3. Sources Sought_75N95021Q00306.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE # 75N95021Q00306

Title: Four (4) custom multispectral fluorescence solid-state LED/Laser light source units for the existing Zeiss epifluorescence microscopes.

NAICS Code: 335129, Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing with standard size 500 employees.

Introduction: 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 and to determine the method of acquisition. 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.

Background: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility (FICCF) provides routine use of conventional flow cytometry, imaging cytometry, fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and in situ multispectral microscope imaging technology and application techniques to assay a multitude of biological properties at the molecular, subcellular, cellular and tissue levels, as specified by NINDS and other NIH intramural investigators. To this end, the NINDS FICCF owns flow cytometry and imaging equipment which requires periodic upgrades, replacements and/or addition of new state-of-the-art equipment featuring new bioassay technologies and techniques to ensure full operational performance to optimally support continuoulsly evolving research requirements performed at the Facility. FICCF currently needs to purchase 4 custom multispectral fluorescence solid-state LED/Laser light source units (model Lumencor Spectra III light engine or eqvivalent) to enable full light spectrum fluorescence imaging spanning the ultraviolet to near-infrared (395-740 nm) fluorescence excitation range, in order to optimally support multiplex immunohistochemical high content biomarker screening applications using multispectral fluorescence imaging applications routinely carried out at this Core Facility.

Purpose and Objectives: Flow and Imaging Cytometry Core Facility needs to purchase four (4) custom multispectral fluorescence solid-state LED/Laser light source units (model Lumencor Spectra III light engine or eqvivalent) for the existing Zeiss epifluorescence microscopes in FICCF to enable full light spectrum fluorescence imaging spanning the ultraviolet to near-infrared (395-740 nm) fluorescence excitation range.

Salient characteristics: The multispectral light source engine must include 8 independently controlled solid state LED/Laser light sources with excitation peaks (395 nm, 440 nm, 475 nm, 550 nm, 585 nm, 635 nm, 680 nm, 740 nm), internal bandpass (BP) blocking filters (395/25 nm, 434/21 nm, 485/25 nm, 540/24 nm, 590/20 nm, 631/28 nm, 680/10 nm, 730/40 nm), and power outputs of at least 250 mW per excitation line. Each light source must also include serial (USB B and RS232) and TTL (DB15) control ports, onboard microprocessor, and 3 mm liquid light guides (LLGs) for continuous power monitoring and stabilization and uniform field illumination to optimally support multiplex immunohistochemical high content biomarker screening applications using multispectral fluorescence imaging applications routinely carried out at this Core Facility. Each light source must also be specified to provide optimal performance for stable white light illumination output, when all 8 excitation lines are turned ON, for at least 20,000 work hours.

Delivery Date: Within 90 days of purchase.

Capability statement /information sought: Contractors that believe that they possess the ability to provide the required services, should submit documentation on their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contract Specialist.

The Contractor should directly and specifically state in the, capabilities statement, which project requirements can be meet and/or supplied. The Contractor must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

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 must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone number, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist at polina.klimenkova@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before July 20, 2021 at 8 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 presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published on beta.sam.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).