SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- ArcturusXT
- Notice Date
- 7/30/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Blvd., EPS Suite 600, Rockville, Maryland, 20852
- ZIP Code
- 20852
- Solicitation Number
- NCI-80129-MM
- Archive Date
- 8/23/2008
- Point of Contact
- Melissa P Marino, Phone: 301-402-4509, Caren N Rasmussen,, Phone: (301) 402-4509
- E-Mail Address
-
marinome@mail.nih.gov, cr214i@nih.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), plans to procure on a sole source basis for a ArcturusXT Laser Micro-dissection Instrument with Molecular Devices, 1311 Orleans Drive, Sunnyvale, CA 94089. 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) to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. The North American Industry Classification System Code is 334516 and the business size standard is 500 employees. The investigators at the NCI Laser Capture Micro-dissection Core Facility seek to purchase an Arcturus XT micro-dissection instrument for use as a core instrument for micro-dissection. This instrument will be used for every project that needs infrared and or ultraviolet laser micro-dissection of tissue samples under optimal microscopic visualization, including fluorescence, dark field illumination and phase contrast, currently not available at the Laser Capture Micro-dissection Core Facility. The following salient characteristics apply to the Special BD FACSAria II: •Solid state diode 810nm Infrared (IR) laser for micro-dissection of tissues per methodology developed and patented at the NIH and licensed to MDS Analytical Technologies.. •Capable of excising individual cells, intricate cell layers, and microscopic structures without employing a UV laser. •Capture material onto small caps compatible with 500 u Micro-centrifuge tubes in the same spatial orientation as the original tissue specimen. •Solid state, passive Q-switched diode pumped 355 nm UV cutting laser. •Computer controlled microscope operation and all microdissection functions and shall use a software GUI to designate areas for collection. Provide automated control of microscope operation and all micro-dissection functions, include drawing tools to allow easy delineation of cutting lines, spots and areas for capture. •Software shall include low resolution image of the entire slide, presentation of slides and images in natural orientation, automatic focus and lighting controls, intuitive task sequence layout in logical order, and control of essential functions on the main screen by one click or stylus controls. •Capable of dissecting samples from standard glass, glass membrane, and framed membrane microscope slides. •System shall be based on research grade microscope suitable for use as an imaging workstation if so equipped. Range of objectives suitable from 2-100X (dry or oil), optical tube lens able to increase magnification another 1.5X, open camera port, high resolution camera with MetaVue software for image capture, processing and basic analysis. The system offered meets the governments needs. NIH researchers needs the microscopy and imagining capabilities of this instrument for applications in particular types of biological targets as chromosome imaging and dissection (which require high magnification with high quality image resolution), single cells, or fluorescence targets. •Capability to automatically identify and mark areas for micro-dissection based on staining, morphology, and predefined operator input parameters. •Capabilities for phase-contrast differential interference contrast (DIC). •Interactive PEN monitor for easy sample markup with a mouse or stylus. Microscope shall include a trackball for easy movement of the stage. The vendor shall provide installation by trained service engineers and a minimum two day on-site training period. JUSTIFICATION: 1.Statutory authority: Statute: 13.106-(b)(2) and 13.501(a)(1) (b) Soliciting from a single source. (2) For Sole source acquisition of commercial items in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5, the requirements at 13.501(a) apply. The Arcturus XT platform provided by Molecular Devices is the sole instrument available which combines both laser capture and laser cutting micro-dissection. The Arcturus XT instrument will allow users of the Laser Dissection Core Facility, open to the whole intramural NIH research community the most advanced IR laser capture and UV laser cutting instrument. The combination of both micro-dissection types in one platform makes this instrument unique in terms of versatility for different types of tissue and cell micro-dissection. These capabilities give this instrument a much bigger versatility than other instruments which are based only on UV cutting laser. IR laser is preferable for micro-dissection of very fine targets as individual cells and tumor microenvironment components (stroma). IR laser also has the advantage that does not damage the bio-molecules, while UV laser damage the bio-molecules under its path, which is a concern in the dissection of fine target or individual cells. In our own scientific research the NCI has been using the capabilities of the IR laser for micro-dissection of tumor-associated stroma in the context of tumor microenvironment studies. For all these reasons, we believe that IR laser system is essential for many types of applications. To the best of our knowledge the only source that provides IR laser systems is Molecular Devices. Molecular Devices / MDS Analytical Technologies is the only known source that produces instruments that combine both laser micro-dissection types in one platform and is able to meet all the required characteristics described above. 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 shall 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 contracting office by 11:00 AM ET on August 8, 2008. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Melissa Marino, Contract Specialist at marinome@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 NCI-80129-MM on all correspondence.
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