Custom Adaptive Optics Scanning Light Ophthalmoscope

The National Eye Institute (NEI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to solicit a contract with the Medical College of Wisconsin to fulfill the requirement for a custom adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO). Key elements of the requirement include: The AOSLO will have a maximum field of view between 1.5 and 2.0 (limited by the resonant scanner) and approximately 17 frames per second (depending on the selected number of lines per frame). The AOSLO will be equipped with a 97-actuator deformable mirror and a matching custom wavefront sensor to achieve closed-loop correction of the ocular monochromatic aberrations in real time. The instrument will incorporate a piezo-ceramic tip-tilt mirror for posterior implementation of eye tracking for imaging and/or stimulus delivery. The AOSLO will have two imaging channels, for visible (480-680 nm) and near-infrared (750-850 nm) light. Depending on the light source and optical filters selected by NEI, the visible channel will be capable of confocal reflectance, bright field reflectance and single-photon fluorescence imaging. The near-infrared channel will be capable of: confocal and bright field reflectance imaging; dark-field and split-detection imaging. The anticipated period of performance is July 15, 2014 through July 14, 2015. The anticipated contract will comprise one (1), one-year base period and one (1), one-year option periods which may be exercised unilaterally by the Government for a potential period of performance of 24 months. Authority: 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1. This is not a request for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. A Sources Sought Notice had been posted as HHSNIHODSBSS14011 on May 23, 2014. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.