6640--Confocal Microscope for Research Service (SHEEP Grant)(VA-24-00036933)

This is a Sources Sought Notice for brand name or equal to Zeiss LSM 980 with Airyscan 2. This Sources Sought Notice is intended to locate Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB), Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), and Small Businesses. The NAICS Code for this requirement is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. This is not a Request for Quotation and quotes shall not be reviewed at this time. The Department of Veterans Affairs shall not be responsible for any costs incurred by the contractor as a result of this Sources Sought Notice. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach.

Essential/significant physical, functional, or performance characteristics: To meet the diverse needs of the researchers at RVAMC, the RVAMC Research Service requires a brand name or equal LSM 980 with Airyscan 2 Confocal Microscope System with two units that can be used simultaneously or individually to allow for super resolution down to 90nm in XY with an innovative 32 channel GaAsP PMT array concept. Each detection channel must function as a single very small pinhole of 0.2 AU to increase resolution, while the overall detector captures 1.25 AU and increases signal-to-noise by 4-8 times over traditional GaAsP PMT based confocal systems. The 32-Channel GaAsP PMT area detector must have a Zoom optic to adapt illumination for different objective lenses and acquisition modes. It must also include a micro lens array that provides a light fill factor of > 95%. The system must include a filter wheel with up to 7 emission filters, each providing dual detection windows for fast multitrack imaging in combination with secondary beam splitters to expand the usability for multicolor samples. The system must also include a Sample Navigator module to perform a low power overview scan with autofocus function using a cooled monochromatic camera to create an overview image for sample navigation and identification of regions of interest.

All responses shall be submitted via email by Friday, July 01, 2024, at 0100 PM EST with subject line Confocal microscope. Responses shall be submitted to Gordon Burns at gordon.burns@va.gov. Phone calls shall not be accepted for this notice. In response, please include the following: Company/Point of contact with phone number Indicate FSS/GSA contract number or Open Market, Capabilities statement Company Socio-Economic SIZE (example large, small, SDVOSB, VOSB, WOSB etc.) Sufficient documentation to demonstrate the ability to provide/perform.