Sources Sought Notice - GSS Leica.pdf

SAM.gov

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95023Q00476

2. Title: Leica Vibrating Blade Microtome or Equal

3. Classification Code:

4. NAICS Code: 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

5. Size Standard: 1000 employees

6. 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 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. Small businesses are encouraged to respond.

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).

The response must also include 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.

Background: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducting research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke. The NINDS mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Research in the Cellular Neurophysiology Section focuses on circuit and cellular properties of dopaminergic neurons located in the midbrain. We are interested in the physiology of a subset of dopamine neuron located in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) that undergo selective cell death in Parkinson’s patients. Specifically, we are interested in understanding how synaptic and intrinsic conductances (particulary calcium permeable conductances, ie voltage gated calcium channels and glutamate activated receptors) differ among subpopulations dopamine neurons with the hope that this may provide insight to why SNc dopamine neurons are particularly vulnerable in Parkinson’s disease.

Our goal is to identify novel physiological and genetic markers in single SNc dopamine neurons which may be useful in defining subpopulations of these neurons in a meaningful way.

This is an absolutely essential piece of equipment in our laboratory that is used by nearly everyone in their past and current studies. In fact, 100% of the published studies out of our laboratory have depended on tissue slices generated by a vibrating blade microtome. Thus, this is equipment is central to our laboratory’s experimental work. In order to study the physiology of dopamine system neurons, our lab uses the approach where we examine their excitability in live tissue slices. Access to tissue slices allow us to directly probe the activity of neurons with the highest level of experimental precision.

In order to obtain tissue slice, we need to use a high-quality tissue slicer with high mechanical stability. Thus the tissue slicer is absolutely critical equipment in our laboratory.

Purpose and Objectives: - The purpose of this acquisition is for the Cellular Neurophysiology Section to purchase a vibrating blade microtome microscope system that will allow the examination of the mechanisms of synaptic integration and dendritic information in dopamine neurons located in the midbrain.

Our lab studies the neural mechanisms that underlie reward-based behaviors and reinforcement learning. Dopamine-releasing neurons in the midbrain play a critical role in these behaviors. In addicted animals, the dopamine system is "hijacked" by drugs of abuse that increase brain dopamine levels through direct or indirect actions on dopaminergic neurons. Furthermore, the selective loss of subsets of dopaminergic neurons leads to the severe motor deficits observed in patients with Parkinson’s Disease.

Our studies examine the physiological properties of dopamine neurons that a vulnerable and resilient to cell death in Parkinson’s Disease. In particular, our laboratory is interested in understanding how electrical activity of vulnerable and resilient dopamine system neurons is generated mechanistically and how this activity ultimately contributes to dopamine-dependent behaviors. We study (1) how ion channels, proteins that conduct ions across the cell membrane of dopamine neurons, and (2) how ligand gated receptors enable this electrical activity along with circuit connections that shape their activity during behavior. These studies have led to the identification of circuit, synaptic and intrinsic characteristics that differ between calbindin positive resilient dopamine neuron subpopulations and Aldh1a1 positive dopamine neurons that are vulnerable to cell death. We hope that these studies will advance our knowledge of functional diversity among dopamine neuron subpopulations and the mechanisms of selective vulnerability among neurons in the brains of patients inflicted with Parkinson’s Disease.

To study these questions, we cut tissue slices prepared from different animal models.

The tissue slices allow us is to perform precise investigations of the excitability of different neurons within the dopamine system.

The acquisition is to purchase:

A vibrating blade microtome tissue slicer.

Contractor shall provide the following components:

- Tissue slicer

- Control panel

- Tool set: Allen key with handle, size 3. Allen key with handle, size 6.

Cryomanipulator. 2 futes t 1A

- Cyanacrylate glue

- Dust cover, small

- Ice tray

- Buffer tray, metal: buffer tray, lid, specimen disc, tube clamp

- Blade holder

- IFU-bundle leica VT1200S

- CD including available languages

- Short manual

- Power cord

Anticipated period of performance: FOB Destination. Contractor shall deliver and install components within 90-120 days.

Salient characteristics:

The NINDS Cellular Neurophysiology Section requires one (1) tissue slicer system that meets the following requirements:

• The system must have fully automated vibrating blade microtome for section fixed and unfixed specimens.

• The system must include robust and stable basic instrument with blade holder and adjustment screw to minimize vertical deflection below 1 um.

• The system must include blade holder turnable by 90° for safe bladeinsertion of whole razor-injector or sapphireblades. Clearance angle adjustment of 15°, 18°or 21°.

Optimized blade holder design forminimised buffer spillage

• The system must include support for removable ice tray, double walled buffer tray or optional measurement device "Vibrocheck", for vertical deflection of the blade.

Other important considerations:

In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.

Capability statement /information sought.

Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products 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.

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 in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project 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.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Shayna Simpson, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address Shayna.simpson@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before July 17, 2023, 1 PM, Eastern Time.

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 www.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).

mailto:Shayna.simpson@nih.gov