66 -- Coherent Chameleon System Ultra II Ti:Sapphire Laser and Harmonic Generator 9300

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility plans to enter into a sole source procurement for a Chameleon System Ultra II Ti:Sapphire Laser and Harmonic Generator 9300 from Coherent Laser Group, 5100 Patrick Henry Drive, Santa Clara, CA 95054. The North American Industry Classification System Code is 334516 and the business size standard is 500 employees. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.5 to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. Coherent Laser Group is the only source known to the NCI researcher that has a laser and harmonic generator which will meet their research needs as detailed. However, if any interested party believes it can perform the requirement as detailed they may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities and any other furnished information must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI researcher to determine if the party can perform this requirement. An original and one copy of the capability statement must be received in the contracting office by 2:30 pm EDT, on September 24, 2007. Faxed and emailed capability statements are NOT authorized. All questions must be in writing and must be emailed to Debbie Moore at dm170b@nih.gov or faxed (301) 402-4513. It is the vendor's responsibility to call (301) 402-4509 and verify that questions were received. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award from the NCI contractors must be registered in the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA). Please refer to http://orca.bpn.gov In addition; contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION Part I: Background information and Description of Acquisition Title: Coherent Chameleon System Ultra II Ti:Sapphire laser and Harmonic Generator 9300 Purpose/Brief History: The CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility was established by the NCI Laboratory of Experimental Carcinogenesis in September 1997. The core facility provides state-of-the-art confocal microscopy and digital imaging to CCR investigators to perform high quality clinical and translational research in cancer biology and to train students, residents, and fellows in the field of confocal microscopy. The core facility also provides services and opportunities for collaborative research to investigators throughout the NCI as well as other NIH Institutes and FDA. The Coherent Chameleon System Ultra II Ti:Sapphire laser and Harmonic Generator 9300 is required as the 2-photon laser for the Zeiss LSM 510 NLO Multi-photon Confocal Microscope with Scanning Stage and Environmental Chamber which will be used to perform imaging in thick specimens and will have three non-descanned, external detectors to provide multi-spectral imaging of these thick specimens. The Harmonic generator is needed for the FLIM module which will be added to this system for fluorescence lifetime imaging, an imaging technology that currently is not available to core facility users. As a core facility, we need to provide over 135 users with "state-of-the-art" multi-photon/confocal imaging for a wide range of applications, including time lapse, 3D, 4D, FRET, and FRAP. PART II: Facts and reasons to Justify Other than Full and Open Competition 1. Statutory Authority: Statute: 13.106-1 (b) (b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization). No other requirement and/or type for supply or service will satisfy agency need. (2) For sole source acquisitions of commercial items in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5, the requirements at 13.501(a) apply. 1. Justification: The CCR Confocal Microscopy Core Facility needs to purchase a multi-photon confocal with a Ti:Sapphire laser and Harmonic Generator to provide NDDs for deeper tissue imaging using the IR laser and to provide FLIM. This solid state ultrafast laser system will be used as an excitation source in multiphoton microscopy and must be comprised of a solid-state single-frequency green pump laser, a sealed Titanium:Sapphire (Ti:S) Kerr lens modelocked oscillator, an actively controlled interface between these two components, a solid state chiller, and a dual manual and/or computer interface to allow for experimental integration. The following performance specifications are required: 1) Output average power specification required is > 3.3 Watt at peak of Ti:S curve, with a tuning range of 680nm to 1080nm range. Capabilities are required across this entire tuning range to cover our current and future experiments. 2) Capability for rapid wavelength changes, 40 nm/sec. 3) Repetition rate is nominal 80 MHz 4) Beam quality to specified as M2 < 1.1 to ensure tightest focusing capability. 5) Beam shape specified as better than (i.e. smaller range) ellipticity = 0.9-1.1. A round beam ensures more efficient coupling of light from the laser into the microscope and minimal astigmatism. 6) Minimum tuning range required is 680nm - 1080nm inclusive without operator adjustments other than request of wavelength. System to tune through atmospheric absorption bands > 900 nm without requirement of external gas purge. 7) Pulse width approximately 140fSec. And 8) System shall have the lowest noise specifications to provide optimal images. A noise spec of 0.5%, or less, is required. Required design specifications are as follows: 1) Optimized pulse width for maximum multi-photon excitation in a typical confocal microscope. Pulse width must typically be between 120-140fSec across the full tuning range to minimize optical pulse stretching (also called "disperson" or "chirp") in our microscope and thus give minimum pulse width and highest peak power and highest multi-photon conversion efficiency at the sample. In order to assure minimum chirping, output pulse must be very close to the bandwidth limit. Systems with pulse width under 100fSec are unacceptable because they have too much bandwidth and thus exhibit large pulse chirping. Typically these short-pulse systems attempt to use excess average power to make up for pulse stretching; however, excess average power will induce more photo-damage in our biological samples. To further ensure minimum pulse chirp, pulse width must be actively controlled and optimized across full tuning range. 2) Hermetically-sealed construction. Diode pumped laser systems generally degrade due to optical contamination from dust and solvents present in the lab. It is required that the system be hermetically sealed to provide long life and minimal downtime. Our requirement for hermetic sealing is that there is no exchange of gas, or dust from the lab, as evidenced by no light leakage from the interior cavity. 3) Permanent alignment of head. Our laboratory focus is on laser microscopy, as opposed to basic laser research. We require that the design of the laser be of permanent alignment, with no ports for dust invasion, and no field alignment requirements in order to meet our project deadlines. 4) Design that minimizes downtime. The Ti:S oscillator cavity must be constructed with a single-tuning-element design to eliminate all needs for adjustment, optimization, or cleaning the system. System must include a closed-loop air filtration and recirculation unit to ensure that the cavity is free from out-gassing components, micro-dust particles, and water vapor. System must be able to maintain less than 1% humidity at all times without external purging or other intervention. 5) User-replaceable pump diodes. Because pump diodes are the single greatest maintenance cost, diodes must be user replaceable and can be changed without the involvement of the laser head, or disturbance of any kind to the experimental set up. Disruptions of this kind, for example, to re-thread the optical fiber through the umbilical can be avoided. 6) Low noise. Amplitude noise of the system is critical in many of small signal applications. Thus the Ti:S is pumped by a single-frequency/single-longitudinal mode pump source so that the noise spectrum will be free of chaotic noise behavior characteristic of multimode pump sources. 7) Integrated spectrometer. System has an onboard spectrometer capable of monitoring both wavelength and bandwidth of Ti:S laser. Spectrometer to be addressable via USB. 8) Ultra-quiet Chiller. System has a chiller that is all solid-state design. Freon pump-type refrigeration units should not be acceptable as they are nosier and create greater waste heat and mechanical vibrations. Furthermore, the chiller has the capability to be remoted up to 8 meters away for ultimate noise/heat suppression. And 9) System Control. System should be user controllable either via RS232 or via the panel interface located on the power supply. Coherent Chameleon System Ultra II Ti:Sapphire laser and Harmonic Generator 9300 has unique features not available from other companies and is compatible with our existing equipment.