Sources Sought Notice.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95022Q00396

2. Title: Microscope with Visual Stimulation

3. Classification Code: 6650

4. NAICS Code: 334516

5. Description:

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 perform a potential requirement.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. 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 because 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. Small businesses are encouraged to respond.

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).

Background:

The new microscope needs to have a built-in port for visual stimulation that will allow projection of an image into the microscope onto the retina to stimulate.

Requirement: One Scientifica SliceScope Microscope.

NINDS requires one Scientifica SliceScope microscope with the following properties and characteristics:

1. The upright microscope frame must be able to conveniently move between in vitro and in vivo configuration. The microscope frame must include an objective and condenser holding arm which can be removed with just 2 screws.

2. The microscope must be fitted with an ultra-smooth motorized Z-axis drive that ensures vibration-free movement over 25 mm and be able to hold large devices such as a Multiphoton detection unit for future upgrades; this must be controlled with the same Patchpad device as the microscope Z axis.

3. The microscope must be very modular, so it can be upgraded with an optogenics/uncaging scan-head and a multiphon scan-head from the same supplier.

4. The microscope must have a very small footprint and be very thin for easy access to the sample;

no wider than 150mm in width and 260mm in length.

5. The microscope must be able to hold industry leading optics (Olympus or Nikon) to produce superb images.

6. The microscope must utilize a range of different contract techniques to allow versatility between techniques. In this instance a ‘Dodt contract’ configuration is required. This dodt condenser must be an achromatic/aplantic condenser, with numerical aperture of 1.40.

7. The microscope must come alongside with a complementary software to control all the motorized components including the Microscope Z control and XY staging.

8. The motors in the microscope must hold an infinite number of memory positions which allow repeatable positions for returning to sites of interest via the complementary software.

9. The microscope must include a C-mount adapter for the camera (with specifications of the camera below) alongside a single port for infrared applications.

10. The software must include free unlimited support and upgrades for lifetime use.

11. The software must have a virtual joystick to control the motorized components.

12. There must be an option to switch between a pad device and a cube device without any alteration of any other components – ‘plug and play’. The pad device and cube device must be interchangeable with the existing microscope in the lab from the same supplier.

Custom Port for Visual Stimulation:

1. The microscope must include Custom Port for Visual Stimulus to deliver light from a visual stimulation source such as an OLED projector to sample during an imaging or electrophysiological experiment.

Fluorescence: GFP/Cy3/TRITC turret

1. The microscope must include fluorescence turret beam path that has been completely optimized fluorescence transmission/color correction and homogeneity. This must be able to attach onto the top of the upright motorized microscope

2. The turret must include space for up to 6 fluorescence filter cubes for future compatibility with different fluorescent dyes. These cubes should be easily exchanged and moved by removing the front of the turret.

3. The fluorescence turret must be push and click for quick change of filter cubes during experimentation.

4. The fluorescence turret must include filter tubes for GFP (green fluorescence protein) and

Cy3/TRITC.

5. The filter cubes must contain emission, excitation and dichroic mirrors; to permit the correct light spectrum to reach the sample and the visualization of that fluorescence in that sample via the specified camera. Filter cube spectrum specifications must include For GFP: 470/40x, 495LP, 525/50m, for Cy3/TRITC: 545/25x, 565LP, 605/70m.

6. The fluorescence turret must include a space for a fluorescence light source.

Warranty and Service:

1. All distributor manufactured products must come with a 2-year warranty and at least a 1-year warranty for all non-manufactured products.

2. The distributor must have a dedicated service team. This service team should be able to exchange faulty items with their service stock within a week of the user’s equipment fault.

Anticipated Delivery Date:

The equipment shall be delivered within 3 months after contractor receipt of order.

Capability Statement / Information Sought:

Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products or 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) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program.

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 fax numbers, 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 a 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

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 Wednesday, July 20, 2022, at 12:00 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

Secondary Point of Contact:

Khurram M. Shaikh, Section Head Kj.shaikh@nih.gov Phone: (301) 827-1111 mailto:Andrew.Varley@nih.gov mailto:Kj.shaikh@nih.gov