Sources Sought Notice.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95022Q00136

2. Title: Epiflourescence Microscope Upgrade for Zeiss AxioImager .Z2

3. Classification Code: 6650

4. NAICS Code: 334516

5. Description:

This is a SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal of abstracts or quotations. The purpose of this notice is obtain to obtain information regarding:

(1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) 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 not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

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 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Spinal Circuits and Plasticity Unit relies heavily on microscopy for the analysis of a spinal cord tissue to understand the function of the intact and injured spinal cord. There is a particularly heavy focus recently on molecular identification of spinal cord neurons, which requires high throughput microscopy at a relatively high resolution.

Automated microscopy frees investigators who would otherwise be spending time managing the microscope. Until now, a confocal Zeiss LSM-800 microscope has fulfilled these demands but is currently overwhelmed. A cost-effective option is an epifluorescent microscope with slide-scanning abilities. Such a system is of lower cost than a confocal microscope, but which combines automated slide-scanning with faster imaging and the ability to load many slides for batch imaging, which allows for high throughput work. The need exists to acquire an epifluorescence microscope with 1) ability to image Cy7 far-red dyes (including both microscope filter sets and a compatible camera); 2) with software and hardware allowing for automated slide scanning; 3) with a software or hardware option for deconvolution to approximate the image quality of a confocal microscope; and 4) an accompanying computer system with all software and hardware necessary for the above functions.

Requirement: One Epifluorescence slide-scanning microscope

NINDS requires one Epifluorescence slide-scanning microscope with the following properties and characteristics:

Salient Characteristics:

Essential features of the microscope must include:

1. One objective in each of the following ranges: 2-5X, 10X, 20X, 40X (oil compatible).

2. Brightfield imagining capability

3. Fluorescence imaging capability

4. Filter sets must be included and be compatible with multiplex imaging

5. The multiplex imaging must use the following dyes:

A. DAPI/Hoechst (UV) B. FITC/Alexa488 (488 nm) C. CY3/Alexa594 (594 nm) D. CY5/Alexa647 (647 nm, far-red) E. CY7/Alexa750 (750 nm, near-IR)

6. Compatibility for BFP/CFP (435 nm) imaging is optional.

7. Slide scanning capability must allow for automated imaging of six to eight slides in sequence.

8. Deconvolution hardware (structured illumination) or software is required.

9. The Manufacturer must provide a workstation computer and software with full compatibility with the microscope.

Hardware Capability

A. Minimum 32 GB RAM B. Minimum 512 GB SSD capacity C. Minimum 2 TB HDD capacity

Warranty and Product Support:

At a minimum the Warranty should include:

1. 1 year manufacturer warranty,

2. Replacements for shipping damage

3. Replacements for manufacturing defect upon examination

4. Repairs for discontinued items guaranteed for up to 7 years

5. Repairs after 7 years of discontinuation dependent on stock availability of replacement parts

6. Temporary replacement units during warranty period

7. Coverage of shipping cost of temporary replacement unit to the customer

Anticipated Delivery Date:

The equipment shall be delivered within 90 days after contractor receipt of order.

Capability Statement / Information Sought:

Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products 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) corporate experience and other management capability; and (e) 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 using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be must be in and 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 Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer Identified below. The response must be received on or before Thursday, April 21, 2022 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:

Andrew Varley, Contract Specialist Andrew.Varley@nih.gov Phone: (301) 827-5851 Fax: (301) 443-7595 mailto:Andrew.Varley@nih.gov

Contracting Office Address:

NIDA Contracts Management Red Branch Office of Acquisitions, NIDA, NIH

301 N STONESTREET AVE, 3WFN, MSC 6012

Bethesda, MD 20892-9559