25-001407 Sources Sought Notice.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 25-001407

2. Title: Vibrating Microtome

3. Classification Code: 6640

4. NAICS Code: 334516

5. Size Standard: 1,000

6. Description: Laboratory Equipment and Supplies

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Small businesses are encouraged to respond.

For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include: (1) the place of manufacturing (i.e., address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture), as well as (2) the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e., address Non-Manufacturer Rule).

1. Background: The National Institute on Aging (NIA) Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (CARD) works to understand the pathological basis of neurodegenerative diseases. The purpose of the Vibrating Microtome is for the preparation of autopsied brain tissue slices for microscopy analysis to support neurodegenerative disease research within the CARD.

2. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to purchase a Vibrating Microtome for micro slicing autopsied brain tissues to prepare samples for microscopy analysis.

3. Purchase Description:

Anticipated period of performance: N/A

Other important considerations:

4. Salient characteristics – All deliverables required under this contract shall be packaged, marked, and shipped in accordance with Government specifications. At a minimum, all deliverables shall be marked with the contract number and Contractor name. The Contractor shall guarantee that all required materials shall be delivered in immediate usable and acceptable condition.

Vibrating microtome instrument must be able to provide the following features.

· Capable of slicing tissues, with ≤ 1µm Z-axis deflection

· Include its own z-axis calibration unit

· Include z-axis blade adjust minimizer

· Include blade holder angle to user requirement

· Include set start and stop position from blade travel

· Ability to deploy re-usable zirconium-ceramic blades or stainless-steel blades.

· Include demountable electronically controlled thermo-electric tissue bath cooler

· Capable of adding an optional LED light accessory and scope

· A section thickness step size of 0.001 mm

· A bath table rise & fall speed of 1.0 mm/sec maximum

· A maximum of 19 mm (vertical) travel of bath table

· A minimum cutting head advance speed of -4.0 mm/sec (-1.00 during slicing).

· A maximum cutting head advance speed of +4.0 mm/sec (+1.00 during slicing)

· A cutting head retraction speed of 4.0 mm/sec

· A maximum of 40 mm travel of cutting head.

· A minimum of 50 Hz blade oscillation frequency.

· A maximum of 120 Hz (amplitude dependent) Blade oscillation frequency.

· A frequency step size of 5 Hz

· A minimum blade oscillation amplitude of 0.5 mm (nominal)

· A maximum blade oscillation amplitude of 2.5 mm (nominal)

· An amplitude step size of 0.25 mm (nominal)

· A controlled blade advance at 10microns per sec

· Capable of manual or automatic operation

· Capable of auto programming by storage of first slicing

· Exterior dimensions no larger than 410mm Width x 400mm Depth x 270mm Height (excluding light source and microscope)

· Weight no larger than 33Kg

In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.

Capability statement /information sought.

Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Lorraine Gibbs, Administrative Officer, at lorraine.gibbs@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before 11/8/2024 at 4:00 PM, Eastern Time.

“Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a solicitation may be published on the NIH NIDA electronic bid board at All Bid Board Announcements | National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (nih.gov). However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).”