Request_for_Information_SuperResolutionMicroscope_1.pdf

Request for Information (RFI) No. 473012

Advanced Confocal and Super-Resolution Microscopy System

Please note that this is an RFI/Sources Sought notice, not a Request for Proposal, and no solicitation exists at this time.

BNL-QA-101, para 3.1.4 - Other: Refer to procurement documentation (e.g. PO,Statement of Work [SOW], specifications, drawings) for quality requirements.

To all Potential/Interested Suppliers, Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC (herein known as “BSA”), operator of Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) under a Prime Contract with the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE), is seeking expressions of interest from firms regarding Advanced Confocal and Super-Resolution Microscopy System as outline below:

1. Introduction and Purpose

Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) is seeking information from qualified vendors regarding advanced confocal laser scanning and super-resolution optical microscopy systems capable of high-speed, multi-color fluorescence imaging, including fluorescence lifetime (FLIM) and superresolution nanoscopy with Stimulated Depletion Emission (STED).

This RFI aims to gather detailed technical, functional, and operational information about current commercial systems. Responses will assist BNL in developing future procurement requirements and specifications for a system supporting biological, chemical, and materials research imaging applications.

2. General Description

The desired advanced optical microscopy system should:

Combine confocal, FLIM, and STED nanoscopy modalities in a unified platform.

Provide high sensitivity for live-cell imaging and long-term time-lapse studies.

Offer tunable excitation across a broad spectral range (approximately 450–780 nm) and detection up to 850 nm.

Enable lifetime-based functional imaging and spectral separation to distinguish overlapping fluorophores.

Integrate automation features, intuitive software, and full compatibility with standard imaging analysis workflows to provide hands free operation.

3. Principal Configuration and Performance Requirements

3.1 Optical and Illumination System should:

Provide a pulsed White Light Laser with high stability, variable repetition rate using a pulse picker or similar and covering 450–780 nm and with the ability to simultaneous select various laser lines. The system should allow software-based control of laser intensity for each individual laser line, including when lines are used simultaneously.

Provide secondary laser ports supporting UV (405 nm) and STED depletion lasers (598, 660, 775 nm).

Provide high-speed beam routing for multicolor excitation switching within microseconds.

Provide a set of objective lenses from low mag to high mag including lenses capable of

STED.

3.2 Detection System should:

4 Provide a spectral detection range of around 410–850 nm, with up to five simultaneous, tunable detection channels with a spectral resolution in the form of adjustable emission bandwidth in 1 nm increments.

5 Provide acoustic optical beam splitters for emission selection with bandwidth in 1 nm increments.

6 Utilize photon detectors with high efficiency, around 50% @ 500 nm, which is typical for hybrid photon detectors; provide photon detectors which support analog, photon counting, and reflection modes and a large dynamic range for linear photon counting, up to 100–160 million counts/sec.

7 Provide dark noise minimization for photon detectors via active cooling and electronic stabilization.

3.3 Lifetime and Functional Imaging

The lifetime imaging platform should be capable of: (1) functional mapping of cell physiology (pH, ion concentration, metabolic state); (2) rejection of reflection and autofluorescence for increased signal; (3) lifetime-based component separation; 94) lifetime-based FRET or protein-protein interaction analysis; (4) fluorophore separation via lifetime superresolution STED with background suppression.

Temporal precision: ability to record and resolve lifetimes up to tens of nanoseconds with sub nanosecond resolution.

Ability to perform fast lifetime imaging with photon-counting detectors.

3.4 Super resolution via software

Ability to improve confocal imaging resolution to super resolution via software based methods to provide at least double (lambda / 4) lateral resolution vs confocal imaging.

3.5 Super resolution via STED Nanoscopy:

Ability to perform STED imaging across visible to near-IR spectral ranges.

Ability to accommodate depletion lasers of various colors, 600, 660, 775 nm.

Achievable lateral resolution: <50 nm and axial resolution <100 nm.

3.5 Software and Control

Unified software platform for all imaging modalities (confocal, FLIM, STED).

Automated alignment, calibration, and real-time spectral separation.

Ability to perform 3D reconstruction of imaged objects via confocal imaging.

Support for lifetime fitting with single and multi exponent for images and local probed signals.

Compatibility with standard analysis tools (ImageJ/Fiji, MATLAB, Python).

3.6 Mechanical and Environmental

Provide a multifunctional microscope stand in inverted configuration.

Microscope shall be equipped with a motorized XYZ stage with high-precision focus drive (≤50 nm step).

Ability to incorporate a commercial cryostat for low temperature imaging.

Compact optical table footprint suitable for installation in shared imaging facilities.

3.7 Service, Warranty, and Training

Provide a minimum of 2-year warranty on major components (lasers, detectors, scanners).

Provide installation, operator training, and calibration services.

Provide annual service agreement options for preventive maintenance.

4. Questions for Vendor Response

Vendors are encouraged to respond to the following questions in addition to providing their standard technical documentation and brochures:

1. Describe your system’s overall configuration and how it integrates confocal, FLIM, and STED imaging within a single platform.

2. What laser excitation sources and wavelength tuning mechanisms are available?

3. How does your system handle spectral overlap and crosstalk in multi-color imaging?

4. Specify the photon detection efficiency, dynamic range and noise characteristics for detectors.

5. What is the spectral detection flexibility (range, channel count, bandwidth resolution)?

7. Explain how your system performs lifetime-based contrast and FRET measurements and how does the system manage synchronization of lifetime acquisition across multiple detectors?

10. Provide the maximum achievable resolution (lateral/axial) for software and STED super resolution modes.

11. Describe what strategies are used to minimize photobleaching during imaging?

12. Is your STED system compatible with standard fluorophores like Alexa, Atto?

13. What software platforms are provided for image acquisition and analysis and if the automation includes capabilities for alignment, calibration, and data processing.

14. Does your software support scripting, batch processing, or third-party plugins?

16. what kind of standard warranty coverage and service options and what are the estimated delivery and installation timelines?

17. Provide indicative pricing for a complete configuration including all key modules.

We are open to all information you can and care to provide at this point. Please provide responses to BSA no later than January 16, 2026.

BSA prefers electronic submissions of submittals. Electronic submissions will be accepted by the following method:

• Email submissions should express your interest and describe your capabilities related to delivering this product. Emails shall be sent to Mark Brock, mbrock@bnl.gov with the

BSA RFI 473012 in the Subject Line.

We trust that the information contained herein is sufficient to permit your company to prepare a submittal outlining:

1) your capabilities

2) estimated lead times

3) budgetary pricing

4) Any exceptions you take to BSA General Terms and Conditions for Noncommercial

Items (see Attachment C below).

Attachment A BNL-QA-101

Attachment B - BSA General Terms and Conditions for Commercial Products and Services, Rev.

23.0; (May., 2025).

Should you have any questions, please contact the undersigned.

Sincerely, Mark Brock

Subcontracts Supervisor

Procurement & Property Management Division

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Upton, New York 11973

Phone: 631.344.2713

Email: mbrock@bnl.go