75F40122Q1252185 QA.pdf

75F40122Q1252185 Q&A

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Purchase AFM Workshop HR-AFM-High Resolution Force, or equal microscope

The following are the questions submitted prior to receipt of proposals and their corresponding answers.

Question 1: The system configured lists 2 separate scanners – a 100 micron and 50-micron scanner. Is there a specific reason why 2 scanners are needed? Does the FDA require 2 scanners quoted? Our 100-micron scanner option performs at high resolution down to very small scan sizes <1 micron, so having 2 scanners may be redundant. Typically, other vendors require 2 scanners to improve performance at small scan sizes.

(**Also, the description above “Z-scanner” I believe may be a typo; I am assuming XY scanner is the correct specification as most AFM do not offer these typical z-ranges. Please confirm.)

Response: We need two scanners for our research project. A larger scanner (100 microns) will have a higher noise level than the smaller scanner (50 microns). So, for example, the larger scanner is used for imaging large structures such as cells and large fibers, and the smaller scanner is used for imaging smaller types of samples, such as bacteria and nanoparticles.

As well, we confirm the information conveyed regarding the Z-scanners is not a typo. The description for the Z-scanners is:

--PS-2019 - 100 Micron XY 17 Micron Z Scanner (for TT-2 AFM or HR AFM) 100 Micron XY Range 17 Micron Z Range Strain Gauge XY Linearization Strain Gauge Z Sensor

-- PS-2010 - 50 Micron XY 17 Micron Z Scanner (forTT-2 AFM and HR AFM) 50 Micron XY Range 17 Micron Z Range Strain Gauge XY Linearization Strain Gauge Z Sensor

Question 2: “DS-SS AFM Dunk and Scan” is for fluid imaging, but this capability is not listed in the minimum requirements. Does FDA need fluid imaging capabilities for the AFM system?

Response: Fluid imaging capabilities are required for imaging bacterial cells in liquid.

Question 3: While there is a performance difference between 100 vs 50-micron scanners for the AFM Workshop system, our 100-micron scanner has been proven by our customers to perform at high resolution for imaging single molecules, single nanoparticles <10nm, and atomic steps.

Considering the better performance and noise floor for our system, are 2 scanners still required by the end user? It would be redundant accessory, but I am happy to include it if required.

Response: We are going to get AFM images from bacteria as well as nanoparticles.

75F40122Q1252185 Q&A

When we investigate bacterial damage caused by antibiotics or nanoparticles (such as CuO), we need a 50-micron scanner since we have to get images of bacterial cell membrane structures.

Detailed bacterial cell membrane structures can be observed much better with a 50-micron scanner than with a 100-micron scanner.

(End of Q&A)