Combined_Synopsis_Solicitation_-_COMPETITIVE_4627198.pdf

Combined Synopsis Solicitation – COMPETITIVE Total Small Business Set-Aside

Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-CSS-17-511

Title: Two-Photon Laser Scanning Microscope for the NINDS Cellular Neurophysiology

Unit

(i) This is a request for quotation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 8.4 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice.

This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii) The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-CSS-17-511 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This requirement is set-aside for a total small business.

This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 8.4 — Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5—Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.

(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-94 and 95, dated January 19, 2017.

(iv) The associated NAICS code 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing and the small business size standard is 1,000 Employees.

(v) Salient characteristics (brand name or equal):

(1) Specify trade name: N/A

(2) Specify product brand names: Moving Objective Microscope (Sutter)

(3) Specify manufacturer names: Sutter

(4) Specify model, type, catalog, and/or part number(s): FG-MOM-COMBI, SA-MOM-2P-

SPATH-M, SA-MOM-COM-PATH-M, SA-MOM-CORE-M, SA-MOM-OLYMPUS-M, SA-

MOM-SLIDE-M, SA-MP285-3Z-M, SA-MOM-DETECT-S-M, FG-PS2-LV, SA-MOM-

RESSCANNER-M, FG-MDR-R, FG-MPC-200-ROE, FG-MOM-MRMOVR, FG-LS-OF30,

FG-LG-Y50, FG-LLG, CO-O740150, FG-DAQ-FPGA, SA-SI-COMPUTER, CO-

O040201, SA-MOM-SETUPKIT-M

The NINDS Cellular Neurophysiology Unit requires one (1) two-photon laser scanning microscope system that meets the following requirements:

• The system must employ either resonant scanning in the X axis with galvanometer-based scanning in the Y axis.

• The system must include one GaAsp photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) for sensitive, fluorescence detection of green fluorescence.

• The system must be useable for in vivo imaging. To do this, we would require a moveable microscope that will be used with a fixed position preparation. Either Dodt or DIC optics must be included for transmitted infrared contrast imaging.

• The system must include a Pockel cell, driver and mount for rapid laser attenuation.

• The system must include a PC work station, peripherals and software compatible with resonant scanning.

• The system must be capable of automatically collecting and storing XYZ stacks and must include the option to be controlled by external triggers or deliver a trigger to synchronize with other experimental electronics.

• The system must include software and hardware required for system calibration and troubleshooting, as well as a user manual.

Quantity:

One (1) two photon laser microscope system (inclusive of all system components and peripherals), PC work station (inclusive of all electronics for system control and data acquisition), associated software and hardware, and user manual are required.

Other Considerations:

The Contractor shall provide a two (2) year warranty on all equipment, parts and repairs.

The two (2) year warranty shall include preventative maintenance and technical support services by an OEM certified service technician. All products shall be warranted to be free from material defects in workmanship or material under normal use and service for the two year warranty period. The Contractor shall provide techincal assistance to the Government by telephone, Skype and in person on an as needed basis during the warranty period.

(vii) Delivery Schedule: The contractor shall deliver and install the required equipment within six (6) months after receipt of order.

Delivery must be FOB Destination and must include inside installation. The equipment shall be delivered and installed between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Bethesda, MD local prevailing time, Monday through Friday.

On-site training must take place at the customer site within two (2) weeks of equipment installation. Training shall be provided by an original equipment manufacturer certified technician for up to four (4) Government employees.Training shall take place between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Bethesda, MD local prevailing time, Monday through Friday. The contractor shall provide an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified service technician to perform setup, installation, and training.

(viii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(ix) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (1) Technical Approach; (2) Past Performance; and (3) Past Performance.

(b) Technical approach is significantly more important than cost or price.

(c) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s).

(d) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(x) The Offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items, with its offer.

(xi) The FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(xii) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders–Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. FAR clauses at 52.209-10, 52.233-3, and 52.233-4, Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations, Protest After Award, and Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim, respectively, apply to this acquisition.

(xiii) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement.

(xiv) QUESTION & ANSWER PERIOD

Interested contractors may submit questions relating to this requirement. Questions shall be submitted to the contract specialist, Danielle R. Brown, via email at danielle.brown2@nih.gov by or before Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at 10AM EST.

Late questions shall not be accepted. Questions will be anonymized and answered and the answers will be provided as soon as possible after the question deadline via RFQ modification. Should no questions be received, no amendment shall be posted.

(xv) Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. The price quote shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s); product description; and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Such factors may include: past performance; special features required for effective program performance;

trade-in considerations; probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item; warranty considerations; maintenance availability; and environmental and energy efficiency considerations.

Respondents proposing on an equal product of the brand-name product specified in this announcement must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in the purchase description; quantity; estimated price or cost; shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and delivery date after receipt of order.

Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount.

In addition the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.”

All responses must be received by Wednesday, September 27, 2017 at 10AM, Eastern Standard Time, and reference number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-CSS-17-511.

Responses may be submitted electronically to Danielle R. Brown, Contract Specialist, at Danielle.brown2@nih.gov.

mailto:danielle.brown2@nih.gov http://www.sam.gov/ mailto:Danielle.brown2@nih.gov

Fax responses will not be accepted.

The deadline will not be extended.

(xvi) Please contact Danielle R. Brown, Contract Specialist, at Danielle.brown2@nih.gov or

(301) 594-1928 with any questions.

mailto:Danielle.brown2@nih.gov

Version 11-30-2016-1 FAR Part 11—Describing Agency Needs

PURCHASE DESCRIPTION

Two-Photon Laser Scanning Microscope for the NINDS Cellular Neurophysiology Unit

1. Statement of Need and Purpose:

The purpose of this requirement is to acquire one (1) two–photon laser scanning microscope system to examine the mechanisms of synaptic integration and dendritic information in dopamine neurons located in the midbrain.

2. Background Information and Objective:

The Cellular Neurophysiology Unit (CNU) focuses on circuit and cellular properties of dopaminergic neurons located in the midbrain. In particular, CNU is interested in the physiology of a subset of dopamine neurons located in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) that undergo selective cell death in Parkinson’s patients. CNU is also interested in understanding how synaptic and intrinsic conductances (particularly Ca-permeable conductances, ie. Ca channels and NMDA receptors) differ among subpopulations dopamine neurons with the hope that this may provide insight to why SNc dopamine neurons seem particularly vulnerable in Parkinson’s disease. CNU’s goal is to identify novel physiological and genetic markers in single SNc dopamine neurons which may useful in defining subpopulations of these neurons in a meaningful way.

Because high levels of cytoplasmic Ca2+ has been identified as a possible contributor to the vulnerability of dopamine neurons in Parkinson’s diseases, CNU has been examining Ca2+ handling in the dendrites and spines of dopamine neurons. A two-photon laser microscope enables examination of cytoplasmic calcium in these small subcellular compartments.

3. Generic Name of Product:

Two-photon scanning microscope

4. Purchase Description:

(1) Specify trade name: N/A

(2) Specify product brand names: Moving Objective Microscope (Sutter)

(3) Specify manufacturer names: Sutter

(4) Specify model, type, catalog, and/or part number(s): FG-MOM-COMBI, SA-MOM-2P-

SPATH-M, SA-MOM-COM-PATH-M, SA-MOM-CORE-M, SA-MOM-OLYMPUS-M, SA-MOM-

SLIDE-M, SA-MP285-3Z-M, SA-MOM-DETECT-S-M, FG-PS2-LV, SA-MOM-RESSCANNER-M,

FG-MDR-R, FG-MPC-200-ROE, FG-MOM-MRMOVR, FG-LS-OF30, FG-LG-Y50, FG-LLG, CO-

O740150, FG-DAQ-FPGA, SA-SI-COMPUTER, CO-O040201, SA-MOM-SETUPKIT-M

5. Salient characteristics The NINDS Cellular Neurophysiology Unit requires one (1) two-photon laser scanning microscope system that meets the following requirements:

• The system must employ either resonant scanning in the X axis with galvanometer-based scanning in the Y axis.

• The system must include one GaAsp photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) for sensitive, fluorescence detection of green fluorescence.

• The system must be useable for in vivo imaging. To do this, we would require a moveable microscope that will be used with a fixed position preparation. Either Dodt or DIC optics must be included for transmitted infrared contrast imaging.

Version 11-30-2016-1 FAR Part 11—Describing Agency Needs

• The system must include a Pockel cell, driver and mount for rapid laser attenuation.

• The system must include a PC work station, peripherals and software compatible with resonant scanning.

• The system must be capable of automatically collecting and storing XYZ stacks and must include the option to be controlled by external triggers or deliver a trigger to synchronize with other experimental electronics.

• The system must include software and hardware required for system calibration and troubleshooting, as well as a user manual.

6. Quantity:

One (1) two photon laser microscope system (inclusive of all system components and peripherals), PC work station (inclusive of all electronics for system control and data acquisition), associated software and hardware, and user manual are required.

7. Delivery Date:

The contractor shall deliver and install the required equipment within six (6) months after receipt of order. Delivery must be FOB Destination and must include inside installation. The equipment shall be delivered and installed between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Bethesda, MD local prevailing time, Monday through Friday.

On-site training must take place at the customer site within two (2) weeks of equipment installation. Training shall be provided by an original equipment manufacturer certified technician for up to four (4) Government employees.Training shall take place between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Bethesda, MD local prevailing time, Monday through Friday. The contractor shall provide an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified service technician to perform setup, installation, and training.

8. Period of Performance:

The Contractor shall provide a two (2) year warranty on all equipment, parts and repairs. The two (2) year warranty shall include preventative maintenance and technical support services by an OEM certified service technician. All products shall be warranted to be free from material defects in workmanship or material under normal use and service for the two year warranty period. The Contractor shall provide techincal assistance to the Government by telephone, Skype and in person on an as needed basis during the warranty period.

PURHCASE DESCRIPTION ATTACHMENT

Two Photon Scanning Microscope for NINDS Cellular Neurophysiology Unit

ATTACHMENT 1: Technical Evaluation Criteria

The Government will award a contract resulting from this requirement on the basis of best value, technical factors and price considered. Technical factors together shall be considered more important than price and all technical evaluation factors are detailed below:

Factor 1: Equipment Capability (70 Points)

The contractor shall detail in its technical proposal how it shall meet each of the project requirements. This shall include detailed specifications of the offered equipment and its capabilities. Technical approach shall be evaluated for the ways in which the proposed equipment meets or exceeds the equipment specification requirements, especially as resonant scanning capabilities, hardware requirements and software compatibility.

Exceeding requirements shall be considered favorably.

Factor 2: Warranty (10 Points)

The contractor shall detail in its technical proposal the terms and conditions for its proposed 2-year extended warranty, inclusive of preventive maintenance and technical support services by an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified technician. The proposed approach shall be evaluated for the ways in which it meets or exceeds the equipment warranty and maintenance specifications.

Factor 3: Delivery, Installation and Training (10 Points)

The contractor shall detail in its technical proposal how it shall meet the delivery, installation and training requirements. The Government shall evaluate for ability to meet or exceed these requirements. Proposals must include a delivery lead-time and explanation of who shall perform installation, installation time frame, as well as what training will be provided and how it shall be delivered within the required timeframe.

Factor 4: Past Performance (10 Points)

The Contractor shall provide a list of three (3) contracts or purchase orders completed during the past five (5) years, similar in size and scope to the equipment requirements outlined in this Purchase Description. Experience must be specific to the provision of research microscopes and shall include the following information for each contract or purchase order listed:

a. Name of Contracting Organization

b. Total Contract Value

c. Description of Requirement

d. Contract POC Name, Email, and Telephone Number

Technical proposals will be evaluated using a summary adjectival rating in accordance with the following scale:

Excellent (90-100) Good (80-89) Acceptable (70-79) Marginal (60-69) Unacceptable (0-59)

Excellent The proposal has exceptional merit and reflects an excellent approach which will clearly result in the superior attainment of all requirements and objectives. This clearly achievable approach includes several advantageous characteristics of substance, and very few disadvantages, which can be expected to result in outstanding performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is very low as the proposal provides solutions which are unquestionably feasible and practical.

These solutions are further considered very low risk in that they are exceptionally clear and precise, fully supported, and demonstrate a clear understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: Very Low

Good The proposal demonstrates a sound approach which is expected to meet all requirements and objectives. This sound approach includes advantageous characteristics of substance, and few relatively minor disadvantages, which collectively can be expected to result in satisfactory performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is low as the proposal contains solutions which are considered feasible and practical. These solutions are further considered to reflect low risk in that they are clear and precise, supported, and demonstrate an understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: Low

Acceptable The proposal demonstrates an approach which is capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. The approach includes both advantageous and disadvantageous characteristics of substance, where the advantages are not outweighed by the disadvantages. Collectively, the advantages and disadvantages are likely to result in acceptable performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is moderate, as the proposal solutions are generally feasible and practical. These solutions may also be considered to reflect moderate risk in that they may be somewhat clear and precise, partially supported, and/or demonstrate a general understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: Neutral

Marginal The proposal demonstrates an approach which may not be capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. The approach has disadvantages of substance and advantages, which if they exist, are outweighed by the disadvantages. Collectively, the advantages and disadvantages present a low or questionable likelihood of resulting in satisfactory performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is high as the proposal contains solutions which may not be feasible and practical. These solutions may also be considered to reflect high risk in that they lack clarity and precision, are generally unsupported, and/or do not demonstrate a complete understanding of the requirements. Risk Level: High

Unacceptable The proposal demonstrates an approach which, based on a very high risk, will very likely not be capable of meeting all requirements and objectives. This approach has several disadvantages of substance, and advantages which, if they exist, are outweighed by disadvantages.

Collectively, the advantages and disadvantages are unlikely to result in satisfactory performance. The risk of unsuccessful performance is very high as the proposal contains solutions which are not feasible and practical. The solutions may also be considered to reflect very high risk in that they lack any clarity or precision. Risk Level: Very High