Department Of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 4646 John R, Detroit, MI 48201

66 -- CONFOCAL MICROSCOPE WITH WORKSTATION SOL RFQ:553-46-98 DUE 092198 POC Ms. Barbara A. Lupo, 313-576-3737 The Department of Veterans Affairs, John D. Dingell Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan intends to award a contract for a Confocal Microscope with workstation. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commerical item, prepared in accordance with the format in subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. The announcement constitutes the only solicitation; Request for Quotes (RFQ) are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAR FAC 97-06. The Standard Industrial Classification Code (SIC) for this acquisition is 3726. Contractor shall provide to the Department of Veterans Affairs, John D. Dingell Medical Center, 4646 John R. Street, Detroit, Michigan a Confocal Microscope with work station. Prices shall be submitted for the following item in accordance with the following specification: Request for Confocal Microscope Specifications We will require a premium laser-based fluorescence workstation with confocal imaging and quantitation capabilities. The following items are needed": 1. Laser illumination and control system Manual mouse control of stage movement and beam activation to allow for laser flashing to test fluorescence of objects and for manual cell ablation/injury studies Argon Ion (enterprise) a. UV-visible laser (Argon) b. excitation lines at 351-364 nm (UV), 488 nm (B), 514 nm (G) c. Specify beam control methods, i.e. fast shutter, AOM, AOTF, etc. d. Specify beam mixing methods Krypton laser system a. laser excitation source with primary lines at 568 nm and 647 nm b. with fiber coupler count, remote control and display unit c. remote cooling system d. fast shutter e. fiber optic f. UV + B + Y cube Also if possible, excitation line for Lucifer Yellow (~428 nM) and filters/cubes for simultaneous excitation with UV, 514, 568 and 647 nM 2. Optical system a. inverted microscope with DIC/Nomarski b. DIC polarizer c. DIC analyzer with filter d. DIC prisms (0.3-0.4/0.55 and 0.5-1.3/0.55) with appropriate sliders for the objectives designated in "F" e. UV-visible aberration-free optical system f. Objectives  ~60 x oil 1.4 NA for high resolution Imaging of subcellular organelles -DIC  40x water UV 1.2 NA for deep imaging (up to 200 -- 250 uM)  10x phase 0.30 NA  20x PlanApo 0.60 NA -- DIC  40x LD phase 0.60 NA -- DIC g. Laser beam optics selectable for UV, B, G, Y or simultaneous UV+B, UV+B+G, UV + G, B+G, Y+G, and UV+G+Y as well as optical set for Caged Compounds for Calcium overload studies and simultaneous imaging with the Krypton lines. h. FITC/PI filter set i. FITC/PE filter set j. Indo-1 filter set for Ca++ ratiometric k. UV + visible emission filter sets l. adapter for 35 mm camera photomicrography m. Full field Mercury Lamp, 100 mW to provide broadband epi-fluorescent illumination for non-confocal fluorescence viewing/photography n. DC Power supply for Mercury lamp to prevent interference patterns in transmission scans o. with HBP UBG triple back filter set p. Reflectance accessory to generate confocal images of reflective samples by detection of reflected back-scattered and 90o rotated 488 nm laser light including achromatic polarizing beamsplitter and quarter wave plate assembly q. CCD camera (B&W) for real time display of microscopic fields 3. Microscope stage a. motorized stage in X and Y dimensions under mouse control b. mini incubator to attach to microscope stage and maintain cells at constant temperature and humidity (ambient to 45C) during imaging/analysis for extended periods c. Chambered to allow for gas purging of chamber to maintain cells in a controlled atmosphere d. Stage insert that can accommodate Lab Tek chambered cover slips with incubation e. Stage insert for 35 mm dishes with incubation f. Stage insert for Leiden dishes with incubation g. Stage insert for tissue culture plates (96 well etc.) 4. Scanning system a. galvanometric mirror scanning b. stage scanning for scanning larger areas to locate regions of fluorescence c. minimum pixel resolution at least 0.2 M or lower and up to at least 20 M maximum d. Image acquisition for a 180 X 180 M field in near subsecond rates or at least a few seconds 5. Confocal system a. computer controlled pinhole alignment and selection b. variable pinhole sizes from 40 M minimum for maximum confocal to at least 1600 M for full non-confocal c. computer controlled z-drive with Z-resolution from 0.2 M minimum to 20 M maximum for automatic optical sectioning d. Correction options for Z axis elongation is required e. XZ imaging capability for acquiring cross sectional scans 6. Detector system a. at least three side-on high-quantum efficiency Detectors b. high-speed A-D converter providing 12 bit fluorescence intensity data for each channel c. Specify if option is available for a fourth detector to acquire phase scans simultaneously with fluorescence detectors or if RGB scan is available for 24 bit true color imaging. 7. Computer control system for image acquisition a. top-of-the-line pentium based microprocessor b. 80 MB RAM c. Data buffering capability for high speed Image acquisition to save data to disk after scan series is complete (as opposed to saving data to disk after each scan) d. 5 -- 10 GB SCSI hard disk drive, dasy chain capable e. 1.44 MB floppy disk drive f. internal 100 MB Zip drive for personal storage/portability of Data/Images g. CDROM h. image display with  1280 x 1024 pixels with options for 24 bit true color or fluorescence intensity on a spectral scale or color palette options i. system display with 1024 x 768 pixels j. 17" flat screen color monitor for visualization of microscopic fields via CCD camera k. Specify if second 15" monitor is required for displaying operational choices 8. Computer workstation a. Second Computer system with redundant image processing and analysissoftware for off-line image processing and analysis includes:  400 MHz pentium computer  80 MB RAM or more  21" high resolution monitor 1024X1024  5 -- 10 GB Ultra ATA hard disk drive  1.44 MB floppy disk drive  6 GB read write optical drive for data archiving and CDROM use for multimedia/programs  5 -- 10 GB SCSI hard disk drive, dasy chain capable  100 MB internal zip drive  frame buffer  EISA and PCI buses  Ethernet cards (PCI) 10/100 Mbps with hub, cables and software for networking with the imaging system computer as well as with our local area network for Data interchange and provide a barrier to imaging system computer to prevent tampering via the LAN  HP 692C DeskJet printer with cables and software control module  Mitsubishi CP-2000 (or equivalent) High Quality Dye Sublimation video printer with at least 1024X1024 resolution to provide highresolution, color prints at 8.5 x 7.9" and 8.5 x 11" for publication/photographic quality prints; including cables and software control modules  High resolution video card to support dye sub video printer  2nd parallel port to support both the ink jet and Dye sub printer  specify operating system, Windows NT preferred (newest version), Windows 95/'98 OK or other 9. BCECF 667 LP filter for ratiometric pH measurements in live cells 10. SNAFL/SNARF filter set (630LP, 570/30BP,610 LP dichroic mirror) 11. 35 mm camera for photomicrography, including adapter for attachment to inverted microscope with capability of doing computer-controlled photography over time 12. Trigger inputs/outputs x 2 each: support for input of a TTL signal in addition to standard TTL trigger input for event marks and output to trigger devices during a scan series 13. Imaging software package that has the following capabilities a. 1-,2- and 3-channel image acquisition, processing and analysis b. automatically generates 2-D (xy) transmission images of samples using the microscope light as the light source c. automatically acquires and analyzes 2-D scan data from multiple locations d. records the locations and descriptions of cells or areas of particular interest and permits user to return to those locations for further study or automatic data collection, using a computer-controlled stage e. analyzes histograms produced by analysis of 1-, 2-, and 3-channel images and allows combination of multiple histograms into large data files to gather statistics on large populations of cells and display with color coding to differentiate different data sets. 14. Three dimensional confocal imaging software a. permitting acquisition of cross-sectional images in xz plane throughout the sample b. permitting acquisition of a series of confocal optical sections in the axial directions in 0.1 m increments c. permitting combination of a series of 1-,2- or 3-channel optical sections into three-dimensional reconstructions through a variety of algorithms, including SFP, projections, and depth-shaded reconstructions d. calculation and display of the average fluorescence values over distance in the z-axis in any area of a series of sections 15. Kinetic and ratiometric software a. capability to acquire 1-, 2-, or 3-channel data over time in three different modalities  monitoring microsecond changes at a single pixel or point within a cell  monitoring millisecond changes along a line traversing one or more cells  monitoring changes within one or more cells or cellular compartments by generating 2-D images (xy or xz) over time in subsecond timing b. capability to calculate and display the average fluorescence, normalized fluorescence, ratio fluorescence, or corresponding concentration (via the use of standard curves) within user-defined areas over time for point, line or image time series and combine curves on 1 graph (i.e. Calcium ratiometric curve + 1 kinetic curve) c. capability to create standard curves for both ratiometric and kinetic studies d. permit interactive laser control for defined photobleaching within one or more cells  to allow measurement of cell-cell communication via gap junctions  to allow measurement of mobility of a probe or protein within a cellular membrane (FRAP) e. permit the controlled release of caged compounds by focused UV exposure and subsequent monitoring of fluorescence changes by visible excitation. Example: Calcium overload studies 16. Cell software a. permit manipulation of stage and laser beam to allow manual ablation for cell sorting and cell surgery b. cell sorting based on fluorescence intensity or by wavelength by automated selective laser ablation. 17. Anti-vibration/isolation platform a. permit the reduction of low frequency environmental vibration with efficient isolation at 5 Hz (to allow patch clamping, single cell injection, etc.) b. support the whole laser confocal system (must meet weight and psi specifications of the system) 18. Patch clamp manipulator that fits onto the microscope of the confocal system to allow the performance of patch clamp/single cell injections under confocal imaging (need two) a. three aluminum translation stages with cross roller bearings b. headstage/pipette pivot with repeatable and adjustable stop c. base pivot for easy exchange of pipettes d. orthogonal brackets optimized for patch clamp recording e. universal headstage mounting plate f. three translation stages: two translation stages providing 150 m and one translation stage providing 300 m of PZT fine motion g. steep shallow head stage to allow nearly orthogonal approach to the cell h. mounting brackets appropriate for the microscope in the laser confocal system i. femtoliter injector 19. Three-year parts and service warranty 20. Installation Requirements At present the VA investigators that will be using this instrument are/will have particular interest in kinetic measurements of indo-1 calcium kinetic changes in single cells and compartments of cells. Visualization and quantitation of these calcium changes and ratiometric determinations and size measurements of objects are imperative capabilities. Also required is the ability to do calcium overload studies i.e. caged compounds. Provide examples of 3-color data presentation options for all techniques. All techniques adjustable for point, line and image scanning, where applicable. All techniques adjustable for single, dual or triple excitation and detection, where applicable. Specify number of event marks allowed during a scan series. color palette options histogram manipulation of data capability graphics file formats supported dual photon capability cell lists capability in automatic scan what scan parameters are adjustable on the fly during a scan series limit of scannable field size correction for pixel shape and image distortion whether pixel averaging or frame averaging beam delivery (optical fiber vs direct) photobleaching minimization controls ability to put scale bars onto images imaging capabilities for objects of interest  query for area, perimeter, shape and fluorescence  options for drawing polygons  measure size of objects of interest  options for removal of undesired objects  cutting objects and images to remove/clean up  remove objects below a certain area software to optimize scanning conditions software to measure volumetric fluorescence in a confocal scan series Delivery FOB Destination. All responsible sources may submit an offer. The successful contractor shall furnish products which originate from an establishment currently appearing in "Sanitation Compliance and Enforcement Ratings of Interstate Milk Shippers" IMS list, published quarterly by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference; 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, the following apply by addendum: 52.204-6 Contractor Identification Number-Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number, 56.204-4 Printing/Copying Double-Sided on Recycled paper, 52.216-18 Ordering, 52.216-19 Order Limitations, 52.216-22 Indefinite Ordering, 852.210-72 Inspection, 852.270-4 Commercial Advertising, 52.232-33 Mandatory Information for Electronic Funds Transfer Payment, 852.270-1 Representatives of Contracting Officer, 52.217-8 Option to Extend Services, 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract. 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, the following apply by addendum: 52.222-3 Convict Labor, 52.233-3 Protest After Award, 52.203-10 Price or Fee Adjustment for Illegal or Improper Activity, 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35 Affirmative Action for Special Disable and Vietnam Era Veterans, 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers, 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era, 52.225-3 Buy American Act, 52.216-2 Economic Price Adjustment-Standard Supplies, 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items, The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: Quality of Product, Past Performance, Delivery Record, Reference, and Price; 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. Offerors must complete and return all information designated in 52.212-1 (b) Instructions to Offerors -- Commercial Items. Please submit offers to Barbara A. Lupo, Contract Specialist, Department of Veterans Affairs, John D. Dingell Medical Center, 4646 John R Street, Detroit, Michigan 48201. All quotes must be submitted by close of business September 21, 1998. Posted 09/02/98 (W-SN244714). (0245)

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