Slide Scanning Microscope

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 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. 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. Background: The Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN) and Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC) require a new slide scanning microscope. The purpose is to allow LN/LBC investigators to perform experiments in which they need to collect light microscope images of very large amounts of sectioned material. This is frequently of entire brains from marmosets and macaques. The material is cut into sections that may be 20-40 microns thick and mounted onto slides. Depending on the species, the section thickness, and whether all sections or a sampling are used, a brain may create several hundred sections. It may be necessary to image them in either brightfield or fluourescence. Depending on details of the experimental information required, it may be appropriate to image at relatively low magnification (2.5-5X), medium (10-20X), or high (40X) magnification, or to initially image at low magnification and subsequently image selected regions of interest at higher magnification. It may be appropriate to collect images from a single focal plane or to collect images from multiple focal planes at each position. The goal of this acquisition is to purchase an instrument that meets these needs in a technically excellent manner and with a user friendly interface. Purpose and Objectives: The Laboratory of Neuropsychology (LN) and Laboratory of Brain and Cognition (LBC) require a new slide scanning microscope. The purpose is to allow LN/LBC users to program unattended image acquisition from multiple tissue sections on multiple slides. Project requirements: Slide scanning microscope. Product Description: Slide scanning microscope system with the following capabilities: Capacity for scanning 1x3 and 2x3 inch slides in X, Y and Z. Objectives with 2X, 4X, 10X, 20X and 40X magnification or similar. LED fluorescent illuminator capable of efficient excitation of dyes ranging in excitation maximum from approximately 405-700 nm Configured for imaging DAPI, Alexa 405, Alexa 488, Alexa 555, Alexa 594, Alexa 647, Cy7. Separate control of excitation and emission filters to provide for imaging long Stokes shift and novel fluorophores. Must work on 110V mains input. Software that provides: stitching, option of saving Z-stacks or projections. Antivibration table with casters that accommodates the slide scanning 1. Slide scanning microscope system with the following capabilities: 2. Capacity for scanning 1x3 and 2x3 inch slides in X, Y and Z. Objectives with 2X, 4X, 10X, 20X and 40X magnification or similar. LED fluorescent illuminator capable of efficient excitation of dyes ranging in excitation maximum from approximately 405-700 nm Configured for imaging DAPI, Alexa 405, Alexa 488, Alexa 555, Alexa 594, Alexa 647, Cy7. Separate control of excitation and emission filters to provide for imaging long Stokes shift and novel fluorophores. Must work on 110V mains input. Software that provides: stitching, option of saving Z-stacks or projections. Antivibration table with casters that accommodates the slide scanning microscope system. Salient Characteristics: Accommodates glass slides that are 1 x 3 inches (minimum 200) and glass slides that are 2 x 3 inches (minimum 100). Provides brightfield, phase contrast and fluorescence illumination. Accommodates objectives from 2X to at least 40X, holding at least 6 at one time. Includes 2X, 4X/0.16 N, 10X/0.4 NA, 20X/0.8 NA, 40X/0.95 NA, Software provides automatic sample identification, focus mapping, stitching, and marking of regions of interest on low magnification scans for rescan at higher magnification. LED illuminator with at least 6 peaks at approximately 385, 430, 475, 545, 650, 735 nm. Able to image and discriminate DAPI, Alexa 488, Alexa 594, Cy5, Cy 7, adaptable to image and discriminate other fluorophores Color camera with software switching between monochrome and color cameras. Anti-vibration air table that accommodates the system Quantity: One Delivery Date: 60-120 days following the award of the contract Period of Performance: All items fully warrantied for one year. Equipment is expected to be fully functional for greater than 5 years with minor service, as required. Maintenance service after one year may be purchased as an annual contract or on an as needed basis. Option(s): None Capability statement /information sought. Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products specified in this notice including providing information regarding being an authorized provider of the services. The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Michael Horn, at e-mail address [email protected] . The response must be received on or before May 19, 2020, 5:00 pm, Eastern Time. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).