P03 Single Source Justification Brand Name - Hamamatsu Orca Quest Camera -signed-.pdf

Acquisition ID#: 36C24E‐25‐AP‐0018

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

Justification for Single Source Awards IAW FAR 13.106‐1 For

Over Micro‐Purchase Threshold but Not Exceeding the SAT ($250K)

Acquisition Plan Action ID: 36C24E‐25‐AP‐0018

1. Contracting Activity:

The Veteran Health Administration (VHA), Regional Procurement Office‐East R&D 1010 Delafield Road. Bldg. 32, Suite 1A111 Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Requesting Activity:

Department of Veterans Affairs West Los Angeles VA Medical Center Research Service 11301 Wilshire Blvd

Los Angeles, CA 90073

2237 Number: 691‐25‐1‐821‐0001

2. Brief Description of Supplies/ Services required and the intended use/Estimated Amount:

The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center has a critical need for the Brand Name Hamamatsu Quest 2

Digital qCMOS camera. Voltage imaging is a technique for recording activity from large neuronal populations at very high temporal resolution. This techniques requires cameras that can record large fields‐of‐view at very high frame rates with extremely low noise. The intent is to use the Hamamatsu

Orca Quest camera to perform ultrafast imaging of voltage dynamics from large populations of neurons. Please see the required items below and the salient characteristics.

Hamamatsu ORCA‐Quest 2 Digital qCMOS Camera Kit, (product # ORCA‐QUEST2‐KIT)

Interface Kit ‐ Firebird CoaXpress with Cables for ORCA‐Ques, (product # CAMRA‐1012‐000‐KIT)

Salient Characteristics:

• Uses a qCMOS image sensor.

• Ultra‐low noise readout mode (0.30 electrons rms).

• Very high quantum efficiency (QE) in voltage sensors emission regime (300 nm – 600 nm).

• Quantification of single photons for acquiring high quality data in the low SNR conditions typically associated with voltage imaging in biological tissue.

• Realisation of photon number resolving (PNR) output.

• Back‐illuminated trench structure minimizing pixel crosstalk.

• Capable of high bandwidth readout rates of over 1000 Megapixels per second, allowing for imaging a large field of view (~600x300 um) at the fast frames rates required to capture action potentials (500 Hz).

• Pixel size of 4.6µm x 4.6µm paired with high readout bandwidth allow for high spatiotemporal resolution needed to capture activity of large neuronal populations

• Combination of low‐noise and high QE of qCMOS image sensor allows for long term imaging due to reduced photobleaching (for experiments longer than 10 minutes).

• Spatial resolution has a pixel size of about 15µm x 15µm.

• Established software drivers (DCAM‐API) with support for developing online image processing software for low latency closed loop experiments.

3. Unique characteristics that limit availability to only one source, with the reason no other supplies or services can be used:

This camera is a qCMOS image sensor and is able to image a large FOV (~600x300 um) at very high frame rates (500Hz) with low noise. The Hamamatsu camera has a high quantum efficiency and is able to quantify single photons, which is something that sCMOS cameras do not offer. The qCMOS provides high quality data in the low SNR conditions typically associated with voltage imaging in biological tissue.

The Brand Name Hamamatsu Orca Quest is required for research purposes due to the qCMOS image sensor specific only to the Hamamatsu, making long term imaging experiments (> 10mins) possible when all other cameras cannot. Other cameras on the market use onboard RAM to store image data, and is only able to resolve a few seconds of image data at a time, making key experiments and studies unsuccessful. Also, the sCMOS cameras have extremely large pixels, making the spatial resolution of the imaging system 3x worse than the Hamamatsu. The sCMOS has higher noise in the extremely low photon count regime, making it far less useful for research (very low light conditions) and necessitating higher input irradiances in the biological tissue, resulting in possible damage to the neural circuits in critical research studies. There is no other qCMOS camera on the market. The Hamamatsu Orca is the only option in the market that enables long‐term voltage recordings from large neuronal populations, which is required to continue several on‐going studies.

4. Description of market research conducted and results or statement why it was not conducted:

Multiple searches were completed to query the databases for possible sources for the Hamamatsu Orca Quest Camera. A VIP search was conducted utilizing NAICS 332516 and keywords “Hamamatsu Camera” which resulted in zero (0) vendors. A GSA search was completed and also provided zero (0) vendors. A DSBS was completed with keywords “Hamamatsu camera” which resulted in zero (0) vendor, In addition, a source sought was posted for three (3) calendar days from, 17 July 2024 to 19 July 2024, with one (1) vendor (Biovision Technologies, SB) response received by the close of the notice. Besides the Hamamatsu Orca Quest, only one other camera on the market was found that can image large fields‐of‐view at high frame rates, but with additional noise. That is the DaVinci camera sold by Redshirt imaging. Both the Hamamatsu Orca Quest and the DaVinci‐1k cameras were tested.

The Hamamatsu Orca Quest is the only camera that will work for research purposes due to the qCMOS image sensor specific to the Hamamatsu, making single photon counting and long‐term imaging experiments (> 10mins) possible. The DaVinci 1k uses onboard RAM to store image data, making resolving only a few seconds at a time possible. It also uses a more traditional sCMOS image sensor and has a higher noise in extremely low photon counts, making it less useful for research and necessitating higher input irradiances in the biological tissue, resulting in possible damage. Also, cameras in other industrial applications like automation / machine vision, such as VC‐21MX2 sold by Vieworks were tested, because they have specifications that could potentially meet the research study needs in terms of speed and image area. However, these cameras are not developed for scientific purposes, and did not perform well in imaging conditions in biological tissue, due to extremely high noise and low sensitivity. The Hamamatsu Orca is the only option in the market that enables long‐term voltage recordings from large neuronal populations, and specifically has the qCMOS image sensor, which is critical for our research needs that require long term imaging experiments. A Pre‐solicitation Notice of Intent for brand name or equal was also posted listing the salient characteristics on Contract Opportunities in SAM.gov on 10/30/2024 with the SSJ and closed on 11/04/2024 to search for additional companies with possible alternative products that could have the qCMOS image sensor and can image large fields‐of‐view at high frame rates with low noise. Two response were received, and both were for the Hamamatsu Orca Quest camera. No alternative cameras were proposed.

An email was sent to the original manufacturer Hamamatsu for a list of authorized distributors to query the market for small businesses capable of meeting the requirement. Emails were sent to the small businesses found Axiom Optics, 89 North, Intelligent Imaging Innovations, Bartels and Stout, Hunt Optics, and Cephla. Axiom confirmed that they are interested in the requirement and are able to meet the requirement. Therefore, recommend a brand name small business set‐aside. The qCMOS camera is essential to the Government’s requirements, and market research indicates other companies’ similar products are lacking particular features as specified above and do not meet, or cannot be modified to meet, the research service needs. A combined Synopsis/solicitation for brand name small business set‐aside will be posted in accordance with FAR 11.105.

5. Contracting Officer's Certification: Purchase is approved in accordance with FAR13.106‐1(b). I certify that the foregoing justification is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

____________________________ 11/13/2024 Ann Marie Stewart Date

Contracting Officer