FIB/SEM Instrument

The National Cancer Institute requires the following instrument. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation: No. RFQ-NCI-100168-MM includes all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR FAC 2005-43 (August, 2010) simplified procedures for commercial items. The North American Industry Classification Code is 334516 and the business size standard is 500 employees. I. Requirement: The contractor shall provide an instrument that is simultaneously equipped with a scanning electron beam and a focused gallium ion beam, commonly referred to as a FIB/SEM instrument. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. There is a genuine need for technologies that can be used for rapid 3D imaging of large mammalian cells to provide information at nanometer resolution, since the availability of such methods will revolutionize an understanding of the cell and organelle function at the molecular level. The NCI Laboratory of Cell Biology has been developing a strategy for 3D imaging of biological specimens which combines iterative removal of material from the surface of a bulk specimen using focused ion beam milling with imaging of the newly exposed surface using scanning electron microscopy. Using this technology, termed ion abrasion scanning electron microcopy (IA-SEM), the lab has shown that large mammalian cells can be rapidly imaged at resolutions of 20-nm in the z-direction (direction of section removal), and 6 nm in the x-y plane (plane of section removal). The new instrument must provide significantly advanced capabilities that are better than what is available in presently installed Nova 200 Nanolab system from FEI Company. In particular, purchase of the proposed instrument must provide powerful tools for automation that enable 7/24 operation and data acquisition, advanced hardware and software tools for correlative light and electron imaging, and guaranteed uptime of > 90%. The system will enhance capabilities for (i) visualization of the architecture of normal vs. tumor cells, (ii) localization of retroviruses such as HIV in cells and tissues, (iii) generation of tissue sections at room temperature and cryogenic temperatures using electronic rather than manual sectioning, (iv) three-dimensional visualization of cells and tissues at resolutions ten times better than optical microscopy, (v) complete automation of all steps in data acquisition, and (vi) imaging of cell interiors at signal-to-noise ratios high enough to allow automated segmentation of structures of subcellular organelles. High resolution electron microscopic imaging holds the key to unlocking the answers to many seemingly intractable biological problems in cancer and HIV/AIDS research, including cell-cell interactions, ligand-receptor binding, intracellular signaling and virus-mediated fusion. Very few high resolution electron based imaging facilities exist in the world and NCI offers the environment necessary to support such an effort, including expertise in structural and cell biology, cancer research, virology, nanoscience, computational and systems biology. Criteria that will be used to evaluate the new instrument include: ? Resolution of electron optics which should be high enough (better than 4 nm) to resolve the lipid bilayer membrane envelopes of intracellular organelles in plastic-embedded specimens ? Efficiency and contrast of images recorded in all detection modes ? Cleanliness of specimen surface during imaging ? Control of local gas environment to enable localized etching ? Precision and travel range of specimen stage ? Ease of imaging and navigation across widely varying magnification ranges- From what to what? ? Extent to which system architecture supports and enables automation of data collection and processing ? Performance for high-throughput, high volume data collection- What is high? ? Capabilities for remote operation and diagnosis ? Documentation of mechanisms and service support that will guarantee 7/24 operation with 90% uptime for data collection ? Performance for imaging at low accelerating voltages (in the1 kV range) ? Capability for future upgrade to higher resolution with addition of a monochromatic electron source ? Speed of removal of material with the focused ion beam ? Nature and accuracy of drift correction during data collection ? Capabilities for correlative light and electron imaging The NCI will be trading in the Nova 200 Nanolab system that is presently installed at NCI with purchase of the new instrument. Contractors responding to this solicitation shall provide a quote for the trade-in. II. Delivery: Contractor(s) shall deliver the item within 60 days after award to: NIH/NCI Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The Contractor that receives the award will be provided with the complete mailing address and point of contact. Upon delivery, contractor must notify the NCI Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) to schedule the installation date and time. III. Installation: To be carried out by the manufacturer and shall occur within approximately one week of delivery. IV. Payment: Payment shall be made after delivery, installation, and successful operation of equipment. Payment authorization requires submission and approval of invoice to the NCI COTR and NIH Commercial Accounts. QUOTATIONS ARE DUE: September 16, 2010 at 11:00 am EST. PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES: The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR clause 52.212-1 INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS (June 2008); FAR clause 52.212-3 OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS- (August 2009) WITH DUNS NUMBER ADDENDUM {52.204-6 (April 2008)}; FAR Clause 52.212-4 CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS - COMMERCIAL ITEMS (June 2010); FAR Clause 52.212-5: CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS-COMMERCIAL ITEMS (July 2010). The following FAR clauses cited in paragraph (b) of the clause at FAR 52.212-5 are also applicable to this acquisition; FAR Clause 52.203-6 Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government FAR Clause 52.219-4 Notice of Price Evaluation Preference for HUBZone Small Business Concerns. FAR Clause 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns FAR Clause 52.222-3 Convict Labor FAR Clause 52.222-19 Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies FAR Clause 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities FAR Clause 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity FAR Clause 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans FAR Clause 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities FAR Clause 52.222-37 Employment Reports of Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans FAR Clause 52.222-39 Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees FAR Clause 52.225-5 Trade Agreements FAR Clause 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases Far Clause 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration FAR Clause 52.247-64 Preference for Privately Owned U.S.-Flag Commercial Vessels Full text copies of the representations and certifications for other cited provisions and clauses may be obtained on line at the NCI website at http://amb.nci.nih.gov or from Melissa Marino, Contract Specialist at marinome@mail.nih.gov . OFFERORS: Offers must be submitted on an SF-1449 with a completed 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items-with DUNS Number Addendum, signed by an authorized representative of the offeror OR provide a copy of the valid certification registrations of the offeror's Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA). PLEASE NOTE: In order to receive an award, contractor must be registered in and have valid certifications in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) (http://www.ccr.gov) and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) (http://orca.bpn.gov). Quotations must be received in the NCI-OA contracting office by 11:00 a.m. EST on September 16, 2010. Please refer to solicitation number RFQ-NCI-1000168-MM on all correspondence. No collect calls will be accepted. Faxed or electronic mail quotations will NOT be accepted.