Sole-Single-Source-Justification_ATUMtome_13Jun2020.doc

Open Market Orders

Exceeding $5,000 but Not Exceeding $150,000 Sole-Single Source (including Brand-Name) Justification

SOLE-SINGLE SOURCE (including Brand-Name) JUSTIFICATION

“Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104”

1. Identification of the Agency and Contracting Activity.

a. Federal Agency and Contracting Activity.

Department of Health and Human Services National Institute of Health

National Institute on Drug Abuse

b. Sponsoring Organization.

NIDA/IRP/OSD/Translational Analytical Core

c. Project Officer Information.

· Project Officer Name. Leslie Premo

· Mailing Address. 251 Bayview Blvd., Rm 02A443, Baltimore, MD 21224

· E-mail Address. Leslie.premo@nih.gov

· Telephone Number. (443) 740-2137

2. Project Description.

a. Project Title. Automated tape-collecting ultramicrotome for array tomography

b. Acquisition purpose and objectives.

The NIDA-IRP Confocal and Electron Microscopy Core currently has a confocal, ZEISS LSM880 with Airyscan, and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), ZEISS Sigma VP Field-Emission SEM, but it lacks the capability to do correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) because the Core lacks the necessary upgrade of the scanning electron microscope, software and equipment to collect and analyze thousands of brain sections, for electron microscopic imaging and its correlation with fluorescent microscopic images. As part of the upgrade to the ZEISS Sigma VP, the RMC automated tape-collecting ultramicrotome (ATUMtome), will allow NIDA/IRP to do 3D reconstruction of detected molecules within cells and neuronal circuitry from animal models for drug addiction.

c. Project background.

Many biological functions depend critically upon fine details of tissue molecular architecture that have resisted exploration by existing imaging techniques. This is particularly true for nervous system tissues, where information processing function depends on intricate circuit and synaptic architectures. Array tomography combines and extends superlative features of modern optical fluorescence and electron microscopy methods. Based on methods for constructing and repeatedly imaging ordered arrays of ultrathin, resin-embedded serial sections, array tomography allows for quantitative, high-resolution, large-field volumetric imaging of large numbers of antigens, fluorescent proteins, and ultrastructure in individual tissue specimens. Compared to confocal microscopy, array tomography offers the advantage of better spatial resolution, in particular along the z axis, as well as depth-independent immunofluorescent staining. The application of array tomography can reveal important but previously unseen features of brain molecular architecture.

Throughout the world, the vast majority of brain anatomical studies are done by fluorescent microscopy alone allowing fluorescent detection of multiple molecules at the cellular level, with poor or non-detection at the ultrastructural level. In contrast, electron microscopy allows molecular detection at the ultrastructural level. Recently developed technology known as “correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM)” combines the advantages provided by confocal and electron microscopy.

As part of the upgrade to the ZEISS Sigma VP, the RMC automated tape-collecting ultramicrotome (ATUMtome), will allow NIDA/IRP to do 3D reconstruction of detected molecules within cells and neuronal circuitry from animal models for drug addiction. The RMC ATUMtome is a unique system for collecting sections on a continuous tape. Typically, researchers mount resin-embedded specimens on the ultramicrotome, cutting serial sections that then float on a surface of the water in the diamond knife trough. The ATUMtome moves a continuous ribbon of tape through this water trough, automatically removing the serial sections from the water surface in sequential order. After the sections are collected, researchers mount the tape in strips on substrates like a silicon wafers or glass slides. The populated wafers are ready for imaging with a scanning electron microscope or using other microscopy techniques.

d. Period of Performance or Required Delivery Date.

· The complete system will have a 12-month warranty.

· Instrument will ship within 45-60 days ARO.

e. Total Estimated Dollar Value. $144,430.00

3. Market Research (see FAR Part 1 0).

a. Within the past 12-months the undersigned program official conducted market research by:

Contacted knowledgeable individuals in Government and industry regarding market capabilities of the product or service requirement Todd Perez, Director of Sales – North and South America, Mobile: +1 (520) 331-2216, Email: todd.perez@boeckeler.com

· Published formal requests for information in appropriate technical or scientific journals or business publications

Participated in interactive, online communication among industry, acquisition personnel, and customers

· Obtained source lists of similar items from other contracting activities or agencies, trade associations or other sources

Reviewed catalogs and other generally available product literature published by manufacturers, distributors, and dealers or available online – see Market Research Document

· Conducted interchange meetings or holding presolicitation conferences to involve potential offerors prior to submission of the acquisition request

· Searched previous purchases of similar/identical acquisitions Searched the Internet by key words – see Market Research Document

· Program official did not conduct market research

b. The results of market research have determined that:

Commercial items or service are customarily available in the commercial marketplace

· Nondevelopmental items that could be modified to meet program’s needs are customarily available in the commercial marketplace

· Nondevelopmental items used exclusively for governmental purposes are available to meet program’s needs

· Items or services are available that must meet the requirements of law or regulations

· Items are available that contain recovered materials or are energy efficient

· No 8(a) sources could be found

· No two small business socio-economic sources (e.g., HubZone, SDB, WOSB, SDVOSB) could be found

No other sources could be found

4. Acquisition Type.

Open Market Action, exceeding $3,000 and not expected to exceed $150,000 as prescribed in FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures

5. Acquisition Authority. This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization).

6. Justification Rationale.

Only one source is available:

The ATUMtome’s tape collecting part of the system (ATUM) is under license from Harvard University where Professor Jeff Lichtman, MD, and his team designed the instrument to help collect ultrathin sections to help reconstruct the brain’s neural pathways.

The ATUMtome is a unique ultramicrotome for collecting sections on a continuous tape. Serial sections of resin-embedded specimens are cut with a diamond knife. As the sections float off on the surface water in the knife trough, they are picked up by the moving tape of the ATUM. Researchers cut the long rolls of tape into shorter lengths and mount them on silicon wafers. The wafers are imaged with a scanning electron microscope using either secondary electron or backscattered electron imaging. This automated serial sectioning system is unique because it allows collection and storage of large numbers of serial sections on tapes and wafers. Hundreds to thousands of serial sections can be images and then wafer libraries archived for future studies.

RMC Boeckeler is the only manufacturer (under license issued by Harvard University) of the ATUMtome.

RMC Boeckeler contact information: 4650 S. Butterfield Drive, Tucson, Arizona, 85714, Phone: +1 520.745.0001, Email: info@boeckeler.com

7. Any other facts supporting the justification. n/a

8. Project Officer Certification. The Project Officer, Technical or Requirements Personnel certifies that any data or information provided in support of this justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of our knowledge and belief is accurate and complete and the below signature recommends approval.

Project Officer

Date

9. Contracting Officer Certification. The Contracting Officer certifies that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support the rationale and recommendation for approval is accurate and complete and the below signature denotes approval.

Contracting Officer

Date Revised 10/20/2014