1.05 Statement of Work_Confocal Microscope System Draft.pdf

STATEMENT OF WORK

United States Naval Academy – Chemistry Department

1. Background.

The United States Naval Academy (USNA) Chemistry Department has the need to support both research and project-based learning in biological chemistry. A confocal microscope system is a critical tool for both understanding biochemical processes at the cellular level and material science. It allows non-invasive, three-dimensional imaging of structures in both materials and living cells, which is an area of interest for both Midshipmen and faculty researchers. The use of fluorescent labels means that specific molecules or components can be identified in a complex space amongst other unlabeled structures. The current microscope is reaching the end of its lifetime and there is no other system available at the Naval Academy that can replicate its capabilities. Technological advances made in the last 10 years have improved both the speed and capabilities of confocal systems which will expand the possible measurements that can be performed. A new inverted confocal-microscope setup equipped with a cage incubator will also open up more possible biochemical and biological uses compared to the current set-up, which will further increase the number of users.

2. Objectives.

The objective of this acquisition is to be able to achieve the listed scientific objectives in both research and project-based learning, which involves high resolution imaging over necessary length scales and time scale. The inverted motorized microscope must capable of imaging objects ranging from 1-500 microns in size with resolution as low as ~100 nm for multiple colors with both tunable filters and spectral imaging. Objectives needed with a magnification ranging from at least 4x to 60x. Capable for long-term measurements on the microscope including maintain focus, visiting multiple locations and maintaining a consistent temperature with an incubation system.

3. Requirements.

3.1. Minimum Requirements for the microscope system: The following requirements must be met:

3.1.1. Microscope must have motorized XY-stage and that is encoded for X-Y control via software control for automated experiments.

3.1.2. Microscope must have motorized Z-drive for focus control with minimum step size of 10 nm and repeatability of up to 1 μm possible

3.1.3. Microscope must have a joystick for manual control of stage, focus and other motorized functions.

3.1.4. Microscope must have a DIC polarizer, DIC analyzer, magnification changer, and Bertrand lens.

3.1.5. Microscope must have a minimum of 3 distribution ports including the eye pieces, a left and right photo port.

3.1.6. The system must be modular and allow for upgradable design

3.1.7. The microscope should be upgradeable to incorporate an automated, motorized objective correction collar.

3.1.8. The microscope requires an extra large 25 mm field of view.

3.1.9. The system must include a capability for widefield fluorescence imaging by eye when confocal is not needed. This requires at least a 4-color LED light source for covering available colors used for fluorophores.

3.1.10. The system must have a high-resolution sCMOS camera for imaging when not using the confocal. This camera should be capable of acquiring up to 30 frames per second at full resolution.

3.1.11. The microscope must have objective covering range of magnification including Plan Apochromatic objectives with 4x, 10x, 20x, and 60x (high- NA oil) magnification and a 40x magnification water immersion Plan Apo objective.

3.1.12. The system must have a water immersion dispenser to enable long-term and multiposition imaging with high NA water immersion objectives

3.1.13. The system must have an incubation system capable of maintaining temperature, % CO2, and humidity levels for at least 24-hours for long term measurement.

3.1.14. The system must contain the Perfect Focus System with actively corrects for drift during imaging to enable longer term repeated imaging while maintaining focus.

3.1.15. The system must be equipped with an anti-vibration table with tapped top.

3.2. Minimum Requirements for the confocal imaging system. The following requirements must be met:

3.2.1. Confocal must have hybrid laser scanning system that enables both high resolution galvo scanning and high-speed resonant scanning. Full frame imaging must be capable of 7 frames per second.

3.2.2. Confocal must have four solid-state lasers to cover the possible excitations in the spectrum from 405 nm to 640 nm

3.2.3. The confocal system must be equipped with 4 GaAsP Detectors. At least two should be tunable for selecting emission ranges.

3.2.4. The system must be capable of transmitted light imaging.

3.2.5. The confocal system must be capable of spectral imaging.

3.2.6. The system must contain a spatial array detector to enable the reconstruction of ~100 nm x-y resolution and ~300 nm z-resolution images.

3.2.7. The spatial array must be compatible with the objectives from 4x-60x, resonant scanner, galvo scanner, and all available lasers.

3.3. Minimum Requirements for the workstation and software. The following requirements must be met:

3.3.1 System must include a computer with graphic processing unit based processing to enable rapid analysis and rendering of data.

3.3.2 The confocal microscope system must be capable of being controlled by a single software package.

3.3.3 The software package must be capable of controlling acquisition in xyz dimension, multiple timescales, with multiple channels, and stitching together larger images.

3.3.4 The software must save image and acquisition information for all acquired images, including parameters and timings used.

3.3.5 The software must be capable of creating automated image acquisition pipelines for both short- and long-term experiments.

3.3.6 The software must be capable of triggering or controlling timings on other external hardware devices that would stimulate or change conditions in samples during imaging experiments.

3.3.7 The software must include deconvolution tools

3.3.8 The software must be capable of building custom analysis pipelines.

4. Period of Performance.

All Confocal Microscope System parts and units shall be delivered by no later than 120 days after awarding of the contract at the U.S. Naval Academy Department of Chemistry in Michelson Hall, 572M Holloway Rd, Annapolis MD 21402. This includes unpacking and assembling the microscope system and making adjustments to meet factory and laboratory specifications.

5. Place of Performance.

Delivery address:

Department of Chemistry Michelson Hall 572M Holloway Rd Annapolis MD 21402

6. Security Clearance.

Work under this task order is unclassified. The contractor shall comply with all applicable DOD security regulations and procedures during the performance of this task order. Contractor shall not disclose and must safeguard procurement sensitive information, computers systems and data, privacy act data, and government personnel work products, which are obtained or generated in the performance of this task order. The trustworthiness clause is applicable to this task order.

8. Government Furnished Property.

N/A

9. Additional Repairs Outside of Scope.

10. Personal Qualifications.

11. Non-Personal Service Statement

Contractor employees performing services under this order will be controlled, directed, and supervised at all times by management personnel of the contractor. Contractor management will ensure that employees properly comply with the performance work standards outlined in the statement of work. Contractor employees will perform their duties independent of, and without the supervision of, any Government official or other Defense Contractor. The tasks, duties, and responsibilities set forth in the task order may not be interpreted or implemented in any manner that results in any contractor employee creating or modifying Federal policy, obligating the appropriated funds of the United States Government, overseeing the work of Federal employees, providing direct personal services to any Federal employee, or otherwise violating the prohibitions set forth in Parts 7.5 and 37.1 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR). The Government will control access to the facility and will perform the inspection and acceptance of the completed work.