SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95025Q00214

2. Title: Inverted All-in-One Fluorescence Microscope

3. Classification Code: 6640 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

4. NAICS Code: 334516

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to fulfil a potential requirement.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably quantities and of a satisfactory quality to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be 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.

For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule).

Statement of Need and Purpose:

The NIDA Histology and Imaging Core (HIC) requires an inverted fluorescence phase contrast microscope with the following properties: (1) a large motorized XY stage that is integrated within the main unit and is capable of supporting multi-well plates or flasks; and (2) can make high-speed auto focus adjustments in the Z direction.

Background Information and Objective:

The NIDA Histology and Imaging Core has seen a steady increase in demand for both brightfield and fluorescence microscopy. Most users rely on the Evident VS200 whole-slide scanner, which often results in a waiting period due to high usage. Additionally, the current Keyence BZ-X710 system is consistently fully booked. However, the BZ-X710 is now over nine years old and operates at a slower speed. To improve accessibility and provide faster, more reliable imaging, HIC is seeking to acquire an additional whole-slide scanner.

Project Requirements/Salient Characteristics:

(1) The product case must include a specimen enclosure to provide an observation environment that, even without a darkroom, will not impair the background contrast required for fluorescence observation.

(2) Excluding the computer and monitor, the installation space of the microscope unit plus lighting source must be within 500 mm (H) x 465 mm (W) x 500 mm (D) when the panel is closed.

(3) The product must have a built-in vibration dampening system with the ability to use up to 100x objectives in a typical lab environment.

(4) The microscope must include, as standard components, an electronic shutter, XY and Z motorized stages, an electronic revolver (to hold 6 objectives from 2x-100x, must be compatible with both Plan Fluor and Plan Apochromat lenses), an electronic filter turret (to hold 6 filters), an electronic filter wheel (to hold 6 filters), 24 W RGB LED light source, electronic phase-contrast slit switching mechanism, electronic dimmer filters, and an electronic aperture control; it is necessary that all of these components can be operated with the mouse.

(5) The microscope must be able to recall all capture settings which include the shutter, aperture, light intensity, XYZ stage position, magnification, filter, imaging mode (brightfield/fluorescence/phase). In addition, there must be Zero manual/mechanical adjustments related to the microscope structure or light path (aperture, focus, stage, condenser, lighting). Everything must be only controlled electronically.

(6) The stroke of the motorized XY stage must be at least 114 mm x 80 mm and the minimum travel pitch must be 1 μm or smaller. Also, the stroke of the motorized Z axis stage must be at least 8 mm and the minimum travel pitch must be 0.1 μm or smaller.

(7) The microscope must be equipped with a 10 megapixel CMOS. The camera also needs to have the capability to image into the near infrared spectrum (800-900nm range).

(8) The microscope must be equipped a “low photobleach mode” which physically blocks the light to the sample when it is just stationary. Light is only let through when we move the sample or change the capture settings.

(9) The number of pixels that can be recorded in a single image (not stitched) must be at least 7320 x 5490.

(10) It must be possible to report the progress status and completion of image capture by email.

(11) The microscope must be capable of capturing image files within OME tiff format.

(12) The microscope must be equipped with a navigation function that enables the user the following: to make observations at a high magnification while checking the position over the entire region using a wide-area map image linked with information on the XY stage coordinates and to move the observation position by clicking the desired point on the wide-area map image. It must also be possible to create the wide-area map image using any of the mountable lenses

(13) The analysis software must include some basic image processing software such as Haze reduction (no-neighbor deconvolution), image overlays, scale bar, cut/paste, zoom, lookup table, black balance.

(14) ) The analysis software must include file locating capabilities to filter files by meta-data such as Name, Capture Date, Capture Mode, Objectives and Filter Channels.

(15) The microscope must include a function that enables the user, when using any of the mountable lenses, to set a maximum range of 50,000 x 50,000 pixels automatically by clicking the edges of the desired capture range, capture images in this range, and stitch them seamlessly.

Capability Statement/Information Sought:

Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products and services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees 2) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) or BPAs by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. The capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone, and e-mail addresses.

Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number.

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 Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer. The response must be submitted to Polina Klimenkova at e-mail address polina.klimenkova@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before July 27, 2025.

“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 solicitation may be published in SAM.gov. 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).”