NICHD 23-316.pdf

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO

AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR

OPEN COMPETITION. The National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health and Development (NICHD), in support of the work of the National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Disease (NIDDK), intends to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to ISS Inc to procure a FLIM/FFS Upgrade of Olympus FVMPE Microscope System.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 with a Size Standard 1000.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Circular (FAC) 2023-01 effective 12-30-2022. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000) and FAR Subpart 12- Acquisition of Commercial Items.

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6— Competition Requirements.

Place of Performance National Institutes of Health 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda MD 20892 United States

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

This requirement is to obtain time correlated single photon counting (TCSPC) based FLIM equipment that is compatible with our existing Olympus multiphoton microscope and detectors. A major obstacle in our overall comprehension of these neural circuits is the inability to monitor neuromodulation and intracellular

PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS

molecular signals in real time in a live animal. This is an imperative objective in the mission of NIDDK to combat obesity and diabetes.

REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

a. Digital TCSPC module, SWISS-3. Featuring 4 independent input channels, the unit records time-resolved time-tagged events in streaming mode. Minimum time bin width: 1 ps; RMS jitter: 10 ps. Dead time: 2 ns. Data transfer rate: 65 M tags/s. USB3.0 interface.

b. The VistaVision software (Windows 10, 64-bit), comprehensive of the following control, acquisition and analysis modules:

1. VistaVision instrument control unit includes the routines for control of laser launcher (laser intensity, laser modulation).

2. The VistaVision Imaging and FLIM module for image acquisition, processing and image display; it allows for the user to specify the pixel dwell time, the image size, the image resolution and related parameters. Images stacks and time series are acquired automatically. The processing software includes operations between images, smoothing, filtering and automatic threshold setting for image contrast enhancement. FLIM analysis is carried out using the fitting algorithm and the phasor analysis. Data can be exported to *avi format for movies; plots are exported to popular formats (png, jpeg, gif, tiff, bitmap, metafile).

3. The VistaVision FFS module includes routines for FFS data acquisition (FCS, FCCS, PCH, RICS, N&B). Analysis is performed using autocorrelation function (FCS), cross-correlation function (FCCS) or photon counting histogram (PCH, proprietary technology). Custom model functions can be input by the user and fitted by the software for single point FCS. Multiple files can be analyzed using global analysis with either autocorrelation functions or photon counting histograms. Plots are exported to popular formats (png, jpeg, gif, tiff, bitmap, metafile). [some FFS measurements may not be feasible on the RS model]

c. System computer workstation, High performance processor, 32GB RAM; 256 GB SSD, 2TB HD; OS MS Windows 10, 64-bit. (Computer specifications are subject to change, minimum specifications shown).

d. System computer monitor, 32”, 2556x1440 resolution, flat color monitor.

TASK AREAS

Task Area 1 – Part(s)/Equipment – Contractor shall provide all necessary parts and equipment for the TCSPC FLIM Upgrade.

Task Area 1 – Installation – Contractor shall provide installation service(s) for parts and equipment no later than two (2) weeks after Delivery, unless postponed by request of the Program Officer.

Task Area 1 – Training – Contractor shall provide training on the equipment to the Lab members on the use and capabilities on a scheduled (on appointment) basis after Installation only.

Task Area 4 – Warranty – Contractor shall provide an equipment warranty; provided by the manufacturer and serviced by authorized/certified local service engineer(s).

Warranty terms will be no less than one (1) year from completion of installation (deliverables, labor, and travel included).

Task Area 3 – Delivery – Contractor shall deliver the TCSPC FLIM Upgrade equipment to the Program Manager for this requirement no later than 20-weeks ARO.

Equipment shall be delivered to National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, Building 10A, Animal Facility, 9000 Rockville Pike, Maryland 20892. Please contact Andrew Lutas when shipment tracking information is available.

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION

(INCLUDING BRAND- NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10—Market Research. Only one source is available: Per FAR 13.106- 1(b)(1) the Contracting Officer has determined that ISS Inc is the only vendor that can provide the TCSPC FLIM Equipment Upgrade.

CLOSING STATEMENT

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provided feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement, unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Vendor/Contractor’s (UEI) the Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov is now the authoritative identifier for those doing business with the federal government. The DUNS Number is no longer valid for federal award identification, the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.”

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses to this notice (NICHD-23-316) shall be submitted electronically by 9:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, on August 21, 2023.

http://www.sam.gov/