SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Visible Human Project - The Visible Pancreas
- Notice Date
- 3/21/2005
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD, 20894
- ZIP Code
- 20894
- Solicitation Number
- 05-070-KDR
- Response Due
- 4/8/2005
- Archive Date
- 4/23/2005
- Description
- In partnership, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) and the National Institute on Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), intend to extend the work of the Visible Human Project (VHP) to finer levels of resolution, combining gross anatomy and microanatomy by acquiring data of a specimen of an entire human organ with resolution sufficient to resolve cellular structures. NIDDK is especially interested in developing new techniques for studying the distribution of the islets of Langerhans, the insulin producing cellular clusters in the pancreas, to improve our understanding of the organization of this complex organ and to help guide future research in endocrinology and diabetes research. Together, the NLM and NIDDK expect to secure expert services for the acquisition of a whole organ, specifically a human pancreas, physically sectioned at resolutions on the order of 10 microns (10-6 meters) across the entire organ and the exposed sections mounted on slides for subsequent staining and photographed with sufficient resolution to resolve structures at a matching scale of 10 microns. As the resultant dataset will be reassembled into a 3D representation of the specimen from the collection of slices, the successful contractor(s) will be responsible for handling the image processing tasks for the initial reconstruction of the target volume from the photographic slices. Image capture may be done with a combination of confocal as well as conventional imaging or involve other techniques. The contractor may immobilize or fix the sample and may include fiducial markers, rulers/measurement-aids, or other alignment tools in the imaged field to assist with the reconstruction process so long as these structures do not obscure the anatomy and the immobilization does not interfere with histological staining processes. Since a complete reconstruction of the organ is intended, the successful contractor should not dissect the specimen into small samples for sectioning, but rather be prepared to place the entire specimen on their microtome or other device for acquiring the sectioned slides. The successful contractor should minimize the loss of any slices in the acquisition process. The review and award process will follow a four-step process: 1. A Request for Information (RFI) - Search for Sources will be conducted: Any offeror or group wishing to participate in the competition process MUST reply to the search for sources. Potential sources for this work will be asked for examples of their previous work and statements of their capabilities to meet the challenges posed by this project. A Technical Evaluation Group (TEG) will evaluate the potential sources on their existing facilities, technical approach, expertise of available personnel, consultants, and subcontractors (including pathologists, histologists, computer scientists, image processors, and technicians), and past performance. NIH personnel reserve the right to visit potential sites as part of the search for sources; however, a site visit is not required for a future award. 2. A Request for Quotes (RFQ) will be issued for a feasibility study. Only sources identified as competitive through the search for sources will be solicited for quotes for the feasibility study. A complete Special Emphasis Panel (SEP) will be convened to make the awards for the feasibility study. NLM and NIDDK reserves the right to make more than one award for the feasibility study if differing technical approaches warrant the exploration of more than one method. These/this award(s) will be executed quickly through a Simplified Acquisitions Mechanism under FAR Part 13. 3. The Feasibility Study(ies) will be conducted. The work will be coordinated with research personnel at NIDDK and NLM to help monitor and refine the technique to assure satisfactory subsequent staining and reconstruction of the final datasets. The feasibility study(ies) will be evaluated on its(their) capacity to meet the requirements for high-resolution, stained, visualization of the Islets of Langerhans in a whole, reconstructed human pancreas. 4. A Request for Proposals (RFP) for a contract for the complete award will be issued: Based on the results of the feasibility study(ies), an RFP will follow for the study of a complete organ. If the feasibility study is conclusive, the NLM and NIDDK reserve the right to execute this final acquisition as a sole-source award having conducted a protracted competition for the project. Feasibility Study NLM and NIDDK are proposing a feasibility study for this project. NIDDK will provide the necessary specimens. We propose to make an award to demonstrate the technology with the quality and precision required to fulfill the goal of a whole sectioned and stained human pancreas imaged at a resolution of 10 microns. As such, this pilot study will have the following requirements: Up to 2 sets of 100 contiguous physical sections taken from a whole pancreas specimen (without prior dissection and without loss of any slices). In addition to the 2 sets of contiguous slices, sample full-organ 10 micron sections should be delivered from regular 1mm intervals along the entire organ. These sections should have the same imaging characteristics as the final product for the contiguous slices. As stated before, since a complete reconstruction of the organ is intended, the successful contractor should not dissect the specimen into small samples for sectioning, but rather be prepared to place the entire specimen on their microtome or other device for acquiring the sectioned slides. The successful contractor should minimize the loss of any tissue in the acquisition process. The entire organ should be sliced at 1 mm intervals suitable for imaging at a resolution of 10 microns. Mounting of these sections on slides suitable for H&E histological stains as well as immunohistology for the identification of islet cells. Digital images of the unstained slides with pixel resolutions of 10 microns. Alignment information for reconstructing the collection of slices into a 3D representation of the specimen. This information should include the initial reconstruction information suitable for rigid registration of the stacks of 2D slices into a 3D volume. More precise deformable registration is not required and will be the subject of later subsequent research projects. NLM and NIDDK are specifically seeking contractors with the discipline necessary to conduct this project, adhering to high standards of quality and consistency necessary to both section specimens without loss and with the preservation of the shape and geometry specimen to allow for the reconstruction of the 3D volume. This process is intended to provide some quality assurance for the later award for the whole organ project. Regular progress evaluations may be initiated, and frequent interaction with the NIH staff responsible for the histology, microscopy, and deformable registration and reconstruction is expected. The deliverables for this proposed project are the photographs of the exposed sections, the alignment information for reassembling the image from the mounted slides into a reconstructed 3D volume, and the physical mounted slides of the tomographic sections of the specimen. The resulting slides and the final data will be owned by the National Institutes of Health and distributed to the public. Because of the stringent requirements for this feasibility study, the NIH will request sample work from the offering contractors as part of the proposal process. In addition, the NIH reserves the right to include a site visit as part of the proposal evaluation. The feasibility study, if successful, will likely be followed by a federal procurement for a whole specimen under a research contract. Institutions or laboratories offering proposals should consider this feasibility study as an essential demonstration of technical capability for not only the pilot project, but also for the subsequent project for the complete organ. The requirement for the feasibility study will be procured in accordance with FAR Part 13 - Simplified Acquisitions Procedures. NLM and NIDDK anticipate that the feasibility study will be completed by the end of July 2005 and costs will not exceed $100,000. All quotes will be evaluated on technical merit, qualifications of the personnel (including pathologists, histologists, computer scientists, image processing personnel, and technicians), cost, and past performance on research and development projects. If more than one competitive source for the feasibility study is identified and each submits a successful proposal, NLM and NIDDK reserve the right to make multiple awards for the pilot study. Response to the Search for Sources: NLM and NIDDK will review the responses to the search for sources based on an evaluation of the responder?s capabilities to execute both the expected feasibility study as well as the planned contract to image an entire organ. Responses to the Request for Information (RFI) that constitutes the search for sources will evaluate: 1. Proposed methods for acquiring the data: The response will be evaluated based on the overall technique. A complete proposal is not required, but rather an overview of the proposed method. How does the potential contractor plan to fix the sample? Will the process require frozen sectioning, embedding, or other immobilization technique? Does the responder intend to combine confocal imaging with physical sectioning or will the method be based on sectioned slides? 2. Qualifications of existing personnel: The response will be evaluated based on the technical merits of the named existing personnel. Do they have experience in whole organ sectioning and data acquisition? Do they have expertise in alignment and registration of histological sections into 3D data collections? 3. Existing facilities: Since this award process is not intended to provide funds for new equipment acquisition, the responders should describe their current capabilities for acquiring the data for the feasibility study as well as for the complete organ data acquisition. If modifications of any equipment is required, the responses should describe the extent of the modifications, what capabilities are possible using the current configurations, and what capabilities will be enabled by proposed changes to the equipment. 4. Past performance: The responses should provide sources for relevant references of past performance in data acquisition. 5. Samples of previous work: The responses should include photographic or digital illustrations and evidence of previous results. These results should demonstrate the capability of the responder to provide the proposed data with lossless continuity of the tissue sections. Page Limit: Responses to the RFI search for sources should be limited to 10 pages of textual information (with figures and tables). Additional illustrations, photographs and evidence of results (presented in photographs or digital information) must accompany the response. The total response should not exceed 25 pages (text plus pictures). If paper copies are supplied, five copies of each response are required. Due Date: Responses to the search for sources RFI are due on April 8, 2005. They may be submitted in writing to the National Library of Medicine, Office of Acquisitions Management, 8600 Rockville Pike, Building 38A, Room B1N20, Bethesda, Maryland 20894; Attention: Karen D. Riggs, Contracting Officer or by email to kr33v@nih.gov. NLM and NIDDK anticipate that the requirement for the whole organ study will be procured in accordance with FAR Part 12. A single award is expected for the whole organ study. If multiple feasibility studies have been awarded, a subcommittee of the Special Emphasis Panel that performed the original review may be convened if necessary to judge the results and determine the award for the final RFP. Request for Quotations (RFQ) Number NLM 05 070/KDR covering the feasibility study will be available on or about April 22, 2005. Request for RFQ NLM 05 070/KDR may be obtained by writing to the National Library of Medicine, Office of Acquisitions Management, 8600 Rockville Pike, Building 38A, Room B1N20, Bethesda, Maryland 20894; Attention: Karen D. Riggs, Contracting Officer or by email request to kr33v@nih.gov. Facsimiles WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE. Awards for the feasibility study are anticipated on or about May 20, 2005. All sources that responded to the Search for Sources/Request for Information that were found competitive by the Technical Evaluation Group to review sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the NLM.
- Place of Performance
- Address: 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland
- Zip Code: 20894
- Country: US
- Zip Code: 20894
- Record
- SN00772392-W 20050323/050321211742 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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