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. We are specifically look either for distributors of the brand name item listed below or an equivalent compatible item. 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.

Background: The National Institute on Aging IRP has purchased a XB550 Electron Microscope, a FIB-SEM system in order to study a broad range of experimental projects essential to the core mission of the NIA. To ensure the proper handling of biological samples to be examined by the FIB-SEM under cryogenic conditions, it is absolutely essential to purchase a confocal system with Airyscan to complement the XB550 Electron Microscope.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to acquire a Zeiss LSM 900 +Airyscan2 and Cryo stage or equivalent product that is compatible with the Zeiss XB550 FIB-SEM at the NIA.

Project requirements:
Salient characteristics:

1. Must have exact compatibility of existing Zeiss XB550 FIB-SEM at the NIA with proposed hardware and software that will enable a workflow under cryogenic conditions.
2. Must be able to identify regions of interest on specimens and seamlessly transfer to the XB550 FIB-SEM for cryo-imaging.
3. Must be compatibility with ZEN Connect, a correlative platform on both the LSM 900 and the XB550, will enable navigating the FIB to specific regions, on a cryo TEM lamella preparation OR tissue in an HPF planchette that was previously imaged on the cryo LSM Confocal.
4. Must be able to incorporate cryo-LSM confocal data into the cryo-EM XB-550 that will permit the user to accurately target specific fluorescent events identified by CLEM on the NIA's Zeiss LSM 880.
5. Must have Cryostage compatible with both confocal and XB550 FIB-SEM.
6. Must be able to provide images with 1.7 times better that confocal resolution (in all three dimensions, XYZ) for each objective used.
7. In addition, vendor must be able to provide all complimentary accessories.

Anticipated period of performance: Delivery is expected 6 months after receipt of order.

Other important considerations: None

REQUESTED INFORMATION: (1) STATEMENT OF CAPABILITY: Submit a brief description [ten (10) pages or less] that includes product specifications. Include past experience with performing this type of service for Government (Federal or State) agencies, or for a private medical facility. Please indicate your address (2) BUSINESS SIZE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS: (a) Indicate whether your business is large or small (b) If small, indicate if your firm qualifies as a small, emerging business, or small disadvantaged business (c) If disadvantaged, specify under which disadvantaged group and if your firm is certified under Section 8(a) of the Small Business Act (d) Indicate if your firm is a certified Hub-zone firm (e) Indicate if your firm is a woman-owned or operated business (f) Indicate if your firm is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) or Veteran Owned Small Business (VOSB)(g) Include the DUNS number of your firm. (h) State whether your firm is registered with SAM System for Award Management www.sam.gov/. If not, please NOTE: any future solicitation can only be awarded to a contractor who is registered in SAM.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Jon Gottschalk, Contracting Officer, at e-mail address [email protected]

The response must be received on or before June 14, 2019, 4:00 PM, Eastern Time.

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 pre-solicitation 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).