Metafer4 Scanning System

Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Suite 600, Room 6079, Rockville, MD 20852, UNITED STATES. Description The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Confocal Microscopy Core Facility plans to procure on a sole source basis the brand name Metafer4 Scanning System from MetaSystems Group, Inc. of 300 Bear Hill Rd Waltham, MA 02451. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) and 13.501-(a)(1) using simplified acquisition procedures for commercial acquisitions. The North American Industry Classification System Code is 334516 and the business size standard is 500 employees. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. The Confocal Microscopy Core Facility (CMCF) provides state-of-the-art confocal microscopy and digital imaging to CCR investigators to perform high quality clinical and translational research in cancer biology. The core facility also provides services and opportunities for collaborative research to investigators throughout the NCI as well as other NIH Institutes and FDA. The CMCF works with primary lymphocyte cultures looking for very rare events, such as specific types of chromosomal translocations in metaphase spread. Only a small fraction of the primary cells are in metaphase state at the time of the experiment. Without automated metaphase finding and rare cell detection, it would be virtually impossible to detect a given chromosomal translocation or to accurately measure frequencies of rare chromosomal translocations. The following salient characteristics apply to the Metafer 4 Scanning System: Hardware - Ability to operate in different Windows paradigms (win 95, 98, NT, 2000 and Xp) - Direct optics (No glass in trinocular head) to ensure optimum throughput of information to camera CCD - Simple customisable case and file structure and enable organization of files into monthly cases - Bug fixes are provided separately to upgrade software releases meaning a faster fix to bug problems - Capture only station is available - Database entry software can work independently of the analysis or capture software Micronuclei Scanning Comet Scanning Dichromic chromosome scanning Isis - FISH imaging - Capture of up to 9 color channels - Can load multiple experiment types lists on 1 screen - Ability perform multiple experiment types (for example analyse the FISH image and then MFISH and then CGH by just switching experiment types) - Multiple filterwheel options available - Automated capture using several automated microscopes - Filterwheel connection is straight to PC0- no external controller boxes reduces the footprint of the workstation - Integration can be set using the arrow keys - Automated contrast settings - A region of interest can be selected after capture - 3 keystroke rapid enhancement of fish images (BLUing) - Rapid deletion of nuclei from images - Integration time and histogram included with image - Threshold can be manipulated with the mouse to reduce background on an image - Regional threshold increase in threshold to enhance weak signals or weak peripheral chromosomes - Rapid automatic registration of images after capture - Manual registration of FISH images using cursor keys - Maximise function to automatically increase the size of the image to fit the screen - Easy 1 keystroke invert function - Counterstain suppression to increase contrast between inverted DAPI and probe signals - Object size is customised Printing - Printer Gray level calibration is possible to ensure the best quality printed media is generated - Ability to customise print quality to equalise the optical difference between microscope, computer screen and printed output to ensure the highest quality results - Ability to convert on screen colors to CYMK to ensure highest quality color printing - Print jobs may be qued to be sent to the printer at 1 time - Images can be exported in Jpeg, BMP and TIF Image sizes can be under 50 KB for easy emailing Metafer 4 MSearch - Multiple camera options for scanning - Megapixel scanning options available - Live image and metaphases on the same screen - Ability to disable stage movement when scanning slides - Histogram display of slide information - Ability to determine number and quality of features - System user name can be displayed on screen - Total Scan time is shown on screen - Fast scan setup utilising % of slide area - Stage can be moved using a roller ball - Ability to abberation score from a live image on screen - Fast relocation no need to reset to bay datum prior to relocating or inserting slide - Graphic User Interface is designed to work effectively in low light environments - Scan Quality can be altered to speed up scan times - Ability to completely shut down and turn off system automatically after scan - Automatic light level adjustment - Selectable scan speed depending on system hardware - Simple aberration scoring function via mouse clicks - Automatic Centring of objects prior to high magnification capture - Classifier data can be generated from multiple images from different scans - Comprehensive image analysis of data to generate classifiers - Optimization of classifiers to ensure the best results are obtained for scans - Sensitivity of scan can be justified by the user - Condenser is customised from standard design to increase scannable area on slide RareCell Detection - Automatic fluorescent detection of labelled rare cells - Multiple parameter settings for Fluorescent detection - 2 color channels can be scanned and imaged automatically - System can detect signal intensities - Can use cell selection criteria to determine if the label is homogeneous or ring shaped - Can customise the system to analyse the shape of Label or the shape of the nucleus - No need for prescan , system scan and analysis is performed at 40X (can scan at 20X if required) - Can scan and find objects with multiple objectives - Can exclude cells or nuclei where intensity is greater than specified threshold value - Classifier data can be tested on saved scans to test the existing parameter settings Spot counting- Metacyte - Scan area can be set by selecting 2 edges of scan area - Focussing is perfomed at time of scan - On screen histogram display showing cell populations - Histogram cell populations can be selected from the histogram - Cell data can be displayed as scatter plot - Can automatically reject cell populations - Data analysis tools to check relationships between multiple parameters - Histogram data on multiple parameters can be exported to a spreadsheet - Data can be summarised and compared between selected and total population - Cell sub populations can be selected from the scatter plots - Any two features can be compared and displayed in scatterplots - Data displayed in plots and histograms can be displayed in Linear and log formats - All data can be exported into a text file - Spots can be enhanced and intensified to ensure accurate and sensitive classification - Color channels can be optimised - Up to 6 fluors can be captured during spot counting - Gallery images can display images in different formats to ensure the clearest results - Easy change of probe signal color and dapi color in gallery - Feature display in Gallery can have up to 6 data features per image - Spot counting data is correctable for disperse signals - Spots are clearly displayed in gallery - Up to 133 features are measured for scan - Focus steps down to 1/40th of a micron - Lockable parameter files to ensure classification data can be securely stored on the system - Software control of camera gain to optimise brightness - Multiple exposure times can be used if multiple staining protocols are used with the same fluor (to capture weak and bright fluors) - Ability to correct for inhomogeneous illumination - Image processing can be applied to focus planes or image - Signal 3 D distribution data can be analysed to ensure results are accurate and overlapping fluors which are not fused are not misclassified - Gallery image size is customisable - Gallery images can be compressed to reduce file size - Multi algorithm enhancement is possible - True customization and optimization of customer data to ensure accurate results Fully Modular Design MetaSystem's product suite operates seamlessly across a laboratory's network. This unique innovation allows any product module to operate jointly, independently or cooperatively with all other MetaSystem's applications. A Metafer 4 Scanning system is capable of running Brightfield metaphase finding, Fluorescent Metaphase Finding, Interphase Spot Counting, Automatic High Resolution Image Capturing all from the same system. Conversely, each scanning system may be dedicated and configured to a single task if workflow specifies. Scanning data is then transferred and viewed on Ikaros and Isis stations across the network. Integrated Case Database All applications access a shared case management system, allowing the sharing of case images across the network. FISH images and Karyotyped images are stored within the same case architecture (unless specified). This allows all users to view any image captured, whether it is a FISH image or a brightfield karyotype image. This greatly reduces information redundancy, as patient information and case results are entered once for both FISH and Cytogenetic cases. Cooperative Work Environment Dynamic file structure not only allows any case to be opened and edited on any workstation, it uniquely enables technologists to cooperatively open various cells from the same case on separate workstations. Dynamic Network Capable A truly unique innovation allows multiple sites to access and view cases across the network. Images captured in one site may be viewed, karyotyped, and processed in another location in real time, without manually transferring the data. Unlimited Storage Capabilities Using a proprietary compression technology, MetaSystems is able to avoid the classical archiving architecture. This allows all cases to be actively stored on a central server indefinitely. Scalable storage capacity is added as case storage expands. This tremendous flexibility allows for instantaneous retrieval of older cases. "Three Click" Automation The Metafer4 scanning platform affords a highly simplified interface. This will allow any user to initiate a scan with very minimal steps. Intelligent software design automatically sets focus, camera gain and exposure, greatly reducing the steps needed to setup and successfully complete a scan. The Metafer4 Scanning System is the only known system to possess the unique characteristics essential to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Confocal Micrscopy Core Facility's ongoing clinical and research operations. MetaSystems Group, Inc is the manufacturer and distributor of the Metafer4 Scanning System and only known source. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, they may submit a statement of capabilities. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the above unique specifications described herein. An original and one copy of the capability statement must be received in the NCI Office of Acquisitions on or before 11:00 AM EST on August 18, 2011. No electronic capability statements will be accepted (i.e. email or fax); an original and one copy must be sent to the NCI Office of Acquisitions to the address stated above. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Miguel Diaz, Contract Specialist at miguel.diaz@mail.nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract 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. Please reference solicitation number NCI-110138-MD on all correspondences.