Brand Name or Equal IR Laser, Model: Chameleon and Associated Preventive Maintenance Services

Key Dates: Capability Statement Due Date: August 23, 2016 by 4:00 pm EST The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified small business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned business concerns that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The requirement is assigned North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code 334516, with a size standard of 500 employees is being considered. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NCI may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ) through FEDBizOpps. THERE IS NO SOLICATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice of the NCI's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specification for any subsequent requirement. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Confocal Microscopy Core Facility, Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, plans to procure one Brand Name or Equal IR Laser, Model: Chameleon, manufactured by Coherent, Inc, and associated preventive maintenance services. This new laser must be compatible with NCI's existing equipment. This new laser will replace an old Chameleon laser on the pre-existing Zeiss 880 and Zeiss 710 confocal systems in the Core Facility. The system is comprised of a solid -state single-frequency 18W green pump laser, a sealed Titanium:Sapphire (Ti:S) Kerr lens modelocked oscillator, and actively-controlled interface for the system (green pump/Ti:S) a solid-state chiller, and a dual interface (manual and/or computer) to allow for experimental integration. The following features are necessary and unique to this particular instrument. Performance Specifications: - Tuning range of 680nm-1080nm with required output average power of > 3.5 Watt at peak of Ti:S curve, 650mW at 680nm, 3500mW at 800nm, and 200mW at 1080nm. This tuning capability is required to cover our current and future experiments. - Capability for rapid wavelength changes of >40 nm/sec. - Repetition rate is nominal 80 MHz - Beam quality to specified as M2 < 1.1 to ensure tighest focusing capability. - 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 (<10% required). - 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. - Pulse width of approximately 140fSec. - System shall have the lowest noise specifications to provide optimal images. A noise spec of <0.5% is required. - Pointing stability should be <50 microradians per 100 nm of tuning. Design Specifications: - 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 adequately sealed to provide long life and minimal downtime. The 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. - Permanent alignment of head: It is required that the design of the laser be of permanent alignment, with no ports for dust invasion, and no field alignment requirements. System should also have an active means for maintaining alignment of the pump beam with the ultrafast cavity. This is critical for maximum signal-to-noise by minimizing amplitude noise and power fluctuations. - 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 compact, 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. - Actively-controlled PZT feedback: An automatic control system to achieve minimal pulse width variation and maximize laser power (both peak and average power) must be utilized. This will allow for consistent laser parameters without user intervention. - User-replaceable pump diodes: Because pump diodes are the single greatest maintenance cost, diodes must be user replaceable and 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 need to be avoided. - 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. - Integrated spectrometer: System has an onboard spectrometer capable of monitoring both wavelength and bandwidth of Ti:S laser. Spectrometer to be addressable via USB. - 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 noisier and create greater waste heat and mechanical vibrations. Furthermore, the chiller should have the capability of being remotely located up to 8 meters away for ultimate noise/heat suppression. - System Control: System should be user controllable either via RS232 or via the panel interface located on the power supply. How to Submit a Response: 1. Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12-point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of a one-page resume of the individuals meeting the requirements, and up to two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. 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 (preferable 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. 2. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than 4:00 p.m. EST on August 23, 2016. 3. Delivery Point: All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed to (301) 480-0319 or emailed to Elizabeth Shanahan, Program Analyst at eshanahan@mail.nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement 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, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), http://orca.bpn.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, an RFQ may be published in eBuy. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Point of Contact: Inquiries concerning this Notice may be directed to: Elizabeth Shanahan 11400 Rockville Pike, Ste 726 Rockville, MD 20852 eshanahan@mail.nih.gov Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation.