Sources Sought.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Title: Light-sheet microscope for 3D high-resolution imaging of large biological samples

2. Classification Code: 6650 - Optical Instruments, Test Equipment, Components and Accessories

3. NAICS Code: 333314 - Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing

4. Description:

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal of abstracts or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified business sources; (2) determine whether they are small businesses (e.g., 8(a), Veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled Veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, and women-owned small businesses); and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your response to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should indicate its small business status in its response.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Background:

The NIDA IRP Histology and Imaging Core needs a light-sheet microscope system for 3D high-resolution imaging of large biological samples. Of many applications the microscope will be used for towards the NIDA IRP mission, it will be used to determine neural mechanisms in the brain that mediate behavior in different animal models used in drug addiction research. More specifically, this microscope will be used to analyze fluorescently labeled elements (e.g. neural activity markers such as Fos and cell-type markers) in whole rat and mouse brains that were altered by drug experience. Our main use of a light-sheet microscope is to visualize fluorescently labeled elements, such as activity markers and cell type markers, in the whole brain in one image scan. This allows for rapid acquisition of labeling in all brain areas in an unbiased manner, which is important for: (a) identification of brain regions and (b) identification (through correlational analysis) of combinations of brain regions or circuits, that were not previously considered in mediating a behavior of interest.

Requirement:

The necessary requirements are:

1. For this to be effective, the microscope Requirement (1) must be able to image whole rat and mouse brains in one scan. Requirement (2) is ease of use by non-expert users, such as minimal number of adjustments and manual steps to use for imaging, and a lower probability of damage to machine. Requirement (3) is the ability to run these brains in batch mode so the microscope can be run at all times, which will greatly increase throughput of the microscope that will be in demand for many experiments by different researchers. Requirement (4) is responsiveness of tech support, which has been a severe problem in the past. Requirement (5) is to obtain optically flat images with minimal shadowing to minimize post-processing times. Requirement (6) is for high sensitivity camera acquisition to (a) minimize scan times but (b) more importantly to use lower excitation light intensities to minimize photobleaching of sample brains. Requirement (7) is for automated sample stage and imaging objectives to scan the same samples at multiple resolutions in a single imaging session. The appropriate microscope that fulfills all of these Requirements will allow us to answer critical questions about how drug experience alters the brain to produce the different behavioral components of addiction, such as drug craving, dependence, and learned associations between cues and drugs of abuse, that were not previously possible for our program to answer.

Salient Characteristics:

The characteristics in the following table are minimal criteria for a system that meets all of our requirements.

General Requirements

(1) Must be able to image whole rat and whole mouse brains in one scan.

(2) Ease of use by non-expert users, such as minimal number of adjustments and manual steps to use for imaging, and a lower probability of damage to machine.

(3) Ability to run these brains in batch mode so the microscope can be run at all times, which will greatly increase throughput of the microscope that will be in demand for many experiments by different researchers.

(4) Promise of quick responsiveness of tech support in quote, including site visit when necessary.

(5) Obtain optically flat images with minimal shadowing to minimize post-processing times.

(6) High sensitivity camera acquisition to (a) minimize scan times but (b) more importantly to use lower excitation light intensities to minimize photobleaching of sample brains.

(7) The instrument should be accompanied by a 1-year original warranty period.

Technical Requirements

· No X/Y instrument alignment guarantees homogenous excitation and illumination

· Piezo motors on beam mirrors reduces aberrations

· Greater X/Y light sheet overlap within the FOV generates uniform excitation to achieve higher image quality and optical sectioning

All scans can be set up at once for fully automated sequential scanning at desired magnification and setting.

3x sample holder base 16/15 mm 2x sample holder clamp 16/15 mm with 1 screw M3x16 1x sample holder clamp 16/35 mm with 2 screws M3x16 1x sample holder clamp 16/52 mm including 5 sample attachments 1x Sample holder base 16/52 mm

Warranty and Product Support:

At a minimum the Warranty and Product support should include:

The instrument should be accompanied by a 1-year original warranty period.

Capability Statement / Information Sought:

Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products and support services specified in this notice. Also, information must be provided in sufficient details of the respondents’ (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

Finally, respondents are also encouraged to provide a general overview of the respondent’s opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any other information regarding innovative ideas or concepts that may be applicable.

Submission Instructions:

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer Identified below. The response must be received on or before December 17th at 1:00 p.m. EST. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).”

Primary Point of Contact:

Llakim Dubroff, Contract Specialist Llakim.Dubroff @nih.gov Phone: (301) 827-6963