, such as an Assay Wizard to assist the user in quick and easy assay setup and editing. The system must include on-screen, random access programming and editing of 100 user assays. In addition, the system must allow for editing of no-active assays while counting another assay. The system must include an expandable nuclide library, which contains factory preset and user-customized parameter settings for immediate recall and use in user-defined assays. The system must be capable of counting H, I, C, S, Ca, Cr, P P, and other commonly used nuclides which may be stored in a nuclide library. The system must be capable of on-screen plate mapping to specify sample type and location within each plate, allowing automatic blank subtraction, replicate averaging, and partial plate counting. The system must allow programming of computational groups within an assay, as small as a single well and as large as multiple plates. The system must provide built-in results analysis to identify hits in various screening assays, and to enable reprinting of reports and re-sending of ASCII files. The system must allow the user to re-map samples and reprocess sample data without Requiring the recounting of assays. The system must allow the user to review previously counted sample data without interrupting counting of the current assay. The system must provide unattended automatic tandem processing of count data to final results without requiring the exporting of data to external devices. The system must provide computer-aided diagnostics, automatic power-fail recovery, context-specific. Hypertext Help Screens, automatic calibration, and flobal or assay-specific normalization using the supplies, sealed calibration/normalization plate, or the users assay-specific materials. The system must include an on-line Reference Manual to provide rapid reference information about features and operation of the system, and to supplement the on-line Help feature. The system must include real time micro-plate format display of sample counts, CPK, CPS, TSIS, 2 Signma error, and sample map. The system must be capable of true multitasking, running Windows or DOS applications, without interruption of sample counting. The system must have a user-selectable mode, which allows keyboard control or control by robotic systems, requiring no hardware modification to change between robotic and non-robotic operation. The system must be capable of direct interfacing with liquid sample processing, including easy exchange of work lists and sample I.D. information. The system must provide results in uncorrected CPM or CPS as a standard, default output. The system must provide an on-line reference manual to supplement the on-fine help feature. OPTIONAL: The system may include automatic IPC (Instrument Performance Assessment) to track critical instrument performance parameters for GLP compliance. IPA measures and tracks detector backgrounds, detector alignment, detector high voltage repeatability, The system may include a micro-plate heat sealer to provide a positive plate seal without the use of solvent-labile adhesives. Vendor shall provide all training to all personnel who will be using the system. All interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposal. A determination by the Contracting Officer not to compete this proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether the sources exist necessary for a competitive procurement. The delivery date will be no later than 30 days after award of contract. Contract award is subject to the availability of funds. The following provisions apply to this acquisition:52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items; and 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items. The following clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items. Quotes are due by COB (4:30 P.M. CST) August 8, 2001 and may be faxed to Sylvia Harris at (205) 554-2894, Phone: (205) 554-2000, extension 2639. NAIC 339111.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010725/65SOL001.HTM (W-204 SN50S6X8)