Vendor odyssey-m-sole-source-helper-letter.docx

Dear Purchasing Agent:

You have recently received quotes for a new imaging system for our lab. We have done our due diligence and extensively reviewed and evaluated a range of instruments, leaving us with a firm belief that the [Odyssey® M Near-Infrared Imaging System] offers us the best value for our allotted budget. Not only does it provide everything we require to generate the data necessary for our end goals of publication, funding, and most importantly, discovery advancement, but it also partners us with LI‑COR, a company with over 25 years of near-infrared fluorescence molecular imaging expertise and experience. We strongly advocate the purchase of the [Odyssey® M] and are confident that LI‑COR is the right partner for us.

In addition to the [Odyssey M], LI‑COR’s unique suite of benefits include the Data Integrity™ Bundle as part of our purchase. While this bundle can be difficult to assign a monetary value to, the benefits from the comprehensive package and the capabilities of the [Odyssey M] are invaluable for our laboratory’s success:

· Accurate detection. The [Odyssey M] provides a linear dynamic range greater than 6 logs, which is essential to capture the entire range of data in one acquisition and in a single image file. This lets us directly and confidently compare data from numerous experimental data sets, an essential function no other company can provide. Additionally, three-color multiplexing capabilities allow for accurate normalization and detection of multiple targets. The wide dynamic range of the [Odyssey M] will help us ensure that detection of all three colors remains within the combined linear range of the experiment, imager, detection chemistry, and reagents—a complex task.

· Stable chemistry. Laser-based near-infrared fluorescence detection enables high fluorescence sensitivity, allowing us to see our targets. The stable chemistry and low background interference at near-infrared wavelengths mean we can be confident of target detection and accurate quantification within the wide dynamic range. LI‑COR’s 25 years of near-infrared expertise is unparalleled by any other vendor, ensuring we receive strong results from the highest quality instrumentation in the field.

· Applications. The [Odyssey M] is capable of a wide range of gel-based, membrane-based, plate-based, and slide-based applications, including quantitative Western blots, H&E staining, and the In-Cell Western™ Assay. The In-Cell Western Assay is a higher-throughput immunofluorescence assay used to examine and quantify cells within their cellular context. As the inventors of the In-Cell Western Assay, LI-COR has the expertise and resources to help us effectively incorporate this assay into our research. The many applications supported by the [Odyssey M] will enable us to broaden our research and discovery opportunities with one imager.

· Protocols. LI‑COR works with leading publishers to better understand updated publishing criteria and offers a wide range of support tools, training, and products to help meet publisher guidelines and address reproducibility issues in quantitative Western blotting. Step-by-step instructions for normalization and Western blot troubleshooting guides will help us submit accurate Western blot data to publishers based on current and up-to-date guidelines and requirements. No other vendor can supply this kind of support. Beyond Western blotting, LI-COR maintains detailed protocols, handbooks, and guides for many other assays and applications. These tools are developed by a team of experts, and LI-COR continues to update this library.

· Reliable analysis. With each [Odyssey M], LI‑COR includes Empiria Studio® Software, a unique and powerful assay analysis and statistical analysis software that goes beyond signal identification to preserving the integrity of our data. This is the only software available that incorporates publisher, granting agency, and industry best practices into the analysis. The software guides users of all experience levels from beginning to end using a systematic workflow—and only LI‑COR offers it. In a single software, we can quickly analyze our plates, membranes, slides, and gels, automate steps, such as normalization and fold change calculation, and complete the relevant analyses. Using the predefined workflows in this software keeps our researchers on the same page to improve user-to-user consistency. Additionally, Empiria Studio manages our data and allows us to create “publication packs” to share our completed analysis and raw images with lab members, collaborators, and, ultimately, our funding and publication partners. Finally, LI‑COR maintains a library of online tutorial videos for Empiria Studio and we can schedule additional trainings as needed.

· Collaboration and access to experts. It is important to have access to experts when we need help with our experiments. We are confident that we can rely on a timely response from our local support scientist that will keep us moving forward. Backed by a team of experts, we see LI‑COR as collaborators in our success.

· Online training. LI‑COR offers on-demand Western blot training so that our entire lab will execute Western blot experiments with the consistency necessary to build the strong conclusions we need for discovery. LI‑COR’s commitment to periodic training ensures any new lab members will learn the same protocol and procedures as our senior staff, with little to no resource investment from our laboratory staff. This will increase our experimental consistency, ensuring the precision and reproducibility required for confident scientific conclusions.

· Continued support. Our LI‑COR local sales consultants and support scientists have been excellent and will be available after the purchase to give seminars and demonstrations, as well as answer any of our team’s questions. Plus, our LI‑COR support scientist is a great resource and always responds quickly to calls or emails.

The Data Integrity Bundle is not offered by other companies and is extremely important for our lab’s pursuit of scientific discovery as well as our ongoing publishing and grant acquisition success. LI‑COR continues to work with the publishers and funding organizations to understand the expectations set upon investigators like us; we are confident only LI‑COR fully understands and provides us with the tools, resources, support, and expertise we require for our laboratory’s success. Therefore, we respectfully request that the [Odyssey M Near-Infrared Imaging System] be approved for purchase.

Best regards, [Principal Investigator]