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Request for Information (RFI) Ultramicrotome and Microtome INTRODUCTION The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of the U.S... Request for Information (RFI) Ultramicrotome and Microtome INTRODUCTION The U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) is issuing this Request for Information (RFI) on behalf of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) as a means of conducting market research to identify potential sources having an interest and industry technologies available to provide a Ultramicrotome and Microtome, along with installation. The result of this market research will help contribute to determining the method of procurement. Based on the responses to this request for information/market research, this requirement may be set-aside for small businesses (in full or in part) or procured through full and open competition. All small business set-aside categories will be considered. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding submissions. DISCLAIMER This RFI is for informational purposes only. This is not a request for quotes (RFQ). It does not constitute a solicitation and shall not be construed as a commitment by the government. Responses in any form are not offers, and the government is under no obligation to award a contract as a result of this announcement. No funds are available to pay for preparation of responses to this announcement. Any information submitted by respondents to this notice is strictly voluntary. PROGRAM BACKGROUND Comparative Pathology Department (CPD), Research Support Division (RSD), United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD) has a requirement for an automated microtome and an automated ultramicrotome to replace instruments that are past the end of their life expectancy. Light microscope slides and transmission electron grids are required to use these microscopes to view the tissue. Automated microtomes and ultramicrotomes are the safe, reliable, efficient way to cut microscope slides and transmission electron microscope grids for further pathological analysis. The histology automated microtome and electron microscopy automated ultramicrotome will fully support the USAMRICD mission. REQUIRED CAPABILITIES The Government requires a microtome and ultramicrotome that meet the following minimum essential characteristics: Microtome MECs: 1. Uses motorized operating modes for continuous, single stroke, step stroke and programmable specimen arm operation. 2. Separate programs available with variable thickness for roughing and sectioning. Single button switch between programs. 3. Adaptable coarse wheel direction. 4. Automated cutting functions controlled from detached microprocessor control pad designed for left or right hand operation. 5. Can cut paraffin sections to 0.5 ?m - 100 ?m thickness or better. 6. Can trim at 1 ?m to 600 ?m increments. 7. Must include a basic specimen clamp for standard size paraffin blocks (55x50mm). 8. Specimen clamp must be able to be changed quickly without disassembly of microtome 9. Knife holder suitable for holding various disposable microtome blades, including standard low profile blades. 10. Must include a specimen clamp to hold large (68x48mm) paraffin blocks. 11. Variable blade angles available from 0° to 8° or more. 12. Availability of a cooling block holder. 13. Automatic electronic brake to return and hold the specimen away from the blade. 14. Manual locking device for hand wheel and locking device for specimen arm which locks within the full range of motion of the arm. 15. Balance system to protect against an unbalanced object head. 16. Removable antistatic waste tray. 17. Must fit in a space of the following dimension - 24x28x20” (600x710x510mm) 18. Uses 120V/60Hz power supply. Ultramicrotome MECs: 1. Capable of manual and automated semithin and ultrathin sectioning (minimum sectioning advance of ? 1 nm). 2. Separate touch screen controller for specimen alignment, control of cutting window and manual/automated cutting parameters, variable cutting and specimen arm return speed and over, through and under specimen cutting area lighting. 3. Capability to store multiple sectioning parameters into memory. 4. Sectioning clearance angle of at least 28°. 5. Specimen arm rocking mode for block alignment and advancement to knife edge. 6. Specimen arm automated retraction. 7. Microscope specimen mount with 180° rotation. 8. Microscope optics with maximum zoom potential of at least 8X magnification. 9. Microscope with adjustable wide field eyepieces with at least 16X magnification. 10. Ergonomic adjustment of optics for tilt (6° to 25°) with height adjustment. 11. Detachable specimen trimming block. 12. Knife water bath pump for fine adjustments water level. 13. Upgradable to new or advanced components. 14. Installation and training. 15. Local field service support from factory The intent of this RFI is to determine the availability of products in industry that meet the capabilities of this requirement. ELIGIBILITY The applicable NAICS code for this requirement is 334516, ‘Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing’, with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,000 employees. The Product Service Code (PSC) is 6640, Laboratory Equipment and Supplies. SUBMISSION DETAILS Interested businesses shall submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than five 8.5 X 11 inch pages, font no smaller than 10 point) demonstrating ability to provide the products/systems listed in this Technical Description. Capability Statement shall also indicate if instrument can be purchased on an existing contract as well as an estimated lead time. Documentation should be in bullet format. No phone or email inquiries requesting a status of any potential future solicitations will be accepted, prior to the posting of that subject solicitation. Your response to this RFI, including any capabilities statement, shall be electronically submitted to the Contract Specialist, Nicholas VanDevander (Nicholas.a.vandevander.civ@health.mil) in either Microsoft Word or Portable Document Format (PDF) format via email no later than 10:00 AM, Eastern Time, on 18 June 2024 and reference this synopsis number in the subject line of the e-mail and on all enclosed documents. Information and materials submitted in response to this request WILL NOT be returned. DO NOT SUBMIT CLASSIFIED MATERIAL. If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the required products/systems, please provide the following information: 1) Organization name, address, primary points of contact (POCs) and their email address, Web site address, telephone number, and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) Tailored capability statements addressing the requirements of this notice, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of organizational and staff capability. If significant subcontracting or teaming is anticipated in order to deliver technical capability, organizations should address the administrative and management structure of such arrangements.