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SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: Acquisition of a Brand name or equal Carl Zeiss AxioScan.Z1 Slide Scanning Microscope Notice Number: 75N91020Q00123 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisi... SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: Acquisition of a Brand name or equal Carl Zeiss AxioScan.Z1 Slide Scanning Microscope Notice Number: 75N91020Q00123 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) http://www.nci.nih.gov or http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/ Key Dates: Capability Statement Due Date: July 20, 2020 by 12:00PM EST This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified Small Business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned businesses that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. 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 requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 with a size standard of 1000 employees. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NCI may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NCI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. The Laboratory of Genitourinary Cancer Pathogenesis (LGCP) Microscopy Core Facility of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR) needs a slide scanning microscope for whole slide imaging in both brightfield and Fluorescence. The LGCP Microscopy Core Facility has the responsibility to maintain the equipment in the Core, and keep it fully functional and at a state-of-the-art level to support the work of LGCP investigators, as well as scientists from other laboratories in the NCI. The current slide scanning microscope in the LGCP Core has a rolling 1-2 month backlog of projects from multiple investigators in the LGCP, as well as other labs in the NCI and other NIH Institutes. The current instrument is in use 24 hours a day, seven days a week, yet is still unable to support the workload of all the researcher wanting to use it. It is the only instrument of its type in a CCR Core Facility. Purchasing a second instrument would allow LGCP to double capacity and support more than one investigator at a time. Certain experiments monopolize the instrument for up to seven days when scanning four colors at 40x resolution. The acquisition of an additional slide scanning microscope will allow the LGCP Microscopy Core to better support the current workload in the Core Facility and no longer have us turn researchers away due to a lack of capacity. This will be issued as a Non-Severable Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order. The LGCP Core Facility plans to procure a Brand name or equal Carl Zeiss Axio Scan.Z1 slide scanning microscope with FL reflected Light Train. The following features are required for this instrument: Robust and High Quality Imaging and Scan Process: A geometric and color calibration process that guarantees constant output over time and across multiple devices. Must handle both 1x3” slides and 2x3” slides without safety issues. Slides of varying thicknesses, orientation, and labeling must be accommodated in the same scan process. Must have 25 bays capable of holding up to 100 1x3” slides. Must have an advanced tray to allow the complete specimen area to be scanned. Must be able to use multiple contrasting methods including BF, FL, and Ring Aperture Contrast (RAC) in one, easily upgradable device. Must include Barcode and OCR reading of slide labels . Must accommodate up to five high NA Plan-Apochromat objectives (2.5x, 5x, 10x, 20x, 40x). Must be capable of high-resolution z-stack and extended focus image capture. Must have dedicated cameras for prescan, brightfield, and fluorescence imaging. Must have an automated, accurate and adaptive focus point distribution method. High-performance Fluorescence Must use contrasting method RAC to focus on fluorescence samples without exposing the samples to potentially damaging excitation wavelengths. This guarantees minimal bleaching of the sample prior to imaging. RAC needs to be performed using a separate channel than FL, meaning an overlay of the image is possible, and that there is no loss in quality of your FL images. Must be capable of housing up to 9 FL filter cubes at one time. Must be compatible with the Carl Zeiss Colibri7 LED illumination system for fast, safe worry free FL excitation. Must be configured with high-speed filter wheels for very fast FL imaging. Should be configured with a high-speed extremely sensitive scientific grade CMOS camera (4 MP / 16 bit). Image Analysis Must be fully integrated into the Carl Zeiss ZEN software platform making it easy for users of other Carl Zeiss systems to quickly adapt to the scanner software. Work with an open and documented interface that lets you access your data with your own programs. Unlike a closed platform, this means you can export the images and continue using the data in any way you choose. In addition to image data, the scanner must store metadata, putting away a complete record of all the operations in a log file so you can retrieve the data at the click of a button. This facilitates documentation and supports preventive maintenance, thus reducing unscheduled outages. Ease-of-use Must have a reliable workflow for tissue detection, focus and image capture so that images will be created and ready to view in the least amount of time possible. Must have one push button operation for acquiring up to 100 images Must be compatible for multiuser facilities and allow for specific user management. A master user can define roles and permissions for additional users with ease. Must be easy for users to scan batches of slides, and also to define priority slides. Even once a scan processes has begun new slides can be loaded into the system and scanned mid batch. Web-based Software for Viewing Must be able to integrate with the existing LGCP ZEN browser server used to organize data online and cross-platform via an intuitive web interface that keeps all images filed together with their metadata and supporting documents. Must interface with the free ZEN browser app for iPads and iPhones to build up an image database via a mobile front end, allowing data access wherever work takes you Compatibility with Existing Systems and Networks Must be able to interchange parts, including the high NA Plan-Apochromat objectives and fluorescence filter cubes, with the existing Carl Zeiss AxioScan.Z1 slide scanner in the LGCP Core Facility. Must be able to network this new system to other computers and printers in the laboratory, thus allowing for easy image transfer and/or printing. Service and Support Must provide onsite service and technical support for 12 months after the microscope has been installed. Must include at least a 12 months warranty on parts and labor Must have service contract available that includes preventive maintenance, repairs, spare parts, and onsite technical support DELIVERY / INSTALLATION Delivery shall be within 12 weeks of purchase order award. All shipping/handling (including FOB) and delivery/installation fees shall be included in the quote. Upon delivery, Contractor shall notify the NCI Technical Point of Contact (POC) to schedule the installation date and time that shall occur within 14 days after delivery. Installation shall be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, a certified operator. The Contractor shall deliver and install the equipment at the following address: Bethesda, MD 20892 4.3 TRAINING One day of training will be provided on site for at least one primary user within 30 days after installation, with subsequent access to technical support during normal business hours. All training expenses, including materials and/or travel expenses, shall be included in the quoted price. 4.4 WARRANTY A minimum of 12-months warranty shall be included, which covers the cost of repair and/or replacement, including labor or any defect in workmanship or parts. How to Submit a Response: Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12-point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of a one page resume of the individuals meeting the requirements, and up to two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. Statements should also include an indication of current small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. Organizations shall demonstrate 1.) Technical Approach 2.) Personnel Requirements and Organizational Experience. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than July 20, 2020 by 12:00PM EST Delivery Point: All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. All questions must be in writing and emailed to David.Romley@nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA) through sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number 75N91020Q00123 on all correspondence. 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 RFQ may be published in Fed Biz Opps. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Point of Contact: Inquiries concerning this Notice may be direct to: David Romley at David.Romley@nih.gov. 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.