Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

**THIS NOTICE IS BEING AMENDED TO CORRECT THE RESPONSE DUE TIME FROM 3:30AM TO 3:30PM, ON FRIDAY, MAY 14, 2010** This Sources Sought Notice (SS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The purpose of this SS is to identify qualified small business concerns [including Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) that are interested in and capable of providing the equipment/product described below. The NHLBI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this Sources Sought notice, the NHLBI may issue a Request for Quote (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NHLBI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought notice or the NHLBI's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. The NHLBI is seeking capability statements from all eligible small business concerns [particularly Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB)] under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 with a size standard of 500 number of employees. Based on the responses received from this SOURCES SOUGHT announcement, the proposed acquisition may be solicited as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. All eligible small business concerns responding to this Sources Sought Announcement must have the capabilities to provide the below listed products within 30 days after receipt of purchase order. PRODUCT DESCRIPTION: JEOL USA, Inc. Product - JEM 2200FS Field Emissions Transmission Electron Microscope- brand name or equal that is able to meet the specifications detailed below. JEM-2200FS FIELD EMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPE Consisting of the following: A. 200kV maximum accelerating voltage with semi-continuous HV control, 50eV/step minimum, 0.2V minimum energy shift for energy filtering, Electron Gun Assembly: Schottky FEG Emitter - Zr/W<100> Emitter temperature: 1600-1800K, Probe current - 0.5nA/1nm (at FWHM) B. Filter lens: Omega type consisting of four sector type magnets with degaussing function. - Motor driven entrance aperture, vacuum shielded with metal bellows. - Pneumatic motor-driven energy selecting slit - Fully digital, automated Omega Energy Filter with zero loss and elemental edge automated imaging software provided by Gatan: ELP, spectroscopy, EFTEM imaging. C. Specimen Anticontamination Trap D. All apertures: motor driven and encoded E. Differential Vacuum System utilizing Sputter Ion and Diffusion Pumps, Microprocessor Controlled, featuring "radial evacuation" of the specimen area F. Eucentric Motorized 5 axis Side Entry Goniometer: 1. Side Entry Goniometer 2. Choice of one of the following: a. Ultra High Resolution Pole Piece (URP) point to point resolution: 0.19nm, stage tilt angle: - 25 for X or Y tilt axes EDS solid Angle: 0.13sr with 25 take-off angle b. High Resolution Pole Piece (HRP) point to point resolution: 0.23nm, stage tilt angle: - 35 for X, - 30 for Y tilt axes, EDS solid Angle: 0.13sr with 25 take-off angle c. High Tilt Analytical Pole Piece (HTP) point to point resolution: 0.25nm, stage tilt angle: - 42 for X, - 30 for Y tilt axes, EDS solid Angle: 0.13sr with 25 take-off angle d. Cryo Pole Piece (CRP) point to point resolution: 0.27nm, stage tilt angle: - 60 for X, - 30 for Y tilt axes 3. Encoded X, Y, Z and tilt axes G. Full functional X/Y-translation piezo for nanopositioning; drift correction software option. H High resolution Hammamatsu CCD/TV camera for routine observation I. Gatan 830 Orius CCD Camera J. DEDUCTED 2k x 2k Gatan UltraScan 1000 Camera K. Independently controlled condenser mini-lens to allow variable convergence angle selection (JEOL alpha sector) L. High Contrast Objective Aperture (Lower position in the Objective Lens) for high contrast imaging and/or simultaneous EDS/high resolution/high contrast imaging M. Double Tilt Holder (Low Background Optional) N. Single Tilt Holder (Low Background Optional) O. High Resolution Dark Field Imaging (5) P. Zoom Focus and Stigmation Q. Electromagnetic TEM Image Shifting. R. Independent Lens "Free Run" Control S. Automatic through focus T. Minimum Dose System U. Beam Stop V. Automatic Exposure System allowing variability of either brightness or time (electron current measuring type with both average and spot metering). Automatic Sheet Film Camera (3" x 4") including (2) each light-tight loading and receiving boxes and 100 cassettes W. Complete Data Recording on negatives, including kV, magnification, film number, scale and operator code and label X. Digital Hour Meter for instrument time and filament time monitoring Y. Inkjet Printer to record microscope operating conditions Z. Fully Automatic Vacuum System (10-8 torr) with Penning Gauge conditions AA. Air Compressor BB. Water Recirculator CC. Standard Operator's Chair DD. Installation and proof of resolution guaranteed in customer's laboratory EE. One year all parts and labor warranty (begins with customer's first use of the instrument) FF. On site user training GG. One set of operator's manuals Customer to supply compatible digital bottom mount camera and installation by third party vendor. DEL-UPS-APC-TEM UPS APC SYMMETRA LX 16KVA/12.8KW FOR TEM Uninterruptible Power Supply for TEM. Includes breaker box and factory startup. One year warranty. Installation by customer electrician required. EM-23130TU2FE TMP VACUUM PUMP UNIT 360872 (JU2010261) EM-PHASEPLATE PHASE PLATE SYSTEM FOR JEM-2200FS/3200FS The Zernike phase plate system makes remarkable contrast improvement in the low frequency region of the phase contrast transfer function, thus enhancing the overall contrast in TEM images of typically low contrast specimens. The phase plate sits in the back focal plane of the microscope and makes a phase shift of ?/2 radians for scattered electrons compared to the zero beam. This system includes all necessary components to produce phase contrast enhanced TEM images. EM-Z091681PPS GONIOMETER FOR PHASE PLATE HEATING HOLDER (JU2011743) EM-Z091682PPH PHASE PLATE HEATING HOLDER (JU2011741) EM-Z091683STAGE SPECIMEN STAGE FOR JEM-2200FS featuring pre-evacuation line for phase plate stage (JU2011742) GAT-914 HIGH TILT TOMOGRAPHY CRYOTRANSFER SYSTEM -Produces high tilt in analytical and large high tilt pole piece gaps. -Provides large field of view at maximum tilt. -Incorporates a "Quickload" envelope style sample loading system that accommodates 3 millimeter diameter specimens. -Frozen sections or suspensions can be loaded into TEM holder and transferred frost-free at temperatures <-165'C. -Includes a single tilt, liquid nitrogen cooled specimen holder and tools for the frost-free transfer of up to 4 grids. -Nitrogen-cooled holders are cryo-pumped by a zeolite trap and have a built-in heater to regenerate the spent zeolite. The insulated dewar requires routine evacuation by an oil-free pump such as provided in the optional model 655 Dry Pumping Station. Includes: -Workstation with built-in Quickload jig, -Specimen grid holder and tool, -Funnel and vacuum tubing (JU2006526) GAT-900 Smartset Cooling Control Unit required for cooling holders (JU2003012) JT-TRAINING/JB TEM APPLICATIONS SUPPORT FOR SERIAL EM Installation support and training of SerialEM and IMOD for a total of 1 week (5 business days including travel) 1. The system must have field emission illumination, a range of accelerating voltages up to 200 kV, an in-column energy filter, a phase plate, a TV rate camera and a 2k x 2k CCD camera with TV rate readout. The microscope must also be compatible with a Gatan 4k x 4k Ultrascan 4000 CCD camera. The following are more detailed specifications. 2. Electron Optical Specifications Accelerating Voltage. The microscope will have an accelerating voltage of 200 kV, with semi-continuous control (50V steps or smaller). Field Emission Source. The microscope must employ a field emission gun (FEG) as its electron source with a Schottky field emitter. Beam current shall be 0.5 nA or better in a 1 nm probe (measured at FWHM). Coherence and Instrumental Resolution. Point-to-point resolution, under cryo low dose conditions (LN2 temperature, 10 - 20 e/2 total dose in a half-second exposure, ~1 - m defocus), at 200kV and ~60kx magnification will be demonstrated with and without phase plate by Fourier analysis of digitized film-recorded micrographs of a thin carbon film. The micrographs will be digitized and diffraction patterns calculated and rotationally averaged. Thon fringes of significant intensity should extend to 3.3 - or better. The 2D transforms will be used to check that the resolution is the same in all directions. Zernike Phase Plate. The microscope will come equipped with a Zernike phase plate located in the back focal plane of the microscope's objective lens and produce a phase shift of ?/2 radians for scattered electrons compared to the unscattered beam. The cryopolepiece must accommodate the phase plate holder at the back focal plane as well as an in-lens objective aperture. At least three phase plate discs will be supplied with the instrument, each consisting of 25 or more individual phase plates. The phase plate holder must hold at least three phase plate discs and include fully adjustable heating elements to maintain the phase plate at a selected temperature in the range of room temperature to 250 - C in order to reduce contamination. A motorized and computer-controlled goniometer will be supplied to accept the holder and allow precision positioning of the phase plate. A turbomolecular-pumped airlock will be included for exchanging phase plate discs in and out of the column vacuum. A commercial source must exist for the phase plates, as they are a consumable item. In-column Omega-type Energy Filter. An automated, computer-controlled in-column omega-type energy filter must be included and allow the same wide range of magnifications (50x-1,000,000x) as used in conventional transmission electron microscope mode. Distortion in the image-formation lens system must be less than 1.5% length difference of lattice vectors across the field of view of the film and 10 eV across the same plane for energy spread. Parallel Illumination. A condenser mini-lens should be supplied that can be controlled independently of the objective lens in order to obtain parallel illumination under a wide range of conditions. Rotation-free Imaging System. The lens system should be configured to prevent image rotation when the magnification is changed. Free Lens Control. All optical functions of the microscope will be independently controlled, including all lenses, stigmators, and alignment coils. Once set, these conditions can be saved and recalled. Apertures. All apertures should be motor-driven and computer-controlled. Stage Specifications Goniometer. The stage must be motorized and computer-controlled, with a eucentric goniometer and have at least - 70 of continuous tilt, unhindered by the pole pieces or anticontaminator, when using a Gatan Model 914 cryoholder. The goniometer must be able to return to within 2 - m of a stored position when recalled by the operator. The stage must have piezoelectric elements which allow an X,Y-motion of 0.4 - m or more with a step size of approximately 0.04 nm that can be used for specimen micro positioning and drift compensation. Eucentricity. Eucentricity must be achievable with all holders. When observing an in-focus object at X = Y = 0, tilting across the full tilt range (in either direction) should yield a deviation in the X and Y position of the object of less than 1.5 - m during the entire operation. Mechanical and Thermal Stability. With a cryoholder at its minimum temperature and within two minutes of the last stage movement, the drift rate, without electronic drift compensation, should be < 5 /min at 0 tilt, < 10 /min at - 30 tilt, < 15 /min at - 45 tilt, and < 25 /min at - 70 tilt. Vacuum System Specifications Vacuum System. The vacuum system should be fully automatic and differentially pumped using turbo-molecular, sputter ion, and diffusion pumps. Specimen Airlock. The specimen rod will have double o-ring seals, with the volume between the o-rings continuously pumped during airlock prepump. With a prepump of 1-3 minutes and a fully filled cryo trap, the microscope vacuum will recover to its original value within 15 seconds of specimen insertion. Anticontaminator. A cryo box anticontaminator must be an integral part of the cryopolepiece. The anticontaminator will maintain a temperature of - 185'C or lower and effectively trap extraneous ice contamination. It must not diminish tilt range or resolution in any way. The ice contamination rate of a cryo specimen should be less than 5 /hour. 3. Additional Hardware and Compatibility Specimen Holders. A Gatan Model 914 High Tilt Liquid Nitrogen Cryo Transfer Tomography Holder will be provided along with standard single- and double-tilt room temperature holders. Cameras. The microscope must come equipped with a high resolution CCD/TV camera for routine viewing and a 2k x 2k CCD camera with TV readout speed (30fps or more at 4x binning or less) suitable for focusing and stigmation adjustments. Furthermore, the microscope must be compatible with a Gatan 4k x 4k Ultrascan 4000 CCD camera. 4. Software Software will be supplied for the general operation, control, and use of the microscope. Additionally, software for cryo-electron tomography as well as cryo-electron microscopy applications will be provided. At minimum, this should include a low-dose mode (which employs electromagnetic beam/image shifting to provide search, focus/tracking, and exposure modes along with appropriate beam blanking) and automated tilt-series acquisition software (such as SerialEM). As they become available, the vendor will supply free revisions and upgrades to their software products, core control software, and - plug-ins required to operate the instrument. This will include existing and future software related to the phase plate and tomography. 5. Measurement of Electron Dose The electron dose must be calibrated with a Faraday cup or equivalent method between doses of 0.01 and 120 electrons/2, and be read on a display or determined from counts per pixel on the CCD cameras, or other electron dose measurement capabilities equivalent in accuracy and convenience must be provided. 6. Uptime Microscope uptime should be 95% or greater and guaranteed by the vendor. Delivery Date - 10 months after receipt of purchase order. Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize yourself with the requirements of this project; failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk. Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. All capability Statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Margo Katzper, Contract Specialist, at mkatzper@nhlbi.nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by 3:30 PM, EST on May 14, 2010. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered.