Acquisition of a ThorLabs Multiphoton Microscope

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
(Acquisition of a ThorLabs Multiphoton Microscope)
AGENCY:  The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

TITLE: Acquisition of a ThorLabs Multiphoton Microscope
PROPOSED SOLICITATION NUMBER: NICHD-22-045
PROJECT SERVICE CODE: 6640 - LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. There is no solicitation available at this time.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of all qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification according to the North American Industry Classification System, (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses 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.

BACKGROUND:
The mission of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and to apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.  

As part of the NIH, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Intramural Research Program (IRP) conducts biomedical research and training related to diabetes mellitus; endocrine, bone, and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, including liver diseases and nutritional disorders; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. The Lutas Lab is part of the Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity Branch (DEOB), which is one of NIDDK IRP’s 17 Laboratories and Branches. 

Obesity has become a serious health concern worldwide and is accompanied by metabolic diseases and higher cardiovascular risk due primarily to overeating. The Lutas Lab’s work requires advanced microscopy methods to resolve images of subcellular, molecular processes within specialized neurons in the mouse brain that control feeding. Multiphoton microscopy with fluorescence lifetime imaging capabilities is currently the sole technology that provides the speed, sensitivity, and quantitative measurements that is ideal for live neuron imaging in the intact brain, which is at the core of the Lutas Lab’s operations. 

The objective of this purchase is to procure a custom multiphoton microscope system in order to have the ability to understand the physiological neural and network dynamics of brain cells modulating feeding behavior, which are imperative in the mission of NIDDK to combat obesity and diabetes. A major obstacle in our overall comprehension of these neural circuits is the inability to monitor neuromodulation and intracellular molecular signals in real time in a live animal. The purpose of this requirement is to acquire a new custom multiphoton microscope that would satisfy the following three needs for the Lutas Lab: 1) fluorescence lifetime imaging suitable for following neurons in awake, behaving mice; 2) fast and sensitive photon collection in multiple wavelengths; and 3) versatile photostimulation concurrent with fluorescence lifetime imaging. 

The ThorLabs Bergamo II custom designed multiphoton microscope is the microscope system that would allow a combination of combined high photon collection efficiency, fluorescence lifetime imaging, and versatile imaging and photostimulation optics. 

SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS:

The new equipment must include the below features necessary to satisfy day to day Lutas lab operations.

ThorLabs Bergamo II upright microscope 
Multiphoton microscope base w XYZ travel and 13’ clearance
Motorized stage control – 3 axis
Primary scan path, Galvo/resonant (8kHz)
Secondary scan path, Galvo/galvo
    
Microscope Optics and Photon Collection
750nm shortpass primary dichroic
740nm shortpass 1050/40 bandpass dichroic
Notched dichroic emission/excitation separation
14 degree collection optic with shutter
Emission fluorescence filter set (GFP/Tomato)
Emission fluorescence filter set (CFP)
Amplified non-cooled GaAsP PMT
Hybrid PMT for single photon counting

Infrared laser optical path
Pockel cell, 250kHz, 3.1mm aperture
High speed optical modulator 2500:1 contrast
Optical beam shutters
1040nm notch beam combiner
Infrared beam expander
Motorized infrared beam splitter
Infrared beam traps
    
Objectives
ThorLabs 10x 0.5NA, 7mm, air immersion objective
Piezo 450micron focus mount and controller

Epifluorescence Excitation and Photostimulation
Epifluorescence module with camera port
Mounted 470nm LED
Mounted 617nm LED
GFP filter set
Multi LED module with liquid light guide
    
Epifluorescence Path and sCMOS Camera
2.1 megapixel sCMOS camera

Software and Workstations
Primary workstation computer and monitor
Fluorescence lifetime workstation
ThorImage and ThorSync software
dFLIM Thor software
Universal rack stand

Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall provide equipment and delivery services for Miroshnikova Lab

Specifically, the NIDDK requires completion of the following tasks:

Task Area 1 – Delivery time will be no more than 3 months from when the Purchase Order has been sent to the vendor.

Task Area 2 – Installation will be provided by factory-trained service engineers of the manufacturer, no later than 2 weeks after delivery, unless postponed by request of the government. 

Task Area 3 – Warranty will be provided by the manufacturer and serviced by their local service engineer(s), which will be no less than 1 year from completion of installation, covering all deliverables, labor, labor and travel, minus consumables.

Task Area 4 – Training will be provided to the lab members on the use and capabilities on a scheduled (on appointment) basis only.

This Sources Sought is for an organization or institution to provide the NIDDK with ThorLabs Multiphoton Microscope.  The purchase of this instrument is necessary to maintain the high quality of our research.  

All qualified small businesses, whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; interested in submitting a corporate capability statement should demonstrate their capability to provide equipment that meets the characteristics above.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

This is a competitive requirement conducted under the authority of FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal.  This is a requirement for THORLABS INC ThorLabs Multiphoton Microscope
The vendor will be evaluated on their quoted product meeting the specifications under section SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

If you or your firm/business has an interest and possess the required expertise we invite you to submit a corporate capability statement to assist the Government in determining in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b) whether or not this procurement will be set-aside for any of the programs described above. The associated NAICS code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the small business size standard is 1,000.  All respondents are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business.

Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice should adhere to the following:
(a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities. The capability statement should not exceed 15 pages using a font size 10 or larger.

(b) Small business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake the efforts should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. This capability statement should include: 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of scientists, medical experts, and technical personnel as they relate to the requirements, 3) a description of general and specific facilities and equipment available, including computer equipment and software, and 4) any other specific and relevant information that would improve the Government's consideration and evaluation of the information presented.

Further, Past Performance documentation, which should include, but not be limited to, a minimum of two (2) contracts performed for either Government or commercial organizations shall be provided. References shall include for each contract: names, titles, contract number, total price or cost, telephone numbers of government Contracting Officer Representative and Contracting Officers.

(c) All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to the Point of Contact below in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The subject line must specify NICHD-22-045. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. Electronically submitted capability statements are due no later than 9:00 AM (Eastern Prevailing Time) seven (7) calendar days (including date of submission to https://beta.sam.gov) after posting of the Small Business Sources Sought Notice.

CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.