The Jame A. Haley VAMC, Tampa FL, Research Department has a requirement to purchase Light Illumination System/equipment. This is not a solicitation announcement. This is a sources sought synopsis only. The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification (large business, small business, 8(a), SDVOSB, etc.), relative to NAICS code 333314 (size standard of 500 employees). Responses to this synopsis will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. Based on responses to this synopsis, the Government may issue this RFQ as a Brand Name or Equal requirement in accordance with VAAR Clause 852.211-73, with Zeiss as the Brand Name Manufacturer. The System includes the following specifications: System Description and Use Multiview Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscope to performs fluorescence imaging on large, living samples, with virtually no phototoxicity or bleaching and with high temporal resolution which allows researchers to record the development of large, living samples and gently image them to deliver exceptionally high information content. With a focus on advancing an area of clinical investigation centered on pathology application of the technology will address areas of pathology that cannot be addressed using current technology applied in clinical practice and will provide substantial improvements on current practice. The clinical use will be on the development of new diagnostics and biomarkers and provide new insight into the pathophysiology of disease. LightSheet Z.1 Dual Side Illumination System Dual PCO Detection Modules - 4 Lasers Clinical applications include Multiview Light Sheet Fluorescence Microscope: The state-of-the-art microscopy platform (fluorescent LightSheet microscopy) will enable the rapid acquisition of high-resolution three-dimensional (3D) images directly from tissue samples up to several millimeters in thickness. The primary aim of the instrument will be to determine the ability to perform fluorescent LightSheet microscopy directly on archival patient tissue samples and to use the method to identify 3D morphological hallmarks of disease. The growth of new blood vessels is fundamentally a three-dimensional problem, where cells move and connect throughout the tissue to develop an extensive tubular network. To date no one has imaged this process in its full three dimensions throughout the different layers of eye tissue, as deep imaging techniques were previously unavailable. By comparing diseased and normal tissues using light sheet microscopy, this study will help unravel how and why vessel growth degenerates in retinopathy conditions and provide a new testbed to investigate the effects of new therapeutic targets. Pathologists render a diagnosis by reading thin tissue sections mounted on glass slides. An ability to infer three-dimensional (3D) structure from two-dimensional (2D) tissue sections is crucial for diagnosis and for full characterization of many disease processes, but this depends on the skill and experience of the individual pathologist. With advances in digital methods (LightSheet technology), it will now be feasible to have a new workflow in which pathologists are presented with aligned whole slide images (WSIs) of serial sections. The expectation is for faster evaluation, greater objectivity, and improved diagnostic accuracy. The clinical use for the rapid 3D imaging of biopsies to determine the diagnosis for patients is a significant advance in the field. The system will provide a clinical assessment of the patient and provide a unique opportunity for the continual, ongoing developments in the clinical laboratories to support the value of this cutting edge technology to improve the clinical care that can be offered to our veterans. Clinical Applications System that can see inside post-mortem tissue include: This request is to install system that can see inside post-mortem tissue. Until now researchers have had to slice the tissue into thin sections and then visualize small areas of the tissue the system will enable the entire tissue, such as a whole brain, spinal cord, or heart, is made transparent allowing researchers to investigate the subcellular structure, neuronal network, specific proteins, biomolecular complexes and gene expression profiling at the resolution of single cells. This will enable the researchers to visualize the entire brain, spinal cord, or other tissue for defects associated with neurodegenerative diseases, traumatic brain injury, aging, cancer and stroke. MRI and other imaging methods are good for living tissue, but they do not provide resolution at the single cell level, they cannot identify mild traumatic brain injury, nor can they identify changes that precede full-blown pathology. MRI is not applicable to small animals, such as rats and mice, the animals of choice in neuroscience research. The procured system must have multiphoton microscope and supporting software that can provide the necessary reproducibility, quantification, resolution and throughput to image the cells. This system must provide increased optical resolution and contrast, and also provides for the reconstruction of the cells from the images. Such a microscope also targets the beam of light to a specific point and controls depth (z-axis) of penetration of the laser. The microscope is a high resolution imaging system coupled to real-time downloading to peripheral computer workstations so as to provide maximal throughput. There are currently no microscopes at this station to implement such a system. A dedicated system that has been fashioned to implement is necessary. This integrated equipment must be turn-key and user-friendly. This allows investigators to operate the equipment on their own. Each investigator will be given initial training by the manufacturer on the use of the microscope and camera, and its capabilities. The vendor must be able to supply instrumentation to meet the following specifications: A scanned light sheet is used for homogeneous illumination of the specimen. A pivot scanner is available for shadow reduction. An optional dual side illumination system is available. Stand alone, sealed turnkey, laser safe with class 1, eyepiece-free system. Environmental control via temperature with or without CO2 incubation. For the heating block, it is controlled using the TempModule S1. With Peltier block, an internal sample chamber temperature sensor is used with the TempModule S1 and TempModule CZ-LSFM. A heating device for humidity is available. Up to 6 excitation lines across the entire visible spectrum. All lasers are class 3B. The installed system as a whole is laser class 1. Light sheet thickness for the 488nm laser can be adjusted from 2 m to approx. 16 m depending on the sample. Collimator-free illumination beam path due to optimized color correction of the system. Embedded specimen size can range from less than 1 m up to 5 mm with ability to do a 360° turn of the sample. Sample mounting utilizes a sturdy, dedicated sample holder and sample chamber for accommodating living specimens. Sample chamber can be cleaned and sterilized. Sample chamber and optics are designed for aqueous media (Refractive Index = 1.33) which is ideal for samples requiring incubation media. Sample chamber, sample holder, and consumables come within a starter kit. All consumables are available for re-ordering to replenish the starter kit. Defined upgrade pathway for upgrading from a single side illumination system to a dual side illumination system with integrated control software. A light sheet illumination system utilizing a horizontal microscope setup. Overview camera with white light LED for coarse sample positioning. Transmission contrast using an IR LED illumination for deeper sample penetration to the detection module when doing fine sample positioning. Set-up of the optical beam path is completely motorized and can be configured using the software. Four-axis multi-coordinate stage with stepper motors for x /y /z and rotation ( ) for multidimensional sample positioning and acquisition along with an Ergo Drive Control Panel and software Specimen Navigator for ease of use. Dual camera port for simultaneous 2 channel detection. Up to two detection modules of the same type can be connected to the system. Sample mounting from above via a sturdy dedicated sample holder Single side illumination or Dual side illumination with Pivot scan (for shadow reduction) available for image acquisition. Delivery Information: James A. Haley VAMC Research Services 13000 Bruce B. Downs Blvd Tampa, FL 33612 This notice is not a request for competitive proposals, however; any responsible source who believes it is capable of meeting the requirement may submit a capability statement to the contracting office no later than Thursday, April 13, 2017, 4:00PM, EST. Interest/capability statements may be sent to Elaine DiBucci at
[email protected] and should include company name, address, point of contact, business size, and product information. No telephone responses will be accepted. This notice is to assist the Government in determining sources only. A solicitation is not currently available. If a solicitation is issued, all interested parties must respond to that solicitation announcement separately from the responses to this announcement.