Combined Synopsis-Intramural Microscopes-NIDDK.pdf

Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Title: National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases Intramural Research Microscopes Purchase

Notice ID: 75N94025Q00217

Posted Date: August 28, 2025

Response Date: September 3, 2025

Product Service Code: 6640 – Laboratory Equipment and Supplies

NAICS Code: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

DESCRIPTION:

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition will be made in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6- “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for commercial items” as applicable, and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation number is 75N94025Q00217 and is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ).

This acquisition will be awarded in accordance with FAR Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). The provisions and clauses incorporated in this solicitation document are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-05 effective 08/07/2025.

The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 334516 and the business size standard is 1,000 employees.

The Intramural Research Program (IRP) at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a requirement for two new confocal microscopes with new capabilities resulting from the latest array detector technology, surpassing current imaging capabilities for critical studies.

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) on behalf of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) intends to award a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order through full and open competition to fulfill this requirement.

This solicitation is NOT set aside for total small businesses.

STATEMENT OF NEED:

1.0 TITLE

National Institute of Diabetes Digestive and Kidney Diseases Intramural Research Microscopes Purchase.

2.0 BACKGROUND

The mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.

As part of the NIH, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Intramural Research Program (IRP) conducts biomedical research and training related to diabetes mellitus; endocrine, bone, and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, including liver diseases and nutritional disorders; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. Intramural research is conducted in the Institute's laboratories and clinical facilities in Bethesda, Maryland and in Phoenix, Arizona.

There are currently 17 Laboratories and Branches (i.e. 17 departments with different focus areas) in the NIDDK IRP. Most if not all these areas of research, either occasionally or on an ongoing basis, require advanced light microscopy methods to qualitatively complement other assays, or as the basis of a quantitative assay.

For over 30 years, confocal microscopy has been the standard for publishing images of fluorescent cells/tissues. The basic idea behind confocal is to eliminate out-of-focus (OOF) light that contaminates an image, by using structured illumination on the sample, and using a matching aperture in the image plane to block the OOF emission.

NIDDK IRP requires 2 new confocal microscopes to replace current microscopes that are over 10 years old. The new microscopes will provide new capabilities resulting from the latest array detector technology, surpassing current imaging capabilities for critical studies.

New microscopes provide access to advanced optical enhancement techniques, enabling exploration of new ways of observing and manipulating light. Additionally, new state of the art microscopes will permit new imaging experiments that were not practical or possible before.

3.0 TYPE OF ORDER

This requirement will be awarded as a Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order.

4.0 SPECIAL ORDER REQUIREMENTS

4.1 PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

The new microscopes shall provide new capabilities resulting from an array detector utilized for ISM (Image Scanning Microscopy), surpassing current imaging capabilities for critical studies, with 3-20x faster speed, and/or with 1.4-2x the resolution, and/or with 3-10x the sensitivity.

Both microscopes must have the following features:

Provide darkfield overview image of a multiwell plate on the microscope stage in ~1 minute, with subsequent automatic software determinations (e.g. through AI) of the sample holder type, sample boundaries in xy, and focus; shall increase workflow efficiency of the user finding their samples on the sample holder and defining the imaging areas for higher resolution imaging.

Provide capability of superresolution down to at least 80nm in xy and 200nm in z, as measured from FWHM (Full Width Half Max) of fluorescent beads excited by 488nm laser.

Other salient characteristics of both microscopes:

Product Support - Applications specialists and service engineers shall be:

Experienced and readily available to handle questions and problems Trained by the manufacturer(s) of the microscope and the scanner.

Motorized Inverted Microscope Computer-controlled motorization of lenses, filters, condenser, shutters, focus, stage, and light paths to ports. Required for robust reproducibility of experiments.

Motorized stage includes piezo z control, for the fastest acquisition of z-stacks of live samples

Hardware-based auto-focus mechanism using infrared light. Required for keeping focus for live samples over time.

LED-based computer-controlled light sources for sending transmitted light and widefield fluorescence to the eyepieces and to the camera port.

Quick overview image of entire sample at low mag in widefield fluorescence or transmitted light

Toolless accommodation of multi-well plates, 35mm dishes, and 1”x3” slides, and adaptable to other sample holders no bigger than multi-well plate

Filter cube(s) in the microscope for eye-viewing, with minimal-background band-pass emission filters, for: DAPI; GFP; Alexa Fluor 555 and/or Alexa Fluor 594

Two imaging ports: one for confocal scanner and one for camera Objective Lenses

Plan Apo 60x or 63x oil with NA=1.4 or greater Plan Apo 40x multi-immersion with NA=1.2 or greater Plan Apo 20x air with NA=0.8 or greater Plan Apo 10x air with NA=0.45 or greater

Low mag lens in the range 2x-5x, for quick overview scans which are used for navigation.

Include Differential Interference Contrast optics for all magnifications 10-60x

Cage-style microscope incubator for temperature+CO2 control of sample Provides suitable environment for observing live samples over 24 hours or more.

Improves imaging stability by keeping microscope isolated from room air currents.

Supports 5% CO2 delivery to multi-well plates, 35mm dishes, and 1”x3” chambered coverglass Confocal scanner

Lasers: standard 4-color configuration, e.g. 405/488/561/640 nm Single-point-scanning of the sample focal plane in xy, up to at least

20mm FOV on diagonal (2mm diagonal on image collected with 10x lens)

Continuously adjustable confocal pinhole size from completely open down to no larger than 0.2 Airy Units for all objectives lenses.

Multiple scan speeds available, the fastest being (512x512 pixels) at least 13 fps in confocal mode; and at least 25 fps in superresolution mode

Maximum number of pixels in one field is at least 8000x8000 pixels At least 4 simultaneous detection channels that can acquire images simultaneously in confocal mode, all with sensitivity at least as good as GaAsP (45% QE or greater at 520nm).

Transmitted light detector that can acquire transmitted light image, including Differential Interference Contrast (DIC), simultaneously with a fluorescence channel.

At least one array detector used for Image Scanning Microscopy (ISM), capable of superresolution down to 80nm in xy and 200nm in z (or smaller in each case, measured with 488nm excitation)

Simple, guided auto-alignment of the array detector on the point spread function

Spectrally adjustable emission filtering for each detector channel, optimizable for a wide variety of fluorescent probes when using the standard 4 lasers above for excitation, e.g.: DAPI, GFP, Alexa Fluor 488, Alexa Fluor 555, Alexa Fluor 594, Alexa Fluor 647, TagRFP, mCherry.

Software Noise-reduction of images, via denoising or quick deconvolution inside the acquisition software, to quickly eliminate noise without blurring the image.

Capability to save all the channels from the array detector, for further post-processing.

When using array detector, “Sheppard summing” can be done during acquisition in real-time.

For array detector images, deconvolution on the array data can be performed at the microscope computer, or later on a separate workstation computer.

4.1.1 Array detector confocal microscope - Configuration 1:

Configuration 1 must satisfy the common features and salient characteristics listed above. In addition, the microscope must have the following features:

Provide capability to perform Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy (FCS) experiments, where laser beam can be “parked” in an arbitrary location in the field of view, and the recorded detector signal can be used to measure fluorescent probe mobility via the auto-correlation function.

1200x900mm air table, with 2” thickness top.

4.1.1.1 Ship to:

NIHBC 08 BG RM B123

8 CENTER DR

Bethesda, MD 20892

Project Officer (PO): Jeff M. Reece Alternate PO: John Hanover

Order items will be shipped ahead of scheduling installation, in bulk shipments to the greatest extent possible.

Whenever a shipment has been shipped, the Vendor will communicate via email to the PO and alternate PO, with tracking number(s).

Once all items have arrived, the Vendor will communicate via email to the PO and alternate PO to schedule installation at mutually agreeable dates.

Partial installations are not allowed, except under unusual circumstances, with approval of the Government.

Vendor shall provide, after installation, an Installation Report to the PO detailing the meeting of all technical requirements of the order, and of all specifications from product literature.

The Project Officer will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided. Inspection and acceptance will be done AFTER all materials are unpacked, installed, test run for operation, and Installation Report produced.

Acceptance and Delivery will be complete once the signed packing slip is provided to the Vendor. Receiving will be completed no later than 7 days following date of Delivery.

4.1.1.2 Training:

Two days of on-site training, for up to four users, must be provided within 5 business days of installation. Training shall cover hardware operation, software operation, and maintenance procedures.

4.1.2 Array detector confocal microscope - Configuration 2

Configuration 2 must satisfy the common features and salient characteristics listed above. There are no further requirements beyond the common features.

4.1.2.1 Ship to:

NIHBC 10 - CLINICAL CENTER, Room S250i 10 Center Dr Bethesda, MD 20892

Project Officer (PO): Jeff M. Reece Alternate PO: Jason Piotrowski

Order items will be shipped ahead of scheduling installation, in bulk shipments to the greatest extent possible.

Whenever a shipment has been shipped, the Vendor will communicate via email to the PO and alternate PO, with tracking number(s).

Once all items have arrived, the Vendor will communicate via email to the PO and alternate PO to schedule installation at mutually agreeable dates.

Partial installations are not allowed, except under unusual circumstances, with approval of the Government.

Vendor shall provide, after installation, an Installation Report to the PO detailing the meeting of all technical requirements of the order, and of all specifications from product literature.

The Project Officer will perform inspection and acceptance of materials and services to be provided. Inspection and acceptance will be done AFTER all materials are unpacked, installed, test run for operation, and Installation Report produced.

The Project Officer, Alternate Project Officer, or the Project Officer Supervisor will inspect delivery, installation, and/or testing to ensure the products provided conform with contract requirements. Invoices will be reviewed and approved by the program officer and or the Contracting Officer Representative (COR).

4.1.2.2 Training: Two days of on-site training, for up to four users, must be provided within 5 business days of installation. Training shall cover hardware operation, software operation, and maintenance procedures.

The provisions and clauses incorporated in this solicitation document are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2025-05 effective 08/07/2025. The acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12, and FAR Part 13.

The following FAR Clauses are applicable to this solicitation:

The offeror must include a completed copy of the provision of FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (May 2024) (Deviation Feb 2025) with its offer. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items; FAR Clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items - FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items; and FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Jan 2025) (Deviation Feb 2025); FAR Clause 52.204-8 Annual Representations and Certifications (Jan 2025) (Deviation Feb 2025) – Deviation for Simplified Acquisitions apply to this acquisition.

Note: In order to receive an award, contractor must have an active registration in www.sam.gov for all awards and shall continue to have an active registration until time of award, during performance, and through final payment. Failure to maintain an active SAM registration can jeopardize the award or result in non-payment. Lack of valid registration in SAM will make an offeror ineligible for award.

The offeror must include their Unique Entity ID (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size.

Note: “System updates may lag policy updates. The System for Award Management (SAM) may continue to require entities to complete representations based on provisions that are not included in agency solicitations, including 52.223-22, Public Disclosure of Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Reduction Goals— Representation, and paragraph (t) of 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Products and Commercial Services. Agencies will not consider or use these representations. Entities are not required to, nor are they able to, update their entity registration to remove these representations in

SAM.”

Note: NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions are added as an addendum to FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items. See Attachment 1 - NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions.

FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders—Commercial Products and Commercial Services [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)], applies to this acquisition and is attached in full text. See Attachment 2 - FAR 52.212-5

(JAN 2025) [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)].

BASIS FOR AWARD AND EVALUATION

Evaluation of quotes will be conducted in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 (b)(3) procedures.

The Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Priced Purchase Order from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror who provides the quote most advantageous to the Government.

The Government may reject any quote that is evaluated to be non-compliant with the solicitation requirements, unreasonably high or low in price, or reflects a failure to comprehend the requirement. The Government reserves the right to make no award if quotes do not meet the requirements of this solicitation.

Award will be made to the contractor providing the most advantageous quote to the government, technical factors and cost/price considered.

Vendors will be evaluated on their capabilities to provide the product to the specifications described in the Contractor Requirements section.

SUBMISSION & GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS

This Request for Quotation (RFQ) does not commit the Government to pay any cost for preparation and submission of a quote. In addition, the Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit to the expenditure of public funds in connection with this proposed acquisition. By submitting a quote in response to this solicitation, it is understood that your firm’s quote shall become a part of the official contract file. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information which is not identified in the quote.

Quotes must contain a statement to the effect that the offer is valid for a period of at least 30 days from the date of receipt by the Government.

Quote submittal must also include the following:

All submittals must include a completed FAR Provision 52.204-24, 52.204-26 and 52.213-3 unless already completed in the System for Award Management (SAM). If already provided in the vendors SAM.gov profile, and do not conflict with the requirements as stated in this solicitation, please provide a statement to the effect of “Provisions 52.204-24, 52.204-26 and 52.213-3 are complete and accurate per our SAM.gov registration dated 00/00/0000.

All attachments must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Format (PDF).

All correspondence must have Notice ID “75N94025Q00217” included in the subject line.

SOLICITATION QUESTIONS

If there are questions regarding this requirement, please submit your inquiries immediately via email but no later than 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time Friday, August 29, to the point of contact listed below:

Usha Raman Contracting Officer Email: ramanu2@mail.nih.gov

Note: Questions submitted by a method other than email will not be accepted. Any questions received after the specified cut-off time and date above will not be accepted or answered unless the Contracting Officer deems it necessary. All email inquiries must have the Solicitation number 75N94025Q00217 included in the subject line.

QUOTATION SUBMITTAL

All inquiries regarding this solicitation, Questions and Quotations submitted in response to this solicitation must be sent via email no later than Tuesday, September 3, 2025, by 4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time to the point of contact listed below:

Name: Usha Raman Contracting Officer Email: ramanu2@mail.nih.gov

Note: It’s the Offeror’s responsibility to read the RFQ and all related documents carefully.

Additionally, it is the Offeror’s responsibility to ensure/verify the Government receives its submission on or before the date/time specified. The Government reserves the right to not accept any late quotes. Please do not wait until the deadline to submit your quotation.

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment 1 – NIH Invoicing Instructions with IPP (MAR 2023)

Attachment 2 – FAR 52.212-5 (JAN 2025) [(DEVIATION FEB 2025)]