Upgrade Existing MPFM/confocal Microscope (Leica SP5 Multiphoton/confocal)

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is seeking sources for the upgrade of the existing MPFM/confocal Microscope (Leica SP5 Multiphoton/confocal). This SOURCES SOUGHT (SS) is being issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), NOR IS IT A REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ). It is not to be construed as a commitment by the requesting party to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this SS. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this SS. This FedBizOps SS is strictly for market research purposes only. As a result of this SS, the Government may issue a RFQ, however, should such requirements materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to the SS. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a size standard of 500 employees. Based on the responses received from this SOURCES SOUGHT announcement, the NHLBI may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a single contract. All eligible companies responding to this SS Announcement must have the capabilities to provide the below services upon receipt of contract. STATEMENT OF WORK: Background Information The goal of this upgrade involves high resolution imaging of unlabeled and fluorescently labeled metabolites and structures in vivo. This will be accomplished using a combination of imaging techniques to include multi-photon fluorescence microscopy (MPFM) and Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS) on the same microscope stand. CARS allows for imaging of various metabolites including water, D2O, NAD+, and lipids in tissues. MPFM allows for the imaging autofluorescent metabolites like NADH, fluorescent markers for blood vessels, phosphorescent oxygen probes etc. For many years the Laboratory of Cardiac Energetics (LCE) and Office of the Scientific of the Director, has pioneered aspects of non-invasive imaging using methods including MRI and multi-photon microscopy. Non-invasive imaging allows physiological processes to be followed without disruption of the natural environment of the specimen This purchase is for the upgrade of an existing MPFM/confocal microscope (Leica SP5 multiphoton/confocal, serial #51 00000 835) to enable longer wavelength CARS imaging as well as MPFM on the same microscope. This requires a microscope capable of efficiently transmitting excitation wavelengths from 470 to 1300nm. It is also required that a very sensitive detection system be used to detect the CARS back reflected signal. This purchase will be used with a CARS spectrally focused laser system (currently on order) as well as a standard MPFM Ti:Saph laser. Purpose and Objectives for the Procurement 1. The microscope upgrade must, at the same time, enable multiphoton fluorescence microscopy (MPFM). MPFM is a method which has been well established in all three labs for examining many physiological processes in living tissue. In particular, the combination of these two techniques will allow for the multiphoton excitation of luminescent probes and intrinsic chromophores within tissues, and the excitation and probing of vibrational resonances within specific molecules, using a very specific type of CARS (Coherent AntiStokes Raman Spectroscopy) imaging called Spectral-focusing CARS (SFCARS). 2. The system must be completely compatible and ready to use with current Labview in-house custom-written programs from LCE that interface with Leica acquisition software that the lab currently owns. 3. This microscope should exhibit a transmittance higher than 40% for excitation wavelengths in the range 680-1300nm to perform MPFM and CARS microscopy experiments. 4. The microscope must be fully compatible with an existing 4-channel non-descanned Leica external PMT detection system. 5. The microscope must have both resonant and non-resonant scanning modes which enable imaging speeds of 28frames/s at a resolution of 512 x 512 pixels. 6. Must have an additional two channel high quantum efficiency hybrid detection system that exceeds the quantum efficiency of standard PMT's over a range of emission detection range from 400-750nm. 7. Must be compatible with an existing Leica APD detection system in the descanned emission pathway. 8. Must provide a 20x water immersion IR apochromat objective that is corrected for chromatic aberrations in the 700-1300nm range, with an NA of at least 0.75, a long working distance of at least 0.6mm and a transmittance above 75% in the range of 400-1300nm. The Contractor shall install the system in the LCE laboratory on the NIH campus (Bethesda, MD) within 2 months from receipt of award. Companies that can perform the requirements above are requested to submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement, not to exceed 20 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, data, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to perform the task (s) as described above. The capability statement shall include the following: 1. Name and identify your size and type of business (i.e. Large Business; Small Business; Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB); Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB); Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone); Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB); and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB]; 2. To demonstrate experience in providing the equipment, please submit all product literature and technical specifications; 3. Demonstrate the ability to deliver and install the upgrade within two months from the receipt of an award; and 4. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in finalizing its market research. 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, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. All capability Statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must reference this Notice NHLBI-SS-CSB-HL-2013-161-RRJ, and be submitted electronically (via email) to Robin Jeffries, Contract Specialist, at robin.jeffries@nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by May 31, 2013, 2:00 P.M., EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered.