TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION MICROSCOPE MODULE

The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) intends to negotiate a contract on the basis of Other Than Full and Open Competition IAW 10 USC 2304(c)(1), only one responsible source. NRL will negotiate with Carl Zeiss Microimaging Inc, 1 Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, NY 10594-1996, for a Total Internal Reflection (TIR) microscope module and a darkened incubator accessory for cell biology applications. The system is required to augment Zeiss software, Zeiss laser-light sources, and Zeiss microscope hardware currently owned by NRL. The TIR microscope module and accessory are required to augment the capabilities of the Zeiss Axio Observer microscope currently being procured under a separate capital procurement package. The system is required because NRL's current research requires illumination only at a thin layer above the surface of the sample which the TIR microscope module is uniquely capable of providing. The internal reflection design of the slider limits illumination to a slice of as low as 100 nanometers above the surface which will enable our study of biological membranes and nanoparticles without interference from the rest of the sample. The TIR microscope module must be compatible with Zeiss microscopy software, Zeiss microscope objectives, and Zeiss light source related hardware currently owned by NRL. The term accessories refer to a darkened incubator for cell biology applications which is compatible with the TIR microscope module and the Zeiss Axio Observer microscope, as well as hardware and software for the automated operation of the TIR microscope module. This system is required for integration and support of the existing NRL core program: Probing Inter-cellular Nanoscale Signaling (NRL Nanoscience Institute, 6.1). The minimum requirements for the TIR microscope module and accessories are as follows: (1) Illumination angle adjustment must be motorized and remotely controllable with a resolution of achievable angle difference of approximately 5 nm within the center range of the achievable TIR angle; (2) must be compatible with separate solid-state laser modules that can supply light at the following excitation wavelengths: 408 nm, 488 nm, 532 nm, 561 nm or 635 nm; (3) must be able to house up to four of these solid state laser modules; (4) must allow for automated switching between up to four of the excitation wavelengths by means of an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF); (5) The beam path that the laser light is directed through must be apochromatically corrected; (6) must contain a high Speed accurate PIEZO switching of TIR angle - as fast as 30ms time for small angle changes; (7) must incorporate laser safety hardware; (8) must be compatible with software which controls an integrated incubator attachment for cell biology applications; (9) must have the capability to auto calibrate the TIR angle with simple software-based setup wizard (10) must be capable of probing both directions of a given TIR angle to insure optimization of TIR image; (11) must incorporate a high apochromatic correction in the TIR fluorescence slider, stable laser focus through the objective when switching between lines and flat even field illumination with optimal TIR angle; (12) must be operable with existing modules of Zeiss Axiovision Software currently owned by NRL and the Zeiss Axio Observer microscope. The Carl Zeiss TIR microscope module and accessories are required because it is the only TIR microscope module on the market compatible with the Zeiss software, the Zeiss microscope objectives, and the Zeiss laser light system currently owned by NRL; and this particular TIR microscope module and its accessories are required to augment the capabilities of the Zeiss Axio Observer microscope currently being procured. Delivery will be required within sixty (60) days after contract award. Other business opportunities for NRL are available at our website http://heron.nrl.navy.mil/contracts/rfplist.htm.