The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Laboratory of Pathology, plans to procure on a sole source basis for a PixCell II to Pix Cell IIe Upgrade for an existing Laser Capture Microscopy (LCM) system with Arcturus Engineering, Inc, 1220 Terra Bella Avenue, Mountain View, CA. The Laboratory of Pathology has been working to identify and characterize the protein signatures of human cancer cells and tissues and to apply proteomics technologies directly to patient diagnosis, toxicity monitoring, and therapeutic intervention. Laser capture microdissection has been developed by the NCI to provide a rapid, reliable method to procure pure specified cells from specific microscopic regions of tissue sections for subsequent quantitative, multiplex molecular analysis. The original equipment used in the core facility, consisting of three fully equipped LCM systems, was purchased from Arcturus Engineering Inc. in 1999. This equipment has been an extremely valuable resource for numerous researchers; however, upgrades are required in order for the units to be functional with existing computer interfaces in use in the laboratory. The three LCM systems shall be upgraded from PixCell II to PixCell IIe. Only Arcturus, the manufacturer of this equipment, can perform the required upgrade. There is no other source known to the NCI researcher for this product. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 – Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.5 to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirements, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement and any other furnished information must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI researcher to determine if the party can fully meet the requirements herein. Faxed and emailed capability statements are not authorized. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 4:00 PM EDT on September 9, 2005. If you have any questions, please submit them in writing via electronic mail to Karen Gardner, Contract Specialist on [email protected] or by fax 301-402-4513. It is the contractor’s responsibility to call 301-402-4509 to verify questions have been received. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received shall be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. NAICS: 334516. Size standard: 500 employees. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered with the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at www.ccr.gov and the online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA) at http://orca.bpn.gov.

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