Description
NAICS Code: 334516 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate a sole source purchase order under Simplified Acquisition Procedures to Axon Instruments, 3280 Whipple Road, Union City, CO 94587 for the acquisition of a Gene Pix 4000B Integrated Array Scanner with 3 copies of GenePix Pro 4.1 Acquisition and Analysis Software and a integrated Computer Workstation. Current protocols have been developed, optimized, and used to generate experimental data using the Axon 4000B Scanner. In order to assure the uniformity and quality of future data it is imperative that the new scanner operates under the same specifications as the scanner currently in use. Required Specifications: (1) Accepts standard microscope slides (1" x 3" or 25 mm x 75 mm); (2) 22 x 73 mm scan area with user-defined subscans;(3)Standard dual laser excitation at 532 nm (17 mW) and 635 nm (10mW);(4)Laser is controlled for constant power output;(5)User-selectable focus position;(6)Dynamic range of detection: 4 orders of magnitude, linear over 3 orders;(7)Extra-high signal-to-noise scan mode (accomplished by averaging);(8)Simultaneous scan of both wavelenghts in about 5 minutes at 10 microns, or in under 12 minutes at 5 microns (full 22 x 73 mm scan area);(9)Image acquisition of registered images - no post-hoc registration required;(10)Detection limit of 0.1 fluor/micron2 for Cy3 and Cy5;(11)Simple SCSI connection to PC computer (SCSI adapter included):(12)Small footprint: 13.5" wide x 8" high x 17.5" deep (342 mm x 203 mm x 444 mm);(13)Approximately 30lbs. (13.6kg);(14)Dye compatibility BODIPY 630/650 & 650/665, Alexa 532,546,55,568,633,647,660,680, Cy5 & 5.5, Cy3& 3.5, POPO3, PRO3:(14)5um resolution, high resolution mode;(15) 40um resolution, pre-scan mode;(16) Other user selectable resolutions 5-1000um;(17) 16-bit digitization. The EPA has identified Axon Instrument the only vendor capable of satisfy the requirement. The circumstance permitting "other than full and open competition" is FAR 6.302-1 "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy Agency requirements". The intent of this notice is to determine if any other source(s) exist, and therefore, no solicitation (RFQ) is available. Consequently, any response failing to provided the aforementioned data and instead choosing to merely submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ will be ignored. Interested parties who can meet the above requirements may submit written qualification statements, fully explaining their capability no later than 15 days after the date of this publication. Submit response to the U.S. EPA, Attn: Pamela E. Smith (MC-E105-02), RTP Procurement Operations Division, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711. No telephonic or faxed request will be honored.