Purchase of Multi Photon Microscope, Leica IHC/ISH Research Platform, and a Leica Digital Pathology Whole Slide Scanner

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of 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 relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code: 334516 and the business standard size is 1000 employees. 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.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. 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.

Description:
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) mission is to catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions. NCATS is all about getting more treatments to more patients more quickly. The Center is distinct in many ways; it focuses not on specific diseases, but on what is common among them and the translational science process. NCATS develops new approaches, technologies, resources and models; demonstrates their usefulness; and disseminates data, analyses and methodologies to the community. It complements the work of other NIH ICs, the private sector and the nonprofit community.

Background:
The mission of The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is to apply the tools of small molecule screening and discovery to the development of chemical probe research tools, for use in the study of protein and cell functions, and biological processes relevant to physiology and disease. This purchase will ultimately increase the capability to optimize biochemical, cellular and model organism-based assays submitted by the biomedical research community; and perform automated high-throughput screening (HTS) and high-content screening (HCS).

Also, the Probe Development group is part of The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS). The Probe Development group utilizes 3D bioprinting techniques to generate tissues which will be used to perform studies into causes and treatments of various diseases. This approach can provide data more relevant to the whole body response than traditional studies which use two dimensional cell cultures. Initial research is being performed to advance fabrication techniques and protocols.

Purpose and Objectives:
The purpose of this acquisition is to purchase a Leica Multi Photon Microscope, a Leica IHC/ISH Research Platform, and a Leica Digital Pathology Whole Slide Scanner. This request will enable NCATS and the Bioprinting group to optimize Tissue Engineering techniques by providing a means to evaluate cell morphology in engineered tissues.

Project requirements:
The contractor shall provide and install a Leica Multi Photon Microscope, a Leica IHC/ISH Research Platform, and a Leica Digital Pathology Whole Slide Scanner. Including the below:

Leica TCS SP8 Spectral Confocal and Multi­Photon system:
DMi8CEL Inverted Microscope Spill protection for DMi8 Optical Outfit EL6000
XY Scanning Stage inverted
Scan optics module VISIR with rotation
Tandem scanner 8 kHz (Conventional and Resonant Scanning) SP8 LIAchroics Compact RGB
Two Internal Detector Channels (PMT) One Internal Detector Channel (HyD) Laser 405 nm DMOD Compact
Visible Lasers 488nm, 552nm, and 638nm Mai Tai DeepSee prepared (without MP Laser) Quad DMi8 Hyd RLD 2ch/PMT RLD 2ch Premium Workstation, Monitor
Filter Cube HyD­RLD 2ch GFP / mCherry Beamsplitter Quad LP 560nm
Computer table small, 80x80 cm Custom TMC Air Table and Compressor
HCS­A High Content Screening Automation

Confocal module with patented filter­free spectral Leica SP detector for up to five individually regulatable channels. Highly efficient spectral separation by unique prism design. Equal brightness between channels due to W­shaped slit design. Leica LIAchroics are low incident angle dichroic beam splitters custom designed by Leica Microsystems in­house. The LIAchroic approach allows steeper cutoff and higher transmission than other dichroic beam splitter designs resulting in high contrast images.

Scan optics with VISIR coating for highest transmission from 400­ 1300 nm. Independent optical scanfield rotation up to 200 degrees by a highly transparent Abbe­Koenig rotator design.

True Confocal Scanning system (TCS) with unique X2Y design warrants planar, parallax­free illumination enabling the largest field of view. Switchable between resonant and non­resonant mode for optimal scanning speeds. Using resonant scanning a higher fluorescence quantum yield and reduced photobleaching are achieved. The continuosly adjustable speed of the non­resonant scanner (1 ­ 1800 Hz) is ready for single molecule imaging, image correlation and imaging of rapid dynamics alike (up to 72 frames / second at 512 x 32 scan format). The maximal image resolution of 64 Megapixels allows sampling optimally, also with low magnification lenses.

Leica HyD detector povides super­sensitive photon detection making it ideal for low light and live cell imaging. Thanks to its very low dark noise it produces brilliant imagery rich in contrast and fidelity for finest details. The simple geometry of the GaAsP photocathode and the hybrid design minimize losses within the detector setting it apart from any PMT, including GaAsP PMTs, in terms of photon detection efficiency. The new Leica HyD provides a time­gating option for optimal contrast in conjunction with the optional WLL and improved super­resolution with gated STED (optional).

Completely redesigned UV / 405 nm light path offers highly stable 405 and 355 nm laser incoupling.

Multiphoton option with high power femtosecond laser for deep tissue imaging. Precompensation for optimization of pulse width is fully integrated in LAS AF for easy control.

Premium HP workstation with high performance GPU for fast handling of large data sets. High brilliance 30" LCD screen for the best presentation of image data.

LAS AF 3 imaging software provides intuitive control over the hardware of the SP8LIA MPPREP HCSA. Image acquisition, processing and quantification are all offered in one extendable package.

Bond RXM IHC & ISH Research Platform
BOND RXm Processing Module
No : 49.1501

Bond RX System Control Kit
No : 21.2710

POWERVAR All­in­one line conditioner mod
No : 8109799

Slide Scanner

Aperio VERSA 200, Brightfield & Fluorescence
Versa System UPS 110VAC NAS drive for VERSA scanners
Obj. HC PL APO 40x/0.85 CORR

100 Aperio VERSA 200 BF & Fluorescence
No : 23VER200BFX001

200 Obj. HC PL APO 40x/0.85 CORR
No : 11506294

300 Leica DM Cube Spectrum Red
No : 23FLRET4930672

400 Leica DM Cube Spectrum Orange
No : 23FLRET4930572

500 Leica DM Cube Spectrum Green
No : 23FLRET4930372

600 Leica DM Cube DAPI
No : 23FLRET4900072

700 Versa System UPS 110VAC
No : 23VER8X2UPS110

800 Obj. HC PL APO 20x/0.80
No : 11506529

900 VERSA Analytics­Multistain and IF
No : 23VSWGENXXX006L

1000 Filter system Y3 ET, k
No : 11504169

1100 VERSA Analytics Workstation
No : 23VSRWORKSTATION

1200 Installation
No : 23AINSTALL

Anticipated period of performance:
The system and delivery date shall be determined after receipt of order.

Capability statement /information sought. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party especially a small business, believes they can meet the above requirement, may submit a quote and statement of capabilities. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow NIA to determine if it can meet the above unique specifications described herein. All questions, quote, and the capability statement must be received electronically (via email) to Ms. Gwennifer Epps, Contracting Officer, eppsg@mail.nih.gov in in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) by August 30, 2016 no later than 11:00 AM EST. No telephone calls or facsimiles will be accepted. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), through sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-2016-741 on all correspondence.

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