Title: Live Cell Imaging System 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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA-CSS-20-004328 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5—Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items and is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2020-04, dated January 15, 2020. The associated NAICS code for this requirement is 334516 with a small business size standard of 1000 employees. This requirement is being solicited as a full and open competitive brand-name or equal acquisition. The iPSC neurodegenerative disease initiative (iNDI-CARD) requires a high content, super-resolution, high speed confocal microscope to study the effect of neurodegeneration-related mutations on critical cell biological processes. This microscope will be used to identify converging mechanisms of disease across hundreds of isogenic iPSC-derived CNS cell types through advanced imaging and analysis techniques. All deliverables required under this contract shall be packaged, marked and shipped in accordance with Government specifications. At a minimum, all deliverables shall be marked with the contract number and Contractor name. The Contractor shall guarantee that all required materials shall be delivered in immediate usable and acceptable condition. Vendor must be able to provide a Live imaging system with spinning disk that meets these specifications: 25mm field of view: This provides a very large field of view and ensures compatibility with large format CMOS sensors and higher data throughput. The transmitted and fluorescence illumination is engineered specifically for flatness across the 25mm field, which is advantageous for quantification and high throughput applications such as tiling. Increased motor speed and stability: Lowers latency and higher precision means increased speed during motorized operations. Compatibility with multiple imaging modalities: The widefield, TIRF, confocal and super-resolution imaging are all able to work together in one system. The proposed system also includes a CSU-W1 spinning disk attachment and dedicated galvo scanner for photostimulation. Slide Express 2 120 slide capacity, robotic transfer, encoded XY stage with Joystick: This is a high Speed linear encoded XY stage for high content acquisition. Piezo Z insert: Piezo Z insert for rapid Z stacking for high resolution images during live cell imaging. Stage top incubation system: Maintains and controls a stable environment for the 44 plates that are in que for transfer by the robot to the stage and to ensure healthy and viable cells. The generation 4 PFS system offers further improvements on the already unparalleled drift correction performance of the PFS3 system. These improvements include: Improved Z speed due to redesigned motors plus the measuring unit bolts directly mounted onto the body of the microscope to reduce mechanical load and improve Z stability. Includes a CSU-W1 SoRa spinning disk confocal scanner: This system has an increased pinhole spacing (500 uM) reduces spatial crosstalk between adjacent pinholes. This improves clarity when imaging deep or through very dense or bright samples, relative to the CSU-X1 model. Built in widefield bypass mode allows one camera to be used for both confocal and widefield modes allowing for faster and differential images of the living cells. It has a dual integrated internal 10 position emission filter wheel with individual band emission filters. With the High-power solid-state laser combiner provides 405, 488, 561 and 640nm lines with a second 405 output for photostimulation, essential for protein expression levels within the cells. Specialized SoRa emission disk with offset microlenses: This is Coupled with a motorized intermediate magnification selector unit, these allow real-time super-resolution via optical pixel reassignment, which ultimately reduces emission PSF diameter at the detector plane. Seamless integration with NIS-Elements software: Allows easy switching between standard confocal, super-resolution and epi imaging, essential to support all applications in live cell imaging. Universal NIDAQ interface allows custom programming of analog and TTL devices for a wide range of custom device support for: Light sources, XY and Z sample positioning devices. It supports the pumps, injections systems as well as perfusion systems, all used for cell handling. The interface also supports camera triggering for high speed and precision of external device control and synchronization. Comprehensive suite of acquisition and analysis features: It has a custom acquisition routine programming with JOBS module. It has on-the-fly of post batch image analysis, usefully for end users and time management. This system has the 2D/3D deconvolution module for super resolution processing of the spinning disk data. Optimicroscan XY-galvo scanner for photostimulation: This compact galvo scanner connects to the back of the microscope and utilizes a separate lightpath from the confocal system. A beam combing mirror in a standard fluorescence cube allows simultaneous imaging and photostimulation with 405nm light. A 4 line laser launch is included in this configuration for stimulation capabilities with 405, 488, 561 and 640nm lasers, the latter three of which can be applied in a sequential stimulation configuration via rotation of a motorized cube turret. Dual Back-illuminated sCMOS detectors: The system includes quantity (2) BSI Prime back-illuminated scientific CMOS cameras. NIS-Elements supports this camera natively in single and dual configurations. The dual camera setup will be achieved with an integrated beamsplitter in the W1. It has 95% peak qE means lower laser powers and shorter exposure times than standard 82% qE sCMOS detector, reducing the cells to be under extended exposure periods to powerful lasers. This unit has a specialized SoRa emission disk with offset microlenses coupled with a motorized intermediate magnification selector unit: This allows for real-time super resolution via optical pixel reassignment, which ultimately reduces emission PSF diameter at the detector plane. Robotics and Devices: 44 plate Incubator with transfer robot, bar code reader, 2 plate carriers; 44 Plate enclosure, transfer robot, bar code reader, two plate carriers; Bar Code printer and labels; Slide Express 2 120 slide capacity, robotic transfer, encoded XY stage, Joystick and x3 Cassettes and holders for 40 1x3" slides. These will support the high levels of samples that will be processed. The robotics system has the ability to do single plate or multi-well plates. Manufacturer warranty for one calendar year beginning date of receipt. The Government anticipates award of a firm fixed-price purchase order for this acquisition. Delivery will be 90 days after receipt of purchase order. The following FAR provisions shall apply to this solicitation: 52.204-7 System for Award Management (OCT 2018) 52.204-16 Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (JUL 2016) 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services – Representation (DEC 2019) 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (OCT 2018) 52.212-2 Evaluation—Commercial Items (OCT 2014) 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items (OCT 2018) 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998). This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (OCT 2018) 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (JUL 2016) 52.204-19 Incorporation by Reference Representations and Certifications (DEC 2014) 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items (OCT 2018) 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items (JAN 2020). The following clauses within 52.212-5 apply to this acquisition: 52.204-10 Reporting Executive Compensation and First-Tier Subcontract Awards (OCT 2016) 52.209-6 Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment (OCT 2015) 52.219-4 Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns (OCT 2014) 52.219-28 Post Award Small Business Program Representation (JUL 2013) 52.222-3 Convict Labor (JUNE 2003) 52.222-19 Child Labor – Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (OCT 2016) 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (APR 2015) 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (SEPT 2016) 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Veterans (OCT 2015) 52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (JUL 2014) 52.222-37 Equal Opportunity Reports on Veterans (FEB 2016) 52.222-40 Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act (DEC 2010) 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons (JAN 2019) 52.223-18 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (AUG 2011) 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (JUN 2008) 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer – System for Award Management (JUL 2013) 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998). This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es): https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015) The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text: NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions (2/2014) Instructions to Offerors The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: 1) ability to meet the technical requirements stated in this CSS, and 2) price. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. Offerors must include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with their offer. There are no additional contract requirements(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition. The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. The price quote shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s), product description, and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Such factors may include: past performance, special features required for effective program performance, trade-in considerations, probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item, warranty considerations, maintenance availability, and environmental and energy efficiency considerations. Respondents proposing on an equal product of the brand-name product specified in this announcement must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in the purchase description; quantity; estimated price or cost; shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and delivery date after receipt of order. The Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov . All offers must be received by Friday, March 27, 2020 at 3:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and must reference solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-CSS-20-004328. Responses must be submitted electronically to Rashiid Cummins at
[email protected] Fax responses will not be accepted.