SAM_-_Pre-Solicitation__75N94025Q00187_1.pdf

75N94025Q00187

TITLE

Motic FlexScan 1 Fluorescence Imaging Slide Scanner for NIDDK

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 National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), intends to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition to MOTIC INSTRUMENTS USA INC. for FlexScan 1 Fluorescence Imaging Slide Scanner equipment.

BACKGROUND

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Metabolic Diseases Branch, Thyroid Tumors & Functional Thyroid Disorders Section’s (TTFTDS) scientific interest involves translational and clinical studies focused on both the optimization of thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer diagnosis, as well as appropriate risk stratification and therapy aimed at improving patients’ morbidity and mortality. The section requires a Motic FlexScan 1 whole-slide imaging scanner. A slide is heavily used in any kind of pathology and/or histology study of human or animal tissues and cells at a microscopic level. The observed object is stained with dyes, which can be colored or fluorescent. FlexScan 1 enables scanning of slides at variable magnification, in both visible light (brightfield) and fluorescent modes. Moreover, visualization of slides at high magnification is a routine, essential work that is regularly performed in the lab.

JUSTIFICATION

Scanning of histology, pathology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescently tagged slides at high magnification is a regularly performed task for any lab oriented towards translational studies. To accomplish this task, a slide scanner instrument with both brightfield and fluorescence scanning capabilities is indispensable. Some microscopes can visualize and even scan slides in brightfield and fluorescence modes. However, they lack certain features, such as speed and high resolution throughout the entire slide, which are essential for effective scanning, especially at higher magnifications. Additionally, high-throughput slide scanners lack the ability to switch between modes quickly, have very large footprints, and require highly skilled personnel to operate and maintain. Moreover, the high-throughput slide scanners work with proprietary software that lacks crossplatform functionality for viewing and analyzing captured images, thus requiring periodic training for the users. The Motic FlexScan 1 Fluorescence Imaging Slide Scanner from Motic Instruments USA is a whole-slide imaging scanner capable of functioning in brightfield and fluorescence modes, enabling automation in low-plex digital pathology.

The FlexScan 1 will deliver the aforementioned criteria in a compact footprint with easy installation and training, thereby representing a unique capability, essential to our research, that cannot be replicated in any other product. Specifically, the FlexScan 1 can perform the slide scans in an extremely fast manner (approximately at an average of 5 minutes per slide in brightfield and 10 minutes in fluorescent mode) compared to similar instruments from other companies, for all the major research projects running in the NIDDK Thyroid Tumors & Functional Thyroid Disorders Section, which are in line with the NIH mission prioritizing clinical and translational research, one of the most common and frequently applied techniques is various forms of histology and cytology experiments from human patient tissue samples, thyroid cancer cell lines, and tumor xenografts. The slides for these experiments need to be scanned at a high resolution

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

for understanding multiplexed tissue morphology, expression of biomolecules in the cells and tissues at microscopic levels, and population of various cell types in the tissue microenvironment, among many other functions. All of this knowledge contributes to our understanding of thyroid cancer and associated diseases studied in the lab and determines the outcome for translational research. The Motic FlexScan 1 Fluorescence Imaging Slide Scanner enables our lab to have these results in a high-resolution, semi-high-throughput capacity to address the research needs in a timely manner. The lack of access to the instrument may negatively impact and delay the analysis of key questions regarding the initial stages of carcinogenesis, progression of thyroid cancer, and crosstalk between cancer and its microenvironment.

Motic Instruments USA is the original equipment manufacturer of the required Motic FlexScan 1 Fluorescence Imaging Slide Scanner, therefore only they have the capability to provide fast shipping, quick installation, necessary training, and expert technical support for their proprietary instrument.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 333310 - Commercial and Service Industry Machinery Manufacturing, size standard in number of employees 1000

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Circular (FAC) 2025-05 effective 08/07/2025. 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 FAR 13.106(b)(1) Soliciting from a single source - For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold.

PLACE OF DELIVERY

NIH/NIDDK/MDB

Bldg 10, Rm 9C216 10 Center Drive Bethesda, MD 20892

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

We require a Motic FlexScan 1 Fluorescence Imaging Slide Scanner for scanning of histology, pathology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescent probes-tagged slides at high magnification, which is a regularly performed task for any lab oriented towards translational studies. Ability to scan histology, pathology, immunohistochemistry, and fluorescent probe-tagged slides to visualize human and animal tissues and/or cells. Must be able to scan at least 4X and 20X magnification in brightfield and fluorescence mode. Must have high-resolution (0.5µm/pixel) and continual focusing across the slide. Semi-high-throughput speed – brightfield scan should not take more than 5 minutes per slide. At least 3 colors for fluorescence mode (Red, green and blue channels). Small footprint – the lab has limited bench space, so a compact instrument is preferable. Must include image analysis and stitching cross-platform software to analyze the obtained images in-house.

Motic FlexScan 1, including - 4x, 20x, 40x Objectives - Focus Camera, S5MP Main Camera, E50 Macro Camera - LUMOS 3 channel LED Light Source (UV, Blue, Green)

EasyScanner Software & Dongle, including - Motic FlexScan 1 (5MP) - Advanced Module including Fluorescence Mode - License Dongle CMPTR-4 - HP EliteOne 870 G9

27 inch All-in-One Touchcreen PC

Shipping and Handling

Onsite installation/Training

1 Year Warranty

Delivery by 30 Days After Receipt of Order (ARO)

CLOSING STATEMENT

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability in response to this notice and may submit a capability statement, which shall be considered by the agency. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement. 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 respondents must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically by 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time, on August, 28th, 2025 to jacob.balenson@nih.gov and shall include pre-solicitation # 75N94025Q00187 in the subject line.