RFQPearl.docx
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- Integrated Digital Imaging and Laser Microdissection System for Human and Animal Brain Tissue Analyses
- Solicitation number
- HU0001-16-Q-D046
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| Provisions_and_Clauses_(2).docx | DOCX document |
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The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is the Nation's federal health sciences university and is committed to excellence in military medicine and public health during peace and war. We provide the Nation with health professionals dedicated to career service in the Department of Defense and the United States Public Health Service and with scientists who serve the common good. We serve the uniformed services and the Nation as an outstanding academic health sciences center with a worldwide perspective for education, research, service, and consultation; we are unique in relating these activities to military medicine, disaster medicine, and military medical readiness. USU is located in Bethesda, MD on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda.
Additional information regarding USU can be found on our website: www.usuhs.mil.
USU has a requirement for a 5 piece “Integrated Digital Imaging and Laser Microdissection System for Human and Animal Brain Tissue Analyses”, to include either extended warranties or options periods for maintenance.
The intended purpose of this system is to:
1. Laser Microdissection or Laser Capture Microdissection subcomponent - will sample selected specific cellular populations of brain specimens for use in detailed proteomic, genomic, and molecular biological analyses.
2. Cryostat Station sub-component - will develop cryosection samples to preserve cell morphology and biologic integrity of fixed and unfixed nervous system tissue specimens.
3. Ultramicrotome Electron Microscope sub-component - will perform ultramicrotomy sectioning on selected nervous system samples to preserve cell morphology and biologic integrity of unfixed specimens for ultrathin sectioning for electron microscope investigations.
4. Vibrating Blade Automated Microtome sub-component - will perform semi- and fully automated cutting of fresh and fixed brain tissue samples using a vibrating blade microtome in order to preserve cell morphology and robust antigenicity.
5. Digital Pathology Scanner sub-component - will digitally scan to document histologic and immunohistochemistry details, outline neuroanatomical regions, sub-regions, cortical layers, and document cell sampling strategy. Scanner will also perform morphometric analyses of neuropathological slides, including oversized 2X3 inch slides.
As a whole, these five sub-components together create an integrated digital imaging-histology system for morphometric, proteomic, genomic, and molecular biological analyses of ultrastructural and microscopic tissue components of human and animal brain and spinal cord specimens. This integrated system will add a valuable resource for USU and Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine (CNRM) (www.usuhs.edu/cnrm) researchers engaged in neuropathological research with special focus on traumatic brain injury (TBI). The system will be housed in the CNRM Neuropathology facility in Rockville, Maryland. It will not be limited to CNRM use though. The system enables a range of ultramicrotomy functions from ultra-thin section for EM, to microdissection of single cells for both genomic and proteomic analyses. This system will add to existing CNRM Neuropathology Core facility equipment to engage in an Integrative tissue analysis system to support TBI-related research on both human and animal brain tissues. This system will enable CNRM to analyze at cellular and subcellular levels aspects of molecular and biochemical pathological changes associated with TBI.
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This is a request for quotes (RFQ) for commercial items in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 – Acquisition of Commercial Items and FAR Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures, to include FAR Subpart 13.5, Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. This RFQ incorporates all provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-89 (July 14, 2016) and Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) (June 30, 2016).
This requirement is set-aside for small business concerns under NAICS code 334516, (Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing) (Insert NAICS Title) with a size standard of 1000 employees. In order to be eligible for award, offerors must be registered in www.SAM.gov, with completed representations and certifications by the close date of the solicitation.
This requirement is subject to the non-manufacturer rule. Offerors responding to this requirement must provide quotes for (insert description of supply/equipment) manufactured by small business concerns. Any offeror submitting a quote for a (insert description of supply/equipment) by a company other than themselves, must provide the name of the manufacturer. The manufacturer’s socio-economic status will be verified in SAM.gov.
Offerors are encouraged to submit multiple quotes for alternative solutions meeting the requirements and each quote which will be evaluated separately by the Government.
Required Specifications:
| Sub-Component |
| Specification |
| Justification |
| Overall system requirements |
| Integrate and operate with existing Leica Model RM2265 Automated Microtome instrument |
| Required for standardization of protocols, procedures, calibration, and sample preparation and handling |
| Integrate and operate with existing Leica Model PELORIS II Automated Tissue Processor instrument |
| Required for standardization of protocols, procedures, calibration, and sample preparation and handling |
| Integrate and operate with existing Leica Model BOND RX Automated Immunostainer instrument |
| Required for standardization of protocols, procedures, calibration, and sample preparation and handling |
| All proposed subcomponents designed to work together as an integrated system |
| Required for standardization of protocols, procedures, calibration, and sample preparation and handling. |
| System components must have established and documented workflow protocols for laser capture studies that have been recognized in the scientific community for efficiency |
| This is required for acceptance of the resultant data by colleagues leading to publication in peer reviewed journals. |
| System components must have established and documented workflow protocols for laser capture studies to minimize or eliminate contamination |
| The gravity-related collection system has been shown to greatly eliminate contamination, a major source of error. |
| System must have ‘Move and Cut’ capabilities as well as use gravity to collect samples |
| The “Move and Cut” assures precision in outlining the sample for collection and decreases the time needed to guide the dissection, while the gravity collection system greatly reduces contamination. This increases efficiency and also promotes consistency and reliability of the data produced. |
| 1. Laser Capture Microdissection |
| Laser wavelength of 340 to 360 nm |
| To control precision dissection of cellular elements for analysis. |
| Laser pulse frequency of 50 to 5000 Hz |
| To control precision dissection of cellular elements for analysis. |
| Steerable laser beam to control dissection |
| To assure precise control of the outlines of the object to be sampled. |
| Laser maximum pulse energy equal to or greater than 70 µJ |
| To control precision dissection of cellular elements for analysis. |
| Interchangeable objectives |
| To allow for adjustments to magnification, UV transmission, aperture, phase contrasting, and working distances. We require the ability to analyze very small cellular and subcellular components to larger regions of interest. |
| Adjustable laser aperture controls |
| To control precision dissection of cellular elements for analysis. |
| Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 2, 3, 4, 5 |
| To ensure consistency of analytic conditions to assure reliable data results. |
| 2. Cryostat Station |
| Cryochamber specimen cooling range of -10 ◦C to -40 ◦C or cooler |
| Brain tissue is difficult to cut on a cryostat and differing specimens require differing temperature setting to achieve useful cryosections. |
| Microtome adjustable section thickness settings from 0.5 to 250 μm |
| For some analytic procedures a very thin section is required, while for other procedures, thicker sections will be needed. |
| Microtome Multiple speed motorized coarse feeding from 500 μm/s to 1.000 μm/s |
| Brain tissue is difficult to cut on a cryostat and differing specimens require differing cutting speed settings. Depending on the entire length of the available frozen tissue block a different speed will assure a precise and quick cryocutting in the minimal time possible. Faster cryocutting yields better tissue preservation. |
| Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 3, 4, 5 |
| To ensure consistency of analytic conditions to assure reliable data results. |
| 3. Ultramicrotome Electron Microscope |
| Must provide programmable sequential freezing of batches consisting of up to 9 samples |
| The preparation of multiple samples is required to efficiently meet our workload demands. Programmable sequential freezing will assure consistency in tissue preparation. |
| Efficient liquid nitrogen handling (approximately 30 L/day) |
| To lower liquid nitrogen costs of operation. |
| Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 2, 4, 5 |
| To ensure consistency of analytic conditions to assure reliable data results. |
| 4. Vibrating Blade Automated Microtome sub-component |
| Cutting Frequency of 80 Hz or greater |
| Brain tissue is difficult to cut on a vibratome and generally requires this cutting frequency to achieve good sections. |
| Minimum microscope magnification of 2X |
| To enable the operator to visualize the area being sectioned and the adequacy of the resultant sections being obtained |
| Cutting range of 40 mm or greater |
| We frequently will need to cut fairly large blocks to obtain tissue for analysis. This is especially true for our work on human brain tissues. |
| Adjustable cutting window of 0.5mm to 40 mm |
| We need to be able to section a wide range of tissue block sizes from small samples to large blocks of human tissue. |
| Adjustable amplitude from 0 to 3 mm |
| Brain tissue is difficult to cut on a vibratome and this degree of adjustable amplitude is needed to achieve good sections on variable tissue samples. |
| Ability to orient specimen 360 degrees |
| Orientation of complex neuroanatomical structures is important to guide our analysis. The ability to rotate the specimen to the correct orientation is essential. |
| Total vertical specimen stroke of 20 mm or less |
| We require the ability to section through a relatively thick block in order to carry out some of our analytic approaches. |
| Adjustable specimen retraction of 0 to 100 mm |
| Adjustable specimen retraction is needed to assure obtaining high quality serial sections of brain tissue. |
| Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 2, 3, 5 |
| To ensure consistency of analytic conditions to assure reliable data results. |
| 5. Digital Pathology Scanner sub-component |
| Capacity to load 350 slides or more in automatic mode |
| We will generate large numbers of slides that will need to be digitized. Automatic mode is required to assure meeting our workload demands. |
| Scanning resolution of 50,000 pixels or greater |
| We require high precision and resolution for the digitized images in order to obtain meaningful data. |
| Objective lens at 20X or greater with option for 2X optical magnification changer |
| We are frequently observing very small details in the slides and require high resolution in the resultant images. |
| Automatic lens focus |
| This is required for the automatic mode |
| Oversized (2” X 3”) slide digitization |
| We require the ability to digitize 2X3 inch slides. These oversized slides are important for our work on relatively large brain regions in human specimens. |
| Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| To ensure consistency of analytic conditions to assure reliable data results. |
Desired Specifications:
The following specifications are desired and not required. Offerors responding to this requirement are not required to quote a system meeting all the desired specifications listed below; however quotes meeting or exceeding more of the desired specifications, may be considered more desirable by the Government.
| Sub-Component |
| Specification |
| Justification |
| 1. Laser Capture Microdissection |
| Option for different sized slide holders |
| In our work with human brain tissue samples, we would like to be able to work with multiple different and oversized slides. |
| 2. Cryostat Station |
| Insulation against heat |
| To maintain stable operating temperatures and reduce electrical demands |
| 3. Ultramicrotome Electron Microscope |
| Automated trim function |
| Assures efficient and reproducible preparation of tissues for ultra-sectioning |
| Gravity stroke function |
| Reduces vibration which can affect section quality |
| Heated cutting chamber walls |
| Prevents icing |
| 4. Vibrating Blade Automated Microtome sub-component |
| Multiple User settings |
| We anticipate multiple users employing different sample types. This will ensure that each user will obtain reproducible cutting parameters which will assure reliability of results. |
| 5. Digital Pathology Scanner sub-component |
| Self-contained unit with relatively small footprint |
| More efficient use of bench space and maximizing the use of the available space for CNRM researchers and possible collaborators. |
The selected contractor will also be required to provide installation and training. No government furnished equipment or supplies will be provided to the selected contractor for installation or training. Installation and training shall be coordinated with the technical end-user, who will be identified in the purchase order, and be conducted during normal business hours (Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM local time – 4:00 PM local time, excluding Federal Holidays).
Evaluation
The government intends to award a firm-fixed priced (FFP) with the possibility of split purchase orders to the offeror(s) representing the best value to the government based on the evaluation factors listed below. Evaluation factors are listed in order of importance, with most important listed first. The government will conduct a trade-off between price and non-price factors. The Government is not required to award to the lowest priced offeror or the highest technically rated offeror.
The government reserves the right to award without discussions.
Evaluation Factors (Listed in order of importance):
· Technical – Offerors must provide product literature, which demonstrates the capabilities of the quoted item(s). At a minimum the product literature must demonstrate how the quoted item smeets the required specifications and the desired specifications quoted. Information on warranty, installation, training and delivery lead-time must be included in the quote submission and will be evaluated. The government reserves the right to utilize technical (i.e, trade magazines) and customer reviews/references, if needed, as part of the technical evaluation for the quoted equipment/supply.
In addition to providing product literature, offerors must also submit the completed table below with their quote submission*:
| QUOTED SPECIFICATION - COMPLETED BY OFFEROR |
| PAGE # SPECIFICATION ADDRESSED IN PRODUCT LITERATURE - |
COMPLETED BY OFFEROR
| Overall system requirements |
| Integrate and operate with existing Leica Model RM2265 Automated Microtome instrument |
Integrate and operate with existing Leica Model PELORIS II Automated Tissue Processor instrument
Integrate and operate with existing Leica Model BOND RX Automated Immunostainer instrument
All proposed subcomponents designed to work together as an integrated system
System components must have established and documented workflow protocols for laser capture studies that have been recognized in the scientific community for efficiency
System components must have established and documented workflow protocols for laser capture studies to minimize or eliminate contamination
System must have ‘Move and Cut’ capabilities as well as use gravity to collect samples
| 1. Laser Capture Microdissection |
| Laser wavelength of 340 to 360 nm |
Laser pulse frequency of 50 to 5000 Hz
Steerable laser beam to control dissection
Laser maximum pulse energy equal to or greater than 70 µJ
Interchangeable objectives
Adjustable laser aperture controls
Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 2, 3, 4, 5
| 2. Cryostat Station |
| Cryochamber specimen cooling range of -10 ◦C to -40 ◦C or cooler |
Microtome adjustable section thickness settings from 0.5 to 250 μm
Microtome Multiple speed motorized coarse feeding from 500 μm/s to 1.000 μm/s
Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 3, 4, 5
| 3. Ultramicrotome Electron Microscope |
| Must provide programmable sequential freezing of batches consisting of up to 9 samples |
Efficient liquid nitrogen handling (approximately 30 L/day)
Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 2, 4, 5
| 4. Vibrating Blade Automated Microtome sub-component |
| Cutting Frequency of 80 Hz or greater |
Minimum microscope magnification of 2X
Cutting range of 40 mm or greater
Adjustable cutting window of 0.5mm to 40 mm
Adjustable amplitude from 0 to 3 mm
Ability to orient specimen 360 degrees
Total vertical specimen stroke of 20 mm or less
Adjustable specimen retraction of 0 to 100 mm
Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 2, 3, 5
| 5. Digital Pathology Scanner sub-component |
| Capacity to load 350 slides or more in automatic mode |
Scanning resolution of 50,000 pixels or greater
Objective lens at 20X or greater with option for 2X optical magnification changer
Automatic lens focus
Oversized (2” X 3”) slide digitization
Must use same calibration, procedures as sub-components 1, 2, 3, 4
Optional Specifications
| 1. Laser Capture Microdissection |
| Option for different sized slide holders |
| 2. Cryostat Station |
| Insulation against heat |
| 3. Ultramicrotome Electron Microscope |
| Automated trim function |
Gravity stroke function
Heated cutting chamber walls
| 4. Vibrating Blade Automated Microtome sub-component |
| Multiple User settings |
| 5. Digital Pathology Scanner sub-component |
| Self-contained unit with relatively small footprint |
Extended Warranty for 1 Year
Extended Warranty for 2 Year
Extended Warranty for 3 Year
Extended Warranty for 4 Year
Option Year I for Maintenance
Option Year II for Maintenance
Option Year III for Maintenance
Option Year IV for Maintenance
*Offerors who fail to provide the completed chart above, may be considered non-responsive.
· Technical-
· Price – Offerors must include all applicable costs (Example: Components, Shipping) in their quote. The total quoted price, inclusive of option periods, will be the evaluated price.
· Past Performance – IAW DFAR subpart 213.106-2, the Government will consider data available in the statistical reporting module of the Past Performance Information Retrieval System (PPIRS-SR). Offerors without a record of relevant past performance information in PPIRS-SR for the FSC or PSC being procured, will not be evaluated favorably or unfavorably for its past performance history.
Offerors must also submit the following with their quote, if not completed in SAM registration:
· Completed copy of provision 252.209-7991
· Completed copy of provision 52.209-2
· Estimated delivery lead-time
See attached list for applicable provisions and clauses for this requirement.
Quoted items must be new. Quotes for refurbished equipment will not be considered.
Offerors must also indicate in quote where item is manufactured.
Items will be shipped to Rockville, Maryland.
Deadlines:
Questions/clarifications regarding this solicitation must be submitted via email to stephen.enokida@usuhs.edu by 8/10/2016. Any question received after 8/10/2016 will not be answered. Questions will not be answered over the phone or submitted by any other means. All questions will be answered in an amendment to the solicitation posted on or around 8/11/2016.
Quote packages are due by 4:00 PM Eastern Local Time on 8/29/2016. Quotes must be submitted via email to stephen.enokida@usuhs.edu. Quotes will not be accepted by any other means. Late quotes will not be considered. Offerors will receive an email confirmation that they quote was received and whether it was on time or late within two (2) business days.
Quote packages should include a cover sheet that provides the following information:
· Company Name
· Point of Contact, to include email and phone number
· DUNS Number
· Statement that includes acknowledgement of latest amendment number (if applicable). Failure to acknowledge the most recent amendment number, may render an offeror’s quote non-responsive.
· Preferred method of payment (Visa or EFT)
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