This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number 36C24E18Q9510 is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-92. This requirement will be made using a cascading set-aside under the associated NAICS code 334516 with a small business size standard of 1000. The full solicitation document is included as an attachment to this notice; to include: a list of contract line items, a Description of requirements for the items to be acquired, SOW/PWS, Date(s) and place(s) of delivery, and applicable clauses and provisions. This system will support multiple VA investigators to provide high resolution and super resolution multiphoton confocal imaging with spectral deconvolution from fixed tissue samples, live cell imaging, whole cleared tissue imaging and in vivo live imaging in animals. It will also allow VA investigators to seamlessly image the same sample using both confocal microscopy and electron microscopy, a capability termed Shuttle and Find . The requirement is based on a Zeiss LSM 880 (2+1) Airyscan Fast NLO Multi-Photon Confocal based Microscopic System or an equal (or better) system in accordance with the specifications outlined in the solicitation. Evaluation procedures: Evaluation of offers will be made in accordance with FAR 13.106-2, and award made on the basis of lowest price technically acceptable. Multi-Photon Microscope Salient Features: 1) Minimum Imaging Modalities: Super-Resolution, Fast Super-Resolution, Multi-Photon (de-scanned and non-descanned detection), Multi-Photon Super-Resolution, Spectral Multi-Photon, Spectral Confocal, Brightfield DIC, Widefiled fluorescence. 2) The system shall be compatible with analysis of the same sample by electron microscopy, to perform seamless correlative light and Electron microscopy (CLEM). Axio Observer-7 (or equal) Microscope: 1) Axio Observer-7 Fully motorized inverted imaging platform - ACR Automatic Component Recognition for objectives and filter Sets - Thermally isolated Objectives for Live Cell Imaging 2) Full integration of environmental control units into microscope stand control via TFT docking station as well as software. Stage-top incubation control with Temperature and Humidified CO2 as well as temperature control of the complete microscope enclosure for imaging multi-chamber coverglass, Petrie dishes and multi-well plates. CO2 set-point can be freely adjusted from 0.0% to 10% with an internal resolution of 0.01% 3) Laser safe interlocked and light blocking microscope enclosure (with full temperature control in addition to stage top incubation). Required to protect from stray room light and eliminate laser exposure. 4) High resolution scanning stage with joystick and integrated computer control including universal specimen holder suitable for variety of slides, round dishes up to 60mm and multi-well plates with 5 reproducibility over the full travel range for multi-position time, tiling and lapse experiments. 5) In addition to the Z drive of the microscope with 15 mm travel range a Piezo Z Stage for fast Z-stack acquisition in all imaging modes also while using the stage-top incubation inserts. The Z Piezo has a payload capacity of 2 Kg, travel range of 500 microns and a Z-step resolution of 1 nm and can accommodate, slides, round dishes, multi-well plates and stage top incubation inserts. 6) Definite Focus 2 (or equal): Hardware focus stabilization device for time-lapse imaging. 7) Six Plan Apochromat Objectives 10x/0.45 NA (Numerical Aperture) Air 10x/0.5 Water Dipping objective 20x/0.8 Air 25x/0.8 Multi Immersion Motorized Auto Corr (Water, Silicone Oil, Glycerin) 40x/1.2 Multi Immersion Motorized Auto Corr (Water, Silicon Oil, Glycerin) 63x/1.4 Oil Immersion Objective 8) 25x/0.8 and 40x/1.2 Multi-Immersion Autocorr objectives ease the experimental setup by adjusting the objective s correction collar via software to the precise setting for the ideal specimen image resulting in best signal, optimal resolution, and depth penetration. The spherical aberration compensating power of the objective can correct for the objective penetration depth, cover glass thickness variations, refractive index variations of the immersion media and the sample, as well as temperature variations. By using Autocorr objectives, the accidental disturbance of the sample focus and position by the manual hand-adjustment of the correction collar is avoided. The 25x and 40x multi immersion objectives allow imaging refractive index matching of live samples, with either water or silicone oil immersion as well as refractive index matching of fixed samples mounted in glycerol based mounting media. Airyscan (or equal) Fast Hardware Super-Resolution Detector: 1) LSM 880 6 channel system: 2 Multi Alkali PMTs+ 1 GaAsP PMT+ 1 Airyscan Detector (32 GaAsP PMT Array) + BiG2 (2 GaAsP PMTs) 2) Airyscan Hardware Super-Resolution detection unit consisting of a calibrated 32-element Gallium Arsenide Phosphide (GaAsP) PMT with typical QE >45 % (peak) and adjustable zoom optics (to accommodate different objectives). The 32-element proprietary area detector is arranged in a compound eye fashion where the central element is adjusted to lie on the optical axis. Operable in four different modes: superresolution, Fast, variable pinhole and standard confocal. The adjustable zoom optics always ensure that a defined amount of light (1.25 airy units for superresolution and confocal mode & 3.5 airy units for variable pinhole) is projected onto the detector. A minimum of four modes of operation available: Superresolution, Resolution vs. Sensitivity, Virtual Pinhole, and Confocal mode in addition to Airyscan Fast Mode. The Super-resolution mode allows an increase in the image resolution in all three dimensions. This resolution increase comes with an inherent improvement of the signal to noise ratio. 3D data: Lateral resolution of 120 (nano-meters) nm and axial resolution of 350 nm at 488 nm. 2D data: Lateral resolution of 120 nm at 488 nm. 4-8 x increased sensitivity (compared to GaAsP-PMT detector of traditional confocal at 1 AU pinhole opening) Resolution vs. Sensitivity allows for increased signal to noise ratio at the expense of achievable resolution by detecting more Airy orders. The amount of signal gained is dependent on the pixel resolution used for the formatted frame. The larger the pixel size, the bigger the gained signal that is at the expense of the achievable resolution. This also leads to enhanced imaging speeds which is useful when imaging living cells. The Virtual Pinhole mode allows for higher sensitivity due to no emission light being thrown-away during acquisition. Pinhole selection is done after acquisition and with freedom for obtaining desired pinhole opening between 0.7 and 3.0 AU. Confocal mode uses Airyscan as an additional GaAsP detection channel in addition to the Quasar detector. In Fast mode, sampling (pixel size) is continuously adjustable from 0.5x Optimal to Super-resolution (2x Optimal), with Optimal in reference to Confocal Nyquist sampling. Resolution in Fast mode can be enhanced to resolve x=145 nm, y= 180 nm, z= 450 nm Signal to noise is enhanced 4x at 4 times faster image acquisition, compared to GaAsP PMT confocal imaging 3) Confocal Scan Head: The TwinGate main beamsplitter utilizing 2 separate 13 position wheels allowing up to 50 different laser combinations while maintaining a typical laser suppression of OD 7 or greater. The highly efficient holographic grating leads to an even spectral dispersion over the entire visual spectral range (380-750 nm). Grating utilizes a spectral recycling loop to recover non-separated light, redirecting it onto the holographic grating for optimum sensitivity. Pigtailed Lasers, easily upgradeable, maintenance-free, and highly stable. 4) Incorporation of Fluorescence-Correlation-Spectroscopy (FCS) and Fluorescence-Cross-Correlation-Spectroscopy (FCCS) for measuring biochemical reactions (e.g. diffusion, receptor/ligand interaction, molecule concentration) in small volumes < 1 fl). Free FCS is available utilizing one channel for analyzing a one component 3D diffusion with triplet. FCS and FCCS measurements are possible with the temperature controlled side PMT and the central GaAsP detector in the three channel configuration as well as the BiG2 NDD Detector. 5) Software integrated linear modulation of laser power from 0.001 to 100% for all laser lines between 458 and 633nm for an attention range of 1:100,000 6) Eight laser lines as listed below 405 nm, diode, 30 mW, cw+pulsed 458, 488, 514 nm, Ar gas laser, 25 mW 561 nm laser diode pumped solid state laser, 20 mW 594 nm, HeNe, 2 mW 633 nm, HeNe, 5 mW 690-1040 Ti:Saph Laser (MaiTai SpectraPhysics Newport) 7) Minumum use of 8 laser lines simultaneously. 8) OSCiscan, Online Scanner Calibration, for artifact-free, fast and reliable bidirectional scanning without the need of manual adjustment. 9) Absolute linear scanner movement to ensure equal pixel dwell-times as a prerequisite for any quantitative study across all imaging modes. 10) 19 different scan speed levels (38 levels when including bi-directional scans). 11) Image format from 4x1 to 8192x8192 pixels with up to 16 bit depth (65536 gray values) in all PMT channels. Multi-Photon Imaging: 1) BiG.2 detector (Binary GaAsP) modules, each module containing two cooled GaAsP (gallium arsenide phosphide)-cathode PMT detectors. Exchangeable filtercubes provide a flexible direction of emission light onto the 2 GaAsP detectors. The BiG.2 module can be used on the coupling port of the scanhead and on all dedicated NDD-ports of the microscope stand. When imaging, the BiG.2 module can be switched via software between 3 modes; - Digital oversampling imaging mode allows for the user to control a high voltage gain and digital offset on the detection PMT. - Photon counting imaging mode allows for the system to distinguish the arrival of single photons many tens of times during pixel dwell time as an image is scanned (GaAsP PMTs and cooled PMTs are run at 15MHz). This mode discriminates actual photon arrivals events to the detector and allows for samples with low amounts of fluorochromes to be easily imaged and produce a noise free image. - Emission signal can be captured simultaneously using the internal detectors and the BiG.2 detector module mounted on the DC-out coupling port. This is accomplished using dichroic filters within a filterwheel inside the scanhead (controlled within the ZEN software). 2) System has two separate IR coupling ports featuring independent collimating optics. This allows for perfect chromatic correction across a large wavelength range as well as simultaneous excitation from two separate IR sources for optimal multi-color multiphoton 3) Fully integrated beam routing optics for the coupling of multi-photon IR laser. 4) Fast regulation/attenuation of laser intensity via the AOM 5) The NIR laser (690-1080 nm) can be combined with VIS-laser lines (458-633 nm) and the near UV-lasers (405 and/or 445 nm) 6) Individual collimation of the 405 nm, 445 nm, and the NIR lasers is possible for precise overlay of all excitation wavelengths in X, Y, and Z 7) Multitracking: Changing the excitation wavelength of IR-laser at sequential acquisition is possible for optimal multifluorophore imaging 8) Auto Z Brightness Correction defined by the user before acquisition of z stacks by stepped increments of the excitation (laser intensity), master gain, digital gain, and digital offset. Can be stored and reloaded for repetitive and reproducible imaging of large z-stacks Software Features: 1) System requires two high-end workstations, one for systems control and one for real-time image processing and/or image analysis or visualization. The workstations should have the following minimum hardware configurations: HP Z840 (or equal) Workstation CPU: 2 x Intel® Xeon® E5-2623v3 Core 3.0 GHz Memory 192 GB DDR4-2133 MHz ECC registered RAM (12 slots fre Hard Drives: 4 x 2 TB as 4 TB RAID 10 drive Nvidia Quadro K2200 4 GB graphics Dual integrated 10/100/1000 LAN interf Slim DVD +/- RW recorder for rewriteable media Rescue kit: (USB stick 16 GB recovery image) Language Package Windows 7 Ultimate Embedded x64 English US HP KEYBOARD USB US and HP USB Laser Scroll Mouse HP 32 LCD Monitor 2) Acquisition and offline workstation connected by a 10 gigabit Ethernet cards for data streaming 3) Multidimensional image acquisition with easy combinations of Z-Stack, Time Series, Multi-positions (including software based autofocus options), and Tile Scan experiments 4) Emission Fingerprinting: Reliable separation of different fluorescent dyes even with highly overlapping emission spectra (e.g. simultaneous detection and separation of FITC, GFP, YFP and autofluorescence) based on known, previously recorded reference spectra. Display of the unmixed dyes (crosstalk free) into separate dye-channel images and overlay images 5) Reference spectra can be stored in a database and later recalled. Spectral information is stored automatically with each unmixed image for traceable and reproducible workflow and unmixing experiments 6) System Self-Maintenance Tool: An easy-to-use software system with a calibration objective for maintaining optimal system performance by automated calibration routines 7) Smart Setup: Easy hardware control - adapts system configuration according to chosen dyes from a large database of fluorochromes. Different acquisition modes are suggested (e.g. Fastest or Best Signal) 8) The software module shall permit online processing and post-processing of acquired superresolution, resolution vs. sensitivity, virtual pinhole and Airyscan with Fast data 9) Online processing shall allow the previewing of single images during image setup or multi-dimensional experiments and be readily accessible in the ZEN image containers during image acquisition. 10) Post-processing of all Airyscan data (incl. Airyscan Fast mode) is possible in 2D and 3D 11) 3D processing for z-stacks, best resolution and signal to noise in all three dimensions 12) 2D Superresolution as a specific post processing option for images acquired in Superresolution mode, reaching a minimum of 120 nm lateral resolution and improved z-slice thickness for single images 13) Processing settings that can be given either fully automatically or set interactively in a manual mode 14) Manual processing by a single strength parameter that can be adapted by a single GUI slider 15) The processing strength parameters can be set individually per Channel of the dataset 16) Batch processing for processing of multiple files is available 17) Linear processing, for quantitative results 18) The ability for data to be processed during the acquisition of a time series experiment, without interfering with the experiment by streaming the data to an additional workstation Software Modules: 1) Quantitative FRET (or equal) plus module for acquisition and analysis of sensitized emission, acceptor photo bleaching, and Emission Fingerprinting based FRET using Youvan, Gordon, and Xia analysis methods. Includes mean of ROI measurement, displaying intensity changes over time. 2) FRAP Efficiency Analysis module for analysis of original FRAP curve and fitted curve according to the parameters provided by the original curve. With tabulated output of fitting parameters (rate constant for recovery). Includes mean of ROI measurement, displaying intensity changes over time. 3) The Experiment Designer (MTS Experiments Macro) (or equal) module for heterogeneous complex, combined Time Series with changing acquisition configurations, autofocus, and bleach functions in any order. 4) With Tiles & Positions module advanced tile scan options are available and neighboring, overlapping image stacks in reflection and fluorescent mode can be acquired and stitched together. Imaging up to 100x100 tiles is possible. Processing of single images, Z-Stacks, Time Series, and Tiled images with the Shading Correction tool is available 5) ZEN module Shuttle and Find is used for the relocation of sample positions in two different microscopes, e.g. a light microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM), and the correlation of two images to one merged image. This technique is called correlative microscopy or just "CorrMic" System Accessories: 1) 5 x6 Anti-Vibration system table and compressor 2) Objective inverter and side stage for the using the 10x/0.5 NA water dipping objective 3) Computer Cart This is a BRAND NAME OR EQUAL REQUIREMENT for a Zeiss LSM 880 (2+1) Airyscan Fast NLO Multi-photon Confocal Microscopic system or an equal (or better) system in accordance with the salient characteristics and the solicitation specifications. Any equivalent products must meet all of the salient characteristics of the system above. All responses must include product information that demonstrates equivalency to the salient characteristics. Delivery FOB Destination to: VA Hospital San Diego 3350 La Jolla Village Dr. San Diego, CA 92161 The following provisions apply to this acquisition: 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial, (ix) A statement regarding the applicability of Offerors are advised to include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with its offer. 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items, 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required To Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal 852.211-73, Brand name or equal. 852.246-70, Guarantee Additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions determined by the contracting officer: Set Aside Cascading set-aside procedures. Any award resulting from this solicitation will be made using a cascading set-aside order of precedence as follows: 1. In accordance with FAR Subpart 19.1405 and VAAR Subpart 819.7005, any award under this solicitation will be made on a competitive basis first to an eligible Service Disabled Veteran Owned small business [SDVOSB] concern provided that the conditions of 38 U.S.C. 8127(d) are met (the VA Rule of Two) whereby the Contracting Officer receives adequate competition of two or more small business concerns owned and controlled by Service Disabled Veterans, and that the award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers the best value to the United States. 2. If there is inadequate competition for award to an SDVOSB concern, the SDVOSB set-aside shall be withdrawn and cascaded to the next contracting order of priority in accordance with VAAR 819.7004, which is Veteran Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and conducted in accordance with the procedures set forth in VAAR 819.7006 provided that the conditions of 38 U.S.C. 8127(d) are met (the VA Rule of Two) whereby the Contracting Officer receives adequate competition of two or more small business concerns owned and controlled by Veterans, and that the award can be made at a fair and reasonable price that offers the best value to the United States. 3. If there continues to be inadequate competition between SDVOSB and VOSB concerns, the cascading will continue through the contracting order of priority in accordance with VAAR 819.7004 and FAR 19.203. If the contracting officer determines that offers from small business concerns do not meet the solicitation requirements in terms of technical acceptability, past performance, and fair market price, the small business set-aside[s] will be withdrawn and award will be made on the basis of full and open competition. Adequate competition: Adequate competition shall be deemed to exist if At least two competitive offers are received from qualified, responsible business concerns at the set-aside tier under consideration; and Award could be made at fair market price as determined in accordance with FAR 19.202-6. The VA contracting officer reserves the right to consider competitive proposals submitted from all responsible offerors (including large businesses) in determining the fair market price. Due date and submission of quotes: The quotes are due on 7/24/2018 at 10:00 AM and shall be directed electronically to [email protected]. Quotes shall be marked with the solicitation number. Information regarding the solicitation can be addressed to the Contracting Officer, Michael Haydo, [email protected]

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