Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SBSS-2015-408

Title: InSight DS laser or Equivalent Laser

Classification Code: 66 - Instruments & laboratory equipment

NAICS Code: 334- Computer and Electronic Product Manufacturing/334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Description:

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

1. Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)/ National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)/ Division of Intramural Research (DIR) is the nation's leading medical research agency whose mission is to support and conduct world-class research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke. The mission of NINDS is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.

Intravital two-photon laser scanning microscopy is one of the most important and instructive techniques used in our laboratory (the Viral Immunology and Intravital Imaging Section of NINDS). For this upgrade, we want to replace one of our Mai Tai lasers with an InSight laser and we will accommodate this new laser by upgrading the light path of our Leica SP5 to a Leica SP8 or equivalent equipment. The purpose of the light path upgrade is to allow optimal passage of light above 1000nm.

2. Objective

The purpose of this requirement is to provide the Viral Immunology and Intravital Imaging Section with a trade in of an existing Spectra-Physics MaiTai DeepSee laser for an Insight DeepSee laser or equivalent laser that will significantly improve the amount of laser power generated at wavelenths above 1000nm and allow us to visualize a broader spectrum of fluorophores and fluorescent proteins.

3. Scope

The Insight DeepSee Laser or equivalent laser shall provide:
• Completely automated one-box femtosecond laser source with DeepSee dispersion compensation.
• 680 nm to 1300 nm continuous tuning from a single source, short 100 fs pulse widths and high peak power levels into the infrared where imaging penetration depth is maximized.
• The following power output:
600 mW @ 700 nm
1000 mW @ 900 nm
800 mW @ 1000 nm
600 mW @ 1200 nm
500 mW @ 1300 nm

A fully automated ultrafast laser can be seamlessly tuned with the click of a mouse to any wavelength within seconds at speeds over 50 nm/sec

Capability Statement /Information Sought.

The respondent's response shall also include any other specific and relevant information related to the requirements of this project that will enable the Government to determine the capabilities of the company to perform the specialized requirements described in this synopsis. Interested organizations must demonstrate and document in any response submitted, to this market survey extensive experience with and the ability to perform all of the specialized requirements elsewhere described.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

The information submitted must be must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to fifteen (15) page limit. The 15-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The response must include the respondent's technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically (facsimile responses are NOT accepted ) to:

Andriani Buck
Contract Specialist
NIH/NIDA/SSSA
[email protected]

The response must be received on or before June 1, 2015, 8:00 AM (EST).

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).