Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

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:... 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; (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition; and (4) availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule). 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. Background: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Developmental Therapeutics and Pharmacology (DTP) Lab studies drug permeability through blood brain barrier (BBB) in rat glioma model and a stereomicroscope is needed for capturing images of tumor and blood vessel distribution in a whole brain and for dissecting tumor out from the normal brain area. The DTP lab is interested to find strategies to increase BBB permeability to enhance chemotherapeutic drug delivery to brain tumor site. The aim is to detect tumor location and drug penetration within the brain of tumor animal model along with BBB junctional proteins which could be altered by protein or drug treatment. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to procure a Fluorescence Stereomicroscope which will be used to scan the whole brain to detect fluorescence labeled tumor cells; fluorescence tagged antibody labeled junctional proteins; and fluorescent tracers to assess BBB permeability using wide range of laser excitation and specialized optics which leads to the outstanding image quality that can be quantified. Project requirements: Salient Characteristics: The contractor shall be able to provide the following brand name (Leica M165FC) or equal Fluorescence Stereomicroscope with the following minimum specifications: • Zoom range is 7.3x to 120x • Resolution 453lp/mm; maximal resolution 906lp/m • Trinocular ErgoTube with variable 5 to 45-degree viewing angle • Triple BeamTM fluorescent illumination technology for even fluorescence illumination • Encoded zoom and scale bars for real time measurement calibration • Traveling along a 420mm vertical column under a control of a coarse/fine focus nob • The modular concept providing a large variety of possible configurations. Specifically, the microscope can be potentially mounted to a boom stand • 10x eyepiece with field of view of 23mm and 50-105mm interpupillary distance. • Fourteen defined step magnification for repeated examinations, measurements, drawing or photography of samples • Parfocally matched optical system • Built-in and encoded double iris diaphragm for variable depth of field and contrast adjustment. • With a large selection of objective and magnification options, providing the maximal magnification 240x, 903 lp/mm resolution resulting in 1.11um maximal resolution and maximum numerical aperture of 0.301 • The Ring Light is unique in that it provides 16 segmentable LEDs (half-, quarter-, and eighth-circle illumination options provide oblique illumination options from above) • TL3000 Ergo Transmitted Light Base: Includes multiple image contrasting modalities – Rottermann Contrast™, Brightfield, or Darkfield – with adjustable light path and integrates into software configuration Quantity: One (1) Fluorescence Stereomicroscope Anticipated period of performance: 12 months - Delivery 6-8 weeks of purchase order Other important considerations: One (1) Year Warranty on all computer equipment and component parts to include parts, telephone support, preventative maintenance, and on-site support upon time of installation. Software licenses: Permanent license, with software version upgrades free-of-charge. In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25. Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products or services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in and 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 ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. 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 Alexander Beraud, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address alexander.beraud@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before July 25, 2022, 5:00 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 presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in www.sam.gov. 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).” POINTS OF CONTACT: Primary Point of Contact: Alexander Beraud Contract Specialist Alexander.Beraud@nih.gov Phone: 301-443-6677 Secondary Point of Contact: KJ Shaikh Contracting Officer KJ.Shaikh@nih.gov Phone: 301-435-1777 Please see Sources Sought Notice document for all relevant details.