SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- META Spectral Scanner Upgrade
- Notice Date
- 6/10/2003
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Br., 6120 Executive Blvd. EPS Suite 600, Rockville, MD, 20852
- ZIP Code
- 20852
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-NCI-30070-NV
- Response Due
- 6/17/2003
- Archive Date
- 7/2/2003
- Point of Contact
- Deborah Moore, Purchasing Agent, Phone (301) 402-4509, Fax (301) 402-4513, - Renita Smith, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-496-8612, Fax 301-480-0241,
- E-Mail Address
-
dm170b@nih.gov, rs442i@nih.gov
- Description
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Synaptic Function Unit (SFU), plans to procure a META spectral scanner upgrade for the existing Zeis LSM 510 confocal microscope from Carl Zeiss Inc., One Zeiss Drive, Thornwood, NY 10594. The principal goal of the Synaptic Function Unit is to study the molecular mechanisms underlying neurotransmitter release and its modulation. Current projects include: 1) to determine the synaptic localization of several proteins in cultured hippocampal neurons; 2) to determine protein-protein interaction in vivo using Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET); and 3) to observe vesicle movement along cytoskeletal structures of neuronal processes. The META upgrades provides the following features: 1) The META detection module is a 32 channel PMT (Photo-Multiplier Tube) which uses a special grating for efficient, even dispersion of emission. Furthermore, lamda stack acquisition is pixel by pixel, so the user can define the channels, and the user can collect data from the spectral detection unit; 2) The META detection model is unique in its emission fingerprinting. This system can handle emission crosstalk as well as excitation crosstalk, and is applicable for highly overlapping emission spectra (for example fluorescent proteins and GFP or variants like FITC and Sytox Green). The META software allows the acquisition of lambda stacks, selection of reference spectra, and separation of channels by linear unmixing; 3) The META provides unique acquisition of the whole emission spectrum with no signal restriction as opposed to imaging using band passes. The user can define the wavelength range, and then fast, electronic selection of detector elements are performed; 4) The META provides linear unmixing. By this, emission signals can be digitally separated quickly and efficiently, and crosstalk-free, multi-fluorescence images based on lambda stacks and measured reference spectra can be produced; 5) The META system is compatible to our existing LSM 510 confocal microscope and software; 6) Zeiss has a patent pending for multi-channel imaging with no emission crosstalk. ?Metatracking? is enhanced using fast electronic multiplexing of META detector elements. The user can define wavelength ranges and both single detector channels and binned META detector channels using multiple pinhole settings. For a single scan, the user can define up to four tracks. Ratio formation between different channels is one of the procedures that can be defined as a track as well, resulting in the possibility of eight channels being recorded in a single operation; 7 Real region of interest can be measured using FRAP (Fluorescence Recovery After Photobleaching) and FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) within selected areas of the sample. Furthermore, this can be combined with multitracking and lambda stack acquisition; 8) The DSP (Digital Signal Processor) controls the scanning, acquisition, and laser excitation. Features include constant velocity scanning, even illumination, easily changed scanning and detection settings, sample preservation via enhanced beam blanking, and very short frame fly back times for time lapse studies (<2% of frame cycle). Scan speeds are higher than video rate. Scan speeds include 77 fps (512 x 32), 20 fps (512 x 128) and 5 fps (512 x 512). In addition, scan speeds can be increased using a definable Step Scan rate, and Line and Spot Scan can be used for ultra high-speed processes; and 9) the META can perform spot scan, line scan or frame scan. Z-stack and time series and Lambda stack acquisition, as well as Region of Interest scanning, spine scanning (freehand drawn line), step scan (scans every nth line and interpolates), full 360? scan rotation, scan zoom, and offset, uni- and bi-directional scanning, and finally, multitracking and metatracking. This system is commercial as defined in FAR Part 2, and this acquisition is being made in accordance with the test program using simplified procedures for certain commercial items as authorized in FAR 13.5. Carl Zeiss Inc. is the only organization known to the NCI researcher that can upgrade the current Zeiss system to a system that has all the aforementioned features that are required and believed to be unique. This is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirement and the noted features, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI research to determine if the party can perform this requirement. An original and one copy of the capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 1:00 p.m. EDT, on June 17, 2003. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed to (301) 402-4513 or emailed to dm170b@nih.gov . It is the vendor?s responsibility to call (301) 402-4509 to insure questions have been received. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement 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. No collect call will be accepted. NAICS 334516
- Record
- SN00343643-W 20030612/030611065058 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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