9531BM21Q0021 - Digital Microscope.pdf

9531BM21Q0021 – Digital Microscope Sections B - M, Page 1 of 10

SECTION B – SUPPLIES OR SERVICES AND PRICES

1. Supplies/Services

Contractor shall furnish and install a fully functional digital microscope system at the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Materials Laboratory in accordance with the requirements as outlined in Section C – Statement of Work.

2. Schedule of Supplies/Services

The digital microscope shall be delivered to NTSB Headquarters in Washington, DC within 120 days of purchase order award.

3. Prices of Supplies/Services The NTSB anticipates awarding one (1) firm fixed-price purchase order as provided in Section B.

The contractor shall propose a fixed price to furnish all equipment, delivery, warranty, installation, and training as described in Section C – Statement of Work. Additional instructions are provided in Section L – Instructions to Offerors.

4. Obligation of Funds

Funds will be obligated in the fiscal year in which the supplies/services are provided.

[END OF SECTION]

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SECTION C - STATEMENT OF WORK

Digital Microscope

1. BACKGROUND

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is an independent Federal agency charged by Congress with investigating every civil aviation accident in the United States and significant accidents in the other modes of transportation -- railroad, highway, marine and pipeline -- and issuing safety recommendations aimed at preventing future accidents.

The NTSB Office of Research and Engineering, Materials Laboratory (RE-30) conducts or coordinates all of the materials analyses in support of special studies and accidents investigated by each of the NTSB’s modal offices. The Materials Laboratory must accurately and effectively document factual evidence on accident components and systems. This work is partially accomplished using digital microscopes such as the Keyence VHX-5000.

The NTSB Materials Laboratory requires a digital microscope system with a magnification capability up to 4000X.

2. SCOPE OF WORK

The NTSB Materials Laboratory currently has a Keyence VHX-5000 digital microscope, purchased in 2014. However, the Materials Laboratory has a need for optical imaging at higher resolution and under a number of different imaging modes and lighting conditions to conduct detailed examinations of fracture features.

3. REQUIREMENTS

The NTSB has a requirement to procure one (1) digital microscope system with the following minimum technical characteristics:

a) Magnification range: 5X to 4000X with minimum focus deviation and long working distance. Offerors shall provide an itemized list of recommended lenses for the end use application.

b) Image capture: The microscope shall have a 4K high-megapixel camera sensor (12 megapixel minimum).

c) Lens/camera configuration: The imaging lens shall be overhead (e.g.; upright configuration) and shall be mounted on a free angle stand/stage with +/- 90º tilt capability.

d) Lens interchangeability: The system shall have multiple lens compatibility.

e) Stage capacity: In a vertical orientation, the stage shall accommodate a sample with a height of 12-inch minimum. Because the samples imaged can be bulky and heavy, the stage shall have a 5 kg minimum load capacity.

f) Stage and lens articulation: At a minimum, the stage shall be motorized in the X-Y directions, with a minimum range of 40 mm in each direction. The lens shall be motorized in the Z direction.

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g) X-Y stitching capability: The digital microscope shall have the capability to create montaged or stitched images in the X-Y direction with 3-D Z-stacking autofocus.

h) 3-dimensional capability: The digital microscope shall possess 3-dimensional imaging capability with the ability to perform 3-D reconstruction (3D depth up) and dimensional profile measurements (Z height measurement) to 1 µm (minimum) resolution while using image enhancements such as high dynamic range and glare removal.

i) Lighting options: The digital microscope shall have, at a minimum, ring and side lighting options (high-intensity LED).

j) Imaging enhancements: The digital microscope system shall have, at a minimum, the following imaging capabilities:

a. High dynamic range (HDR) capability

b. Glare removal capability

c. Brightfield imaging

d. Darkfield imaging

e. Differential interference contrast imaging

f. Polarized imaging (optional)

Offerors shall itemize and describe all imaging enhancement capabilities in the quotation.

k) Turnkey antivibration system: The laboratory where the digital microscope will be used does have with image quality when working above 200X. The digital microscope system shall include an effective means of reducing vibrations, particularly at magnifications up to 4000X.

l) Integrated computer and software: The digital microscope system shall include a turnkey computer and software. The computer system shall have a high-capacity hard drive, 4K monitor, and be Windows 10 compatible. 2D and 3D measurement tools shall be available within the software.

m) Additional accessories: Vendors shall itemize as optional items any digital microscope accessories and upgrades that would enable greater performance, utilization, and ease of use of the instrument such as calibration standards, support packages, and add-on software features.

n) Training: Vendors shall describe the standard on-site training that is provided upon delivery/installation of the microscope system.

o) Warranty: System shall include a standard warranty.

4. DELIVERABLES

Contractor shall furnish all equipment, delivery, warranty, installation, and training for a turnkey digital microscope system as described above within 120 business days after purchase order award to the NTSB Materials Laboratory located at 490 L’Enfant Plaza, Washington, DC 20594.

At delivery, the offeror shall demonstrate the operation and function of the instrument and accessories and to demonstrate compliance with the required technical specifications.

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5. DELIVERY DATE

Delivery of the equipment is due no later than 120 business days after award. The Contractor shall notify NTSB technical point of contact of their intent to deliver the instrument at least 5 working days in advance of delivery.

6. INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

In addition to the inspection and acceptance terms as described in FAR 52.212-4, the Government reserves the right to perform or have performed such tests and evaluations to verify specified system performance. Such tests and evaluations, if performed, shall be conducted within the environment in which the system is to be operated.

7. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The Contractor may submit an invoice for 100% of the purchase order value upon completion of the deliverables, contingent upon Government inspection and acceptance.

8. POINTS OF CONTACT

Kate Campbell Contracting Officer National Transportation Safety Board Acquisition & Lease Management Division (AD-20) Kate.campbell@ntsb.gov

(202) 314-6209

Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR):

TBD

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SECTION J – LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

1. Past Performance Questionnaire (1 page)

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SECTION L – INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) solicits a quote for a digital microscope system in accordance with Section C – Statement of Work of the Request for Quote (RFQ).

This RFQ will result in the establishment of one (1) purchase order under FAR Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Award will be made to the offeror whose quote submission represents the best value to the Government.

Offerors must be found to be responsible in order to be eligible for award.

Solicitation Question and Answer Instructions Written questions concerning this solicitation must be submitted by 4:00PM EST on Wednesday, August 4, 2021 via e-mail to Kate Campbell, Contracting Officer, at kate.campbell@ntsb.gov.

Answers to all questions will be provided through an amendment to the RFQ.

Electronic Dissemination of Documents Access to this RFQ and amendments will be posted on the Federal Business Opportunities website: www.fbo.gov. All offerors are cautioned that it is your responsibility to frequently check back to the website to ensure that you have received all issued amendments.

Submission of Quotes Quotes must be submitted and received via e-mail to kate.campbell@ntsb.gov by the time and date specified in Block 10 of the SF18. Quotes shall be submitted in Adobe PDF format.

LATE OFFERS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Offers submitted with inadequate information may be found unacceptable.

The maximum email file size that the NTSB e-mail server can accept, including attachments, is 35 megabytes (MB). Offerors may segregate offers and submit in separate e-mails if the combined file size of the offer will exceed 35MB. Offerors are encouraged to remove excess graphics from their offers to ensure offers remain under the file size limit.

As a reminder, it is the offeror’s responsibility to confirm the Government has received their offer prior to the offer submission deadline.

The successful Offeror must be registered in the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) at the time of award.

Instructions for Preparation of Quotes

Quote Organization Offerors shall respond to all requirements of this solicitation. Offers submitted with inadequate information may be found unacceptable. For this solicitation, offerors shall submit quotes in two

(2) separate volumes as follows:

(1) Volume I -Technical Section: Include all information requested under paragraph “Volume

I: Technical Section.” Exclude any references to price in the Technical Section.

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(2) Volume II - Business Section: Include all information requested under paragraph “Volume II: Business Section”.

Requirements for Quote Content Include the following for both Volumes:

(1) Cover sheet containing the offeror's name, address, phone number, e-mail, website address, title of offeror's quote, Solicitation Number, and quote Volume Number.

(2) "Table of Contents" which provides enough detail to quickly locate key elements of the offer.

Volume I: Technical Section Include all information required for evaluation. Exclude references to price. The offeror is responsible for including details to permit a complete and accurate evaluation of the quote strictly from a technical standpoint.

Technical Volume Content

The offeror shall provide the following information in response to the solicitation in the format specified below:

1. Executive Summary (not separately evaluated) An Executive Summary of the offeror’s quote is required. This summary will not be evaluated but will be used to gain an understanding of the offeror and the overall contents of the quote. It should identify and highlight significant features of the quote and include the salient points contained in the various volumes and chapters. Each offeror should include a General Information section in the Executive Summary that addresses the following: 1) company name and address, 2) Company Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), 3) Duns and Bradstreet’s number, and 4) CAGE code.

2. Capability of Proposed Equipment Offerors will be evaluated against the degree to which their proposed equipment matches the specifications as outlined in the Statement of Work. Offerors shall describe the technical capability of the proposed equipment relative to the desirable microscope characteristic specifications and provide all product literature for the equipment it is proposing. Literature must clearly identify the manufacturer, make, and model. Offerors much clearly describe how the proposed equipment meets or exceeds each requirement. As applicable, Offerors must provide evidence that the Offeror is authorized by the original equipment manufacturer to provide the equipment.

Volume II: Business Volume

3. Past Performance The past performance proposal shall consist of completed past performance questionnaires from no less than three (3) past references whose requirements are similar in scope to this NTSB requirement. The Contractor shall ask their references to complete the Past Performance Questionnaire (Attachment 2) and submit it directly to Kate Campbell via at kate.campbell@ntsb.gov or via fax: (240) 752-6322. It is the Contractor’s responsibility to ensure that Past Performance Questionnaires are completed timely and submitted by customer

Sections B - M, Page 8 of 10 references, and that correct names, addresses and phone numbers are provided in the responses for each reference. A Contractor will not be penalized in the evaluation with an unfavorable rating for the failure of its past performance references to complete and submit the Past Performance Questionnaires. The Government may contact a Contractor’s customer references or use other references/information to verify past performance.

There is no limit on the number of pages for Part II - Past Performance.

4. Price Offerors are instructed to submit a fixed price for a digital microscope system, to include delivery/shipping, assemblage, installation, warranty, and training. All costs of any modifications to achieve the equipment and system requirements must be included in the price. The delivery point is F.O.B. destination.

Offerors are instructed to include a price breakout that shows all price elements that make up the total fixed price.

Sections B - M, Page 9 of 10

SECTION M – EVALUATION FACTORS FOR AWARD

Basis for Award NTSB will use comparative evaluation to compare offers to each other to select the contractor or contractors that is best suited and provides the best value, considering the evaluation factors in the solicitation. When using comparative evaluation, ratings are not assigned; rather, the evaluators document the observations of each Offeror’s technical quote for each evaluation factor.

The Government reserves the right to reject any or all quotes if such action is in the public interest.

Under a best value procurement, the NTSB may reasonably determine that the superior technical capability merits a higher price and, therefore, represents the best value to the Government or the NTSB may reasonably determine that the Offeror with other than the highest rating in non-price/cost factors is the best value. The Government may waive informalities and minor irregularities in quotes. The Government reserves the right to award without discussions. Offerors are cautioned that they must submit a best offer with the initial quote. To receive an award, an Offeror must be determined to be responsible.

Responsibility Determination

In order to be eligible for award, the Contracting Officer must determine that the offeror is responsible according to the standards of FAR 9.1, "Responsible Prospective Contractors".

Evaluation Process

The following factors will be evaluated by the Government:

QUOTE PART # FACTORS and

SUBFACTORS

TITLE

I Technical Quote 2 Capability of Proposed Equipment II Business Quote 3 Past Performance

4 Price

The Technical Factor in Part I will be evaluated to determine strengths and weaknesses. The technical factor is more important than price. However, as quotes become more equal in non-price factors, price becomes more important. The Government reserves the right to reject any or all quotes if such action is in the public interest.

Past Performance will be evaluated and will be rated Acceptable or Unacceptable. The Government will assess the relevance, breadth and quality of the Contractor’s recent past performance with clients who have purchased similar services and evaluate the quality of the Contractor’s past performance based on the past performance references submitted on behalf of the Contractor and/or other information obtained from references provided by the Contractor, as well as other relevant past performance information obtained from other sources known to the Government. A Contractor without a record of past performance or for whom information on relevant past performance is not available will be evaluated as neutral. Contractors are cautioned that despite the relative weight of the non-price factors, proposals that receive an unacceptable in Part II may be deemed ineligible for award.

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Price will be evaluated to determine reasonableness. Reasonableness is the degree to which all prices by their nature and amount, do not exceed that of which would be incurred by a prudent person in the conduct of competitive business.

As part of its price evaluation, the Government specifically reserves the right to evaluate the risk associated with any pricing schemes. Price quotes will be evaluated to determine the reasonableness of a Contractor’s quote. Evaluation may include analysis to determine a Contractor’s comprehension of the solicitation requirements, as well as the validity of a Contractor’s approach.

A price that is found to be unreasonably high or unrealistically low in relation to the proposed upgrade requirement may result in the quote receiving a lower rating or a Contractor’s quote may be rejected if the pricing poses an unacceptable risk to the Government.

ATTACHMENT 1

PAST PERFORMANCE QUESTIONNAIRE

National Transportation Safety Board

Offeror’s Name: ___________________________________________ Solicitation: 9531BM21Q0021 Person/Point of Contact: ___________________________ Telephone: _______________________ E-Mail:____________________________ Facsimile: ________________________ Title and Organization:

Instructions: Offerors are to forward to references listed under responses to the Past Performance portion of the Business Volume. References should submit completed questionnaires via fax to Kate Campbell at (240) 752-6322. Any questions regarding this questionnaire may be sent to Kate.Campbell@ntsb.gov.

1. Type of Service. What type of services did the contractor perform for your agency?

2. Quality of Performance. Did the contractor perform in a manner that conformed to contract requirements and demonstrated standards of good workmanship? Please explain.

3. Timeliness of Performance. Did the contractor adhere to the contract schedule?

4. Customer Satisfaction. Did the contractor demonstrate reasonable and cooperative behavior and commitment to customer satisfaction? Did the contractor display a business-like concern for the interest of the customer? Was the customer ultimately satisfied?

5. Based on the contractor’s overall performance, would you award them another contract?

[ ] YES [ ] NO Please explain.