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COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION WORKFORM

(1) Action Code: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

(2) Date: 2/15/2023

(3) Year: 2023

(4) Contracting Office Zip Code: 20892

(5) Project Service Code: 6515 - MEDICAL AND SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EQUIPMENT, AND SUPPLIES

(6) Contracting Office Address:

6710B Rockledge Drive

Bethesda, MD 20892

(7) Subject/Title: Acquisition of RM21 Advanced Micromirror TIRF Microscope

(8) Proposed Solicitation Number: NICHD-23-084

(9) Closing Response Date: 2/21/2023

(10) Contact Point: Amber Harris

(11) Contract Award and Solicitation Number: TBD

(12) Contract Award Dollar Amount: TBD

(13) Contract Line Item Number(s): TBD

(14) Contractor Award Date: TBD

(15) Contractor Name: TBD

(16) Description: (Background)

(i) “This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.”

(ii) The solicitation number is NICHD-23-084 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ).

(iii) The solicitation document, the incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-01 effective 12/30/2022.

(iv) The associated NAICS code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the small business size standard is 1,000. The acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13.

(v) The Contractor Requirements are listed below:

1.0 PURCHASE ORDER TITLE

Acquisition of RM21 Advanced Micromirror TIRF Microscope

2.0 BACKGROUND

The mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is to conduct and support medical research and research training and to disseminate science-based information on diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutritional disorders, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases, to improve people’s health and quality of life.

Fluorescence microscopy utilizing total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) illumination is a powerful tool for biological research because it enables visualization of biological processes in real time. TIRF microscopy illuminates biomolecules along a thin region in space, or a focal plane, thereby eliminating background signal and dramatically improving the signal to noise. For this reason, TIRF is often used to detect fluorescence from single-molecules both in vitro and in cells. Micromirror TIRF (mmTIRF) is an advanced version of TIRF microscopy that ensures more fluorescence emission is collected relative to conventional objective-based TIRF. This is essential in certain experimental conditions where the background fluorescence is high due to the presence of naturally fluorescent components (e.g., concentrated cell extracts). The optics and optical platform needed to establish mmTIRF are complex and require specific, custom engineered instrumentation to achieve reliable imaging.

The Rodgers lab specializes in single-molecule biophysics methods and requires a customized micromirror TIRF (mmTIRF) microscope that is capable of highly sensitive single-molecule imaging. Researchers often need to perform experiments on fluorescently tagged complexes in cell extracts, which have significant background fluorescence. Therefore, we require a specialized system that can provide a high level of signal-to-noise reduction in order to visualize assembly of single RNA-protein complexes in cell extracts in real time.

The RM21 advanced mmTIRF system from Mad City Labs is an integrated system designed specifically for multiline laser illumination that eliminates the need for a dichroic mirror in the illumination pathway and spatially, rather than spectrally, separates the excitation and emission wavelengths. The RM21 advanced utilizes Mad City Labs piezo nanopositioning stage technology which enables precise control in three dimensions over stage movement and TIR angle. A unique TIRF-Lock system that comes with the RM21 advanced ensures that the TIR signal is maintained throughout hours of imaging. The RM21 microscopy platform enables the straightforward implementation of the MicroMirror TIRF imaging method. The platform is particularly useful for low-signal, multi-wavelength TIRF applications and is therefore often used for single molecule approaches addressing the assembly and activity of low abundance, multi-component biomolecular machines.

The RM21 system is designed to be highly customizable and built completely onsite such that components can be replaced and built upon as the system grows with the lab. Because this system is built open and onsite, it is a great training tool for postdoctoral and postbaccalaureate trainees that are interested in optics, fluorescence, and microscopy in general. The RM21 microscope is unlike any other microscope on the market because it allows full customization of the optical, laser, and software components. Furthermore, it is the only commercial option for operating mmTIRF-based microscopy. Previous iterations of mmTIRF technology have utilized home-built and custom engineered parts, which can be sub-optimal, expensive, and time-consuming to build. The RM21 system provides a robust and well-supported solution. Most importantly, Mad City labs provides scientific support for custom applications throughout the lifetime of the system.

Research in the Rodgers lab hinges on the ability to perform complex single-molecule experiments to understand how RNAs and proteins interact to form ribonucleoproteins involved in gene expression. These experiments often involve hundreds of individual molecular species and therefore, rather than purify all the components involved, it is ideal to carry out these experiments in cell extracts. Thus, in order to carry out this research, it is essential to acquire an RM21 micromirror TIRF microscope which enables highly sensitive imaging in cell extracts prone to high background.

3.0 OBJECTIVE

The objective of this requirement is to procure a Mad City Labs RM21 mmTIRF microscope platform to perform micromirror-based total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy on single molecule samples of RNA, DNA, proteins, and cell extracts prepared in the Rodgers lab at the NIDDK..

4.0 SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

The Rodgers lab requires an RM21 Advanced Micromirror TIRF Microscope with the following capabilities:

RM21 Advanced System:

• RM21 Advanced inverted optical platform with micromirror TIRF capability

• XYZ closed loop piezo nanopositioning stage system

• Automated TIRF optimization

• Micropositioning sample holder for typical microscope slides and three-point adjustable sample holder for advanced microfluidics applications

• Laser mount module for holding 5 laser lines

• Nano-Drive control in 3-axes using user defined software

• Microposition encoder on X and Y axis to select and define TIRF parameters for different applications

• TIRF Lock Advanced system: monitors TIRF angle using a quadrant photodiode (QPD) to ensure that focus and TIRF angle is not lost during the duration of imaging.

• MadView dual-view imaging system: separation of emission wavelengths for simultaneous imaging of 2, 3, or 4 wavelengths in real time.

• Coaxial Illuminator compatiable with RM21 platform

• Objective, lasers, software, stage heater, and camera will be purchased separately from other vendors and will be compatible with other systems in the Rodgers lab and at NIDDK.

Each of the above requirements is needed for specialized single-molecule research performed in the Rodgers lab. The purchase of the instrument will allow the Rodgers lab to make ground-breaking discoveries.

Task Areas: Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall perform all of the detailed Task Areas listed below:

Task Area 1 – Delivery: Delivery of the instrument will occur 60-90 days after the order is received by the vendor.

Task Area 2 – Shipping: The instrument will be delivered to: National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 8, Rm 309, Bethesda MD, 20892 POC: Margaret Rodgers.

Task Area 3 – Warranty: There is a warranty of 1 year limited warranty following date of delivery.

5.0 PURCHASE ORDER TYPE

This Purchase Order is to be a firm fixed price.

6.0 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Inspection and acceptance will be performed at the place of installation - National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, 9000 Rockville Pike, Maryland 20892.

(i) This is a competitive requirement being pursued through the authority granted in FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal. This is a requirement for a MAD CITY LABS, INC RM21 mmTIRF microscope platform.

(ii) Period of Performance: Within 120 Days of Award

(viii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(iii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable. Award will be made to the contractor providing the most advantageous quote to the Government. Technical factors and price considered with technical factors outweighing price.

Specifically, the following technical factors will be evaluated:

i. The award will be made to the contractor who provides the most advantageous quote to the Government and will be evaluated via a comparative analysis of the quotes provided, technical factors and price considered.

The technical factors are as follows:

Equipment Specifications:

RM21 Advanced System:

• RM21 Advanced inverted optical platform with micromirror TIRF capability

• XYZ closed loop piezo nanopositioning stage system

• Automated TIRF optimization

• Micropositioning sample holder for typical microscope slides and three-point adjustable sample holder for advanced microfluidics applications

• Laser mount module for holding 5 laser lines

• Nano-Drive control in 3-axes using user defined software

• Microposition encoder on X and Y axis to select and define TIRF parameters for different applications

• TIRF Lock Advanced system: monitors TIRF angle using a quadrant photodiode (QPD) to ensure that focus and TIRF angle is not lost during the duration of imaging.

• MadView dual-view imaging system: separation of emission wavelengths for simultaneous imaging of 2, 3, or 4 wavelengths in real time.

• Coaxial Illuminator compatiable with RM21 platform

• Objective, lasers, software, stage heater, and camera will be purchased separately from other vendors and will be compatible with other systems in the Rodgers lab and at NIDDK.

Installation and training:

• Mad City labs will install RM21 system with the above criteria onsite. Training will be provided at the time of installation and will be available at a later date as needed.

Compatibility with other systems:

• Several components of the RM21 will be compatible with other systems including the Nikon single-molecule microscope. These components include items purchased separately such as cameras, objectives, and stage heaters.

Each of the above requirements is needed for specialized single-molecule research performed in the Rodgers lab. The purchase of the instrument will allow the Rodgers lab to make ground-breaking discoveries.

Delivery: Delivery of the instrument will occur 60-90 days after the order is received by the vendor.

Shipping: The instrument will be delivered to: National Institutes of Health, 9000 Rockville Pike, Building 8, Rm 309, Bethesda MD, 20892 POC: Margaret Rodgers

Warranty: There is a warranty of 1 year limited warranty following date of delivery.

ii. The Contracting Officer will make a price reasonableness determination on technically acceptable quotes.

(x) FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, is applicable. An offeror shall complete only paragraphs (b) of this provision if the offeror has completed the annual representations and certificates electronically via http://www.acquisition.gov If an offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically at the System for Award Management (SAM) website, the offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through (p) of this provision.

(xi) FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(xii) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. Including the following clauses and Prohibitions:

i. 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Aside (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644)

ii. 52.219-13, Notice of Set-Aside of Orders (Nov 2011) (15 U.S.C. 644(r))

iii. 52.219-28, Post Award Small Business Program Representation

iv. 52.222-19, Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Jan 2014) (E.O. 13126).

v. 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities

vi. 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity

vii. 52.222-36, Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities

viii. 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons

ix. 52.223-18, Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging while Driving

x. 52.225-1, Buy American--Supplies (May 2014) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83)

xi. 52.225-13, Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases

Additional Clauses:

i. 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer— System for Award Management (Jul 2013) (31 U.S.C. 3332)

ii. 52.232-39, Unenforceability of Unauthorized Obligations

(xiii) Additional Contract Requirements: None

(xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) and assigned rating are not applicable.

(xv) Offers shall be submitted via email to amber.harris@nih.gov

(17) Place of Contract Performance:

National Institute of Health, NIDDK

8 Center Drive

Bethesda, MD 20892

(18) Set-aside Status: This requirement is set aside for small business.

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