Upgrade of confocal microscope

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION WORKFORM (1) Action Code: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation (2) Date: July 21, 2021 (3) Year: 2021 (4) Contracting Office Zip Code: 20892 (5) Classification Code: 6515 (6) Contracting Office Address: 6701 Rockledge Drive Rockledge II Bethesda, MD 20892 (7) Subject/Title: Upgrade of confocal microscope (8) Proposed Solicitation Number: NICHD-21-202 (9) Closing Response Date:7/30/21 (10) Contact Point: Verne Griffin, Business Opportunity Specialist (11) Contract Award and Solicitation Number: TBD (12) Contract Award Dollar Amount: TBD (13) Contract Line Item Number(s): (14) Contractor Award Date: TBD (15) Contractor Name: TBD (16) Description: The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a requirement to Upgrade of confocal microscope. (17) A spinning disk fluorescence confocal microscope has a number of essential components, including the microscope body, a laser module, a spinning disk, a motorized stage, a camera, a module that controls various shutters and software that runs the entire system. The existing microscope lacks a functional laser module and the appropriate software. To bring the confocal microscope to useable form the following needs to be added: (a) A laser module with 4 laser lines (405, 488, 561 and 640 nm). The laser module provides single wavelength light that activates biological samples that are either engineers to express fluorescence proteins or are conjugates to antibodies that fluoresce at the indicated wave lengths. Cables and a computer card to connect and be controlled by the software are also needed. (b) Nikon Elements software, including the relevant drivers, and the appropriate computer and monitor to control the operation of the various microscope parts and acquire the data, namely microscopy images from 3D and 4D analyses. The software and computer need the appropriate drivers to allow for data acquisitions using specified laser channel(s), specified locations on the slide, specified confocal planes (aka “z sections”) of said specific locations, and at specified time points. The drivers need to control the spinning disk, wavelength and camera shutter controllers, camera, motorized microscope stage and laser module. The computer must be able to handle large volumes of data sets, both during acquisition and during analysis. The computer must be compatible with Nikon Elements and include the following: HP Z4 featuring Intel Xeon 3.7 GHzprocessor (8 cores), 64GB DDR4 2666 Mhz, RAM, NVIDIA RTX4000 8GB, 512GBM.2 Turbo SSD O/S drive, 1TB M.2 Turbo SSD data drive, 12TB data storage, 2x Gb LAN ethernet, premium keyboard and optical mouse. Windows10 64-bit Professional. The upgraded spinning disk fluorescence confocal microscope will significantly increase the imaging capabilities of LBG users. These experiments are aimed at investigating sub-cellular structures that can only be visible by sophisticated microscopy techniques such as fluorescence confocal microscopy. Studies include understanding centrosome structure and function, analysis of nuclear envelope dynamics, the role of various proteins in controlling lipid and iron metabolism, and more. These biological processes are relevant to human health as mutations in genes involved in these processes are implicated in human disease. (i) “This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.” (ii) The solicitation number is NICHD-21-202 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). (iii) The solicitation document, the incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-05 effective 3-10-2021. (iv) The associated NAICS code is 333314with a size standard of 500. The acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13. (v) The Contractor Requirements are listed below: Scope Task Area 1 – Delivery timelines: all parts should be delivered within 3 months or as soon as possible. Task Area 2 - Shipping instructions: to be provided at time of award. Task Area 3 - Installation requirements: The vendor is responsible for not only installing the requested parts but also for ensuring that they work with the existing microscope parts, including the motorized stage, camera, spinning disk and shutter controller. Task Area 4 - Software, warranty, maintenance requirements: The vendor will supply Nikon Elements software and an accompanying computer + monitor. The vendor will ensure that the software is capable to driving the various parts of the microscope and has the full capabilities of image acquisition as described in section 4.0 (b) above. The vendor will provide a 3-year warranty on labor and parts and will maintain both new and existing microscope parts for the duration. Task Area 5 – Training requirements: The vendor will provide initial training once the microscope is set up. A one-time training will be provided to current users (3-4 at a time due to space limitations) to familiarize them with the unique features of the microscope. Training sessions will commence within a month of installing the microscope and will continue on an as-needed basis. Extensive training is not expected to be required as the software is the same as the one used on the other microscope. The contractor shall provide the below to brand name or equal specifications: QTY PRODUCT PRODUCT DESCRIPTION Laser 1 77098032 LUNF XL 405/488/561/640 FC-PC8 1 77013248 PCIE-6323 NIDAQ CARD 1 77012515 ANALOG OUTPUT CABLE HD15 TO 5BNC 1 77013247 INTERLOCK BOX Workstation and software 1 77019756 Z4 ADVANCED IMAGING WORKSTATION V3 1 77019738 31.5" Z32 4K UHD DISPLAY 1 MQS31100 NIS-ELEMENTS AR MULTI-LICENSE 1 MQS42560 ELEMENTS: 6D IMAGING 1 MQS41950 NIS-ELEMENTS MODULE: YOKOGAWA CSU-X1 1 MQS41930 NIS-ELEMENTS: WAVELENGTH SWITCHER 1 MQS41220 ELEMENTS: SUTTER/UNIBLITZ FILTRWHL+SHUTR 1 MQS42780 NIS-ELEMENTS: TRIGGERED DEVICE CONTROL 1 MQS41100 NIS ELEMENTS DRIVER FOR MOTORIZED STAGES 1 MQS41320 ELEMENTS:PRIOR/MAERZHAUSER/RFA/PI-PIEZO 1 MQS41920 ELEMENTS: EXFO ILLUMINATOR 1 MQS43130 NIS-ELEMENTS MODULE: JOBS ACQUISITION (vi) Delivery: September 15, 2021 (viii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (ix) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable. Award will be made to the contractor providing the most advantageous quote to the Government. Technical factors and price considered. The technical factors are as follows: - The contractor shall provide the requested microscope to brand name or equal specifications - The contractor must train users on the upgraded system and must be available in a timely manner to address technical issues that may arise with the newly configured microscope. - The contractor must provide all the requested components (laser module, software, computer monitor, cables, etc.), and in particular the Nikon Elements software. - The contractor must also be able to provide (at cost) future software upgrades and expansions, as needed. The Salient Characteristics are listed below: A laser module with 4 laser lines (405, 488, 561 and 640 nm). The laser module provides single wavelength light that activates biological samples that are either engineers to express fluorescence proteins or are conjugates to antibodies that fluoresce at the indicated wave lengths. Cables and a computer card to connect and be controlled by the software are also needed. Nikon Elements software, including the relevant drivers, and the appropriate computer and monitor to control the operation of the various microscope parts and acquire the data, namely microscopy images from 3D and 4D analyses. The software and computer need the appropriate drivers to allow for data acquisitions using specified laser channel(s), specified locations on the slide, specified confocal planes (aka “z sections”) of said specific locations, and at specified time points. The drivers need to control the spinning disk, wavelength and camera shutter controllers, camera, motorized microscope stage and laser module. The computer must be able to handle large volumes of data sets, both during acquisition and during analysis. The computer must be compatible with Nikon Elements and include the following: HP Z4 featuring Intel Xeon 3.7 GHzprocessor (8 cores), 64GB DDR4 2666 Mhz, RAM, NVIDIA RTX4000 8GB, 512GBM.2 Turbo SSD O/S drive, 1TB M.2 Turbo SSD data drive, 12TB data storage, 2x Gb LAN ethernet, premium keyboard and optical mouse. Windows10 64-bit Professional Technical factors outweigh cost. The contractor will be evaluated on their capability to provide the product to the specifications as stated on the solicitation and shall be required to provide required service with certification from the OEM. (x) FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, is applicable. An offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically via http://www.acquisition.gov. If an offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the System for Award Management (SAM) website, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (p) of this provision. (xi) FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (xii) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Including the following clauses and Prohibitions: i. 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation ii. 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies iii. 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities iv. 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity v. 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities vi. 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons vii. 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases viii. 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving ix. 52.225-1, Buy American—Supplies (xiii) Additional Contract Requirements: 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal (xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating are not applicable. (xv) Offers shall be submitted via email to [email protected]. The due date for receipt of offers is 11:00 am Eastern Time on August 1, 2021. (18) Place of Contract Performance: National Institute of Health, NIDDK 9000 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20892 (19) Set-aside Status: None