Light sheet microscope - RFI

Added: Jun 28, 2018 1:32 pm THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTES - THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION AND INFORMATION SUBMITTED WILL BE USED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is the Nation's federal health sciences university and is committed to excellence in military medicine and public health during peace and war. We provide the Nation with health professionals dedicated to career service in the Department of Defense and the United States Public Health Service and with scientists who serve the common good. We serve the uniformed services and the Nation as an outstanding academic health sciences center with a worldwide perspective for education, research, service, and consultation; we are unique in relating these activities to military medicine, disaster medicine, and military medical readiness. USU is located in Bethesda, MD on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda.
Additional information regarding USU can be found on our website: www.usuhs.edu.

USU has a requirement for a light sheet microscope which will be used to analyze complete tissue. Our existing system can take up to a full work week to fully process one brain since our microscope can only process a single point at a time. USU is seeking a system that will analyze complex tissues in as little as half a day.

Required Specifications:

Interested offerors responding to this RFI, must provide information on whether they could quote a product that meets the following required specifications.
REQUIRED SPECIFICATION
JUSTIFICATION FOR SPECIFICATION
Have at least 4 excitation lasers for imaging of multiple fluorophores.
Allows for increased flexibility for multiple users and also allows for the visualization of up to 4 fluorescent signals in a single specimen.
Ability to image samples from different angles and combine image stacks into a single processed stack.
Many samples can have features which block illumination or emission light leading to shadows or dark artefacts in the image. This ability helps to ameliorate the problem and provides better axial resolution in imaging.
Standalone system that can be used in a fully illuminated room.
Space is very tight and it is very possible that this system will need to be housed in a lighted room.
Sample chamber of at least 1 x 1 x 2 cm in size.
Allows for increased flexibility for multiple users. Users plan to use this system to image cleared brain tissue and sample sizes as large as possible are critical.
Fully motorized stage allowing for sample movement in 3 axes and rotation.
Allows for both optimal sample positioning and imaging of the same mounted sample from different angles which is critical for elimination of imaging artefacts.
Have at least two cameras
Allows for the simultaneous detection of two fluorescent channels. This provides better registration of multiple channels and dramatically decreases the time of collection.
Dual-sided illumination
Important for the elimination of shadow artefacts.
Ability to control environment of sample
This type of system needs to have sufficient environmental
chamber (CO2 concentration and temperature).
control to keep samples alive and healthy for extended imaging sessions (up to several days).
Image output must be compatible with Arivis Vision 4D image analysis and visualization software.
USU purchased this software specifically because it was the only software available that could work with such large datasets seamlessly and quickly. Datasets from this microscope system will be at least gigabytes in size and can easily be several terabytes in size.
Have a separate imaging workstation with all software necessary for image analysis and reconstruction of image stacks in multiple channels.
We expect this instrument to be heavily used and USU has found it necessary in the past to have a separate workstation so that data can be analyzed without tying up instrument time that could be better used for imaging.
THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for capability information does not constitute a request for quotes; submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary; the government assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred. The result of this market research will contribute to determining the method of procurement.
If you are interested in this requirement, please answer the following questions:
1. Are the specifications listed clear?
2. Are you able to quote a light sheet microscope that will meet the specifications identified above?
3. If no, what specifications could you not meet?
4. What is the brand name and model number of the light sheet microscope you would quote?
5. Is the light sheet microscope manufactured by your company or another company?
6. If the light sheet microscope is manufactured by another company, what is the name of the manufacturer?
7. Is the light sheet microscope available on an existing contract vehicle available for use by DoD agencies? If yes, please provide details.
8. What type of warranty is provided (duration)?
9. If you are a large business, do you have any small business resellers authorized to sell this light sheet microscope?
Please provide the following with your submission:
1. Company name and address
2. DUNS Number
3. Socio-Economic Status (Small, SDVOSB, etc.) - Socio-economic status will be verified in SAM.gov.
4. Point of Contact (Name, Email and Phone Number)

All responses are due 10 July 2018 and must be emailed to jason.motala@usuhs.edu.