Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Solicitation Number: NIMH20003929 Title: Broad wavelength range pulse-laser system Classification Code: 66 -- Instruments & laboratory equipm... Federal Business Opportunities (FBO) SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Solicitation Number: NIMH20003929 Title: Broad wavelength range pulse-laser system Classification Code: 66 -- Instruments & laboratory equipment NAICS Code: 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing Description: This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. 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: This equipment supports the research mission of the Unit and the Institute. The microscope is used to collect in vivo images of neurons and their activity in awake, behaving mice as well as stimulate those neurons. These experiments are at the cutting edge of neuroscience research and the software and hardware suite required enable these experiments to be done, using custom engineered optical equipment produced by the Unit. Progress on these experiments will lead to new understanding of the brain and will aid in design and development of ways to improve mental health. The current purchase became necessary due to recent advances in laser technology and fluorescent molecule design. The laser for 2-photon imaging needs to cover a much broader range of wavelengths due to the availability of new, modern fluorescence molecules/probes. Specifically, the lab needs to be able to excite probes in the short wavelength range of ~800 nm as well as the long wavelength range of up to 1300 nm. The current laser in use covers the short wavelength range. The new laser in addition will cover the long wavelength range. By being able to cover a broad wavelength range for imaging, the Histed lab will be able to combine 2-photon imaging with the most efficient fluorescent probes available to date providing needed flexibility in experimental designs for their experiments and their optical stimulaiton techniques. Purpose: The Unit on Neural Computation and Behavior, NIMH (Investigator: Mark Histed, PhD), requires a pulsed-laser for their 2-photon imaging needs to cover a broad range of wavelengths (~600 – 1300 nm). The availability of a broad wavelength range for imaging will allow to combine their imaging technology with new laser stimulation technology (optogenetics) to make the best use of recently developed modern fluorescent probes for neuroscience research. Project requirements: Technical requirements for the One laser system are: High power, dual output tunable femtosecond laser system for multiphoton microscopy, non-linear optics and ultrafast spectroscopy. Sealed, contamination free ultrafast cavity with no requirement for external course mirror adjustment from external ports. Closed loop water cooling, with a peltier-driven cooling engine for minimal acoustic noise. Simple integration - the system must be user-controllable either via RS232 or via the vendor-supplied GUI. Advance Replacement service strategy to minimize user down time, supported by a remote service facility. 80MHz Synchronization output built in for triggering detection systems. Laser head footprint <0.4m2 to optimize optical table space. Operating temperature range 15-35oC HALT designed, HASS tested for highest reliability and long lifetime Upgradable platform to add fully integrated power modulation of both outputs via fast AOM control Tuning range of 660nm to 1320nm Average power > 2 W at 700nm, >3.6 W at 800nm, > 3.2 W at 900nm, >2.7 W at 1000nm, >2.3 W at 1200nm, > 1.9 W at 1300nm Tuning speed >50 nm/s averaged across 660-1320nm Highest level of output power stability +/-1% after a 2-hour warm-up and <+/-1oC ambient change Pulse duration 100fs at 900nm (sech2 pulse shape). Automated dispersion compensation on the tunable output of 0-50000fs2 at 680nm, 0-27000fs2 at 800nm, 0-16000fs2 at 950 nm, 0-12000s2 at 1050nm, and 0-10000fs2 at 1300nm (all precompensation values are negative). It must be possible to access shortest possible pulses out of the box. The precompensation system must be internally calibrated and addressable in units of fs2 to allow simple integration. Average power >3.5W at 1040nm Beam quality specified as TEM00, and asymmetry 0.8-1.2 Pulse duration 140fs (sech2 pulse shape) Power stability +/- 1% Noise <0.25% rms in a 10Hz-10MHz band Anticipated Period of Performance: 6 weeks or 30 calendar days after receipt of award Capability statement /information sought: Contractors that believe that they possess the ability to provide the required equipment, should submit documentation on their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contract Specialist. The Contractor should directly and specifically state in the, capabilities statement, which project requirements can be meet and/or supplied. The Contractor must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, GSA number (If available) 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 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 two (2) page limit. The 2-page limit does not include the cover page or executive summary. The response must include the respondents’ 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 to the Contract Specialist. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Thien Nguyen, Contract Specialist, at Thien.Nguyen2@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before June 22, 2020 at 12 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 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).