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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. This is a Request for Quote (RFQ) and the solicitation number is VA240-14-Q-0124. The government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed price contract resulting from this combined synopsis/solicitation. This solicitation and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-74. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. The clauses may be accessed in full text at www.acquisition.gov. STATEMENT OF NEED (SON) 1.0 CONTRACT DESCRIPTION AND REQUIREMENTS The VA Nebraska-Western Iowa Healthcare System /SAO East will award a Firm Fixed Price, one-time purchase order for the purchase of Brand Name or Equal equipment in accordance with all terms, conditions, provisions, specifications and schedules of this solicitation herein. Quotes shall contain the Offeror's best terms for cost/price and technical capabilities of the required Leica super-resolution 3D microscope with Ground State Depletion, and Leica 3D confocal microscope or equivalent equipment. The government reserves the right to award without discussions. 1.1 PRICING The Offeror shall submit price quotes for the required brand name or equal equipment, to the specifications listed in Section 1.2 below. Please enclose the established price list and description of capabilities and specifications for the required equipment. The Offeror shall submit a separate price sheet for equal items to include Manufacturer Name, Stock/Part #, Unit of Issue and Price. Items offered that are brand name or equal shall identify items as being on schedule and reference the contract number for each item. Note: The Offeror should include a description of any support services or warranty information in the technical quote. 1.2 REQUIRED PRODUCTS & SPECIFICATIONS 1. Leica Super-Resolution (SR) 3D microscope with ground state depletion microscopy followed by individual molecule return (GSDIM) technology. (1 EA) 2. Leica 3D Confocal Microscope (1 EA) 1.3 PRODUCT CAPABILITIES & SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS OR EQUAL This Equivalent equipment must meet or exceed the following capabilities and salient characteristics of the SR Microscope with GSD and the 3D Confocal Microscope. Leica SR GSD 3D Microscope: Three dimensional super-resolution is a major trend in light microscopy due to its ability to image precisely, more than ever before, cellular components or single molecules with their interacting partners. This imaging capability has provided a unique and important tool that enables researchers to learn more about the complex molecular interaction inside a cell. Salient Characteristics or Equal: 1. High Power Lasers to reach probe triplet state 2. Ground State Depletion technology followed by individual molecule return 3. Automatic alignment of the Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence component (TIRF) 4. Suppressed motion stage (SuMo) to eliminate drift and decrease vibration 5. 160x, cement free, super resolution objectives, specifically designed for High Power Lasers 6. Interactive display of the super high-resolution images Leica TCS SPE 3D Confocal Microscope: Confocal microscopy is an important and extensively used three-dimensional imaging technique necessary for obtaining images of tissues and cells and is necessary to complete a wide array of imaging experiments across the spectrum of a multiple user interface. Salient Characteristics or Equal: 1. High Power Lasers 2. Confocal scanning unit 3. Super Resolution objective scanning set 4. Acousto Optical Tunable Filter (AOTF) tuning mechanism for accuracy and reproducibility 5. Adaptability and capability of communicating with other super-resolution 3D systems The product capabilities and salient characteristics identified above by a "brand name or equal" description are intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, and to indicate the quality and characteristics of the product that will be satisfactory. Quotes offering "equal" products (including products of the brand name manufacturer other than the one described by the brand name) will be considered if such product is clearly identified in the quote and is determined by the VA to meet fully the salient characteristics on above products. If offering an equivalent product, the brand name of the equivalent product shall be clearly identified in the quote. Unless visibly identified as an equivalent product, offered items shall be considered as the brand name product referenced in this announcement. The evaluation of quotes and the determination as to the equality of the products shall be the responsibility of the Government and shall be based on information provided by the Offeror. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information not provided in the quotation by the Offeror. To ensure that sufficient information is available, the Offeror must furnish, as a part of the quote, all descriptive material necessary for the purchasing activity to determine whether the products meet the salient characteristics of this requirement. Vendors proposing to modify a product to make it conform to the requirements of this announcement shall include a clear description of the proposed modification and clearly mark any descriptive material to show the proposed modification. Instructions to the Offeror Basis for award resulting from this RFQ will made to the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable offeror that provides a complete package pursuant to the preparation requirements set forth in 52.212-1. FAR 52.212-2 (Evaluation- Commercial Items) will be incorporated in full text into the RFQ and will be evaluated on the following factors. Evaluation Factors for Award: Factor 1- Technical Capabilities Factor 2- Past Performance Factor 3- Price The following FAR and provisions and clauses apply to this solicitation and are incorporated by reference: The solicitation document, incorporated provision and clauses are those in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-74, Effective May 30,2014. It is the responsibility of the contractor to be familiar with the applicable clauses and provisions. The clauses may be accessed in full text at www.acquisition.gov. 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. FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation -Commercial Items FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes Or Executive Orders-Commercial Items FAR52.211-6 Brand Name of Equal Offerors must notify Contracting Officer Bridget Kornish at contact@example.gov with any questions regarding this Synopsis/Solicitation NLT September 5, 2014 by Noon EST. All responses to questions will be posted by way of amendment to this combined Synopsis/Solicitation NLT September 8, 2014. Proposals shall be submitted via email to contact@example.gov and Offerors must reference Solicitation # in the subject line of the email. No telephone request for information will be considered. Incomplete packages will be considered nonresponsive. All offers must be received by the closing date September 10, 2014 NLT Noon EST.