SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- Microscope system for materials characterization - CZM compatible
- Notice Date
- 7/15/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B130, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1410, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1410
- Solicitation Number
- AMD-16-SS37
- Archive Date
- 8/5/2016
- Point of Contact
- Forest Crumpler, Phone: 3019756753
- E-Mail Address
-
forest.crumpler@nist.gov
(forest.crumpler@nist.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks information on commercial vendors that are capable of providing a microscope system for materials characterization and upgrades to existing microscope systems to support the measurement of nanoscale particles and single molecules in the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology (CNST) user facility. The CNST NanoLab has initiated a research project that advances measurement of nanoscale particles and single molecules by widefield fluorescence microscopy, darkfield microscopy, and differential interference contrast microscopy. The system will be sited in the CNST NanoLab as a resource for microscopy. After results of this market research are obtained and analyzed and specifications are developed for a microscope system and upgrades that can meet NIST's minimum requirements, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a Purchase Order. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage, then any competitive procurement that resulted would be conducted as a small business set-aside. As the CNST NanoLab facility caters to both internal NIST users and outside users via collaboration, it is vitally important that the multiple microscope systems and components are all compatible (forwards and backwards compatibility) to provide the most robust potential for use. As such, in addition to the hardware capabilities listed below, the system and upgrades must demonstrate the ability for interoperability/interchangeability with existing microscopy systems. The laboratory dedicated for this project is currently equipped with five customized Carl Zeiss Microscopy (CZM) microscope systems assembled from a variety of CZM components acquired through two previous competitive procurement actions and three noncompetitive procurement actions. The proposed acquisition is for a microscope system that can meet the required specifications and the stated hardware compatibility. The major components of the new microscope system for materials characterization, along with the function and performance of these components, are specified as follows: 1.INVERTED STAND AND INTEGRATED COMPONENTS. An inverted microscope stand with integrated components is required to provide an appropriate interface between the microscope and the sample, as well as the requisite degree of control over automated experiments. a.The stand shall motorize the beam path selector, reflected and transmitted light shutters, fluorescence reflector turret, and focal position (i.e. z-position). b.The z-position shall have a resolution of </= 10 nm and a repeatability of </= 25 nm. c.The z-position shall be optically measured in the near-infrared (i.e. outside of the visible spectrum) and actively compensated against thermal and mechanical drift. d.All motorized functions of the chassis shall be fully integrated with microscope control and data acquisition software to enable the design and control of experimental automation. e.The stand shall support the motorized stage and optical hardware as described below. f.The stand shall include a port for both the CMOS camera and color camera specified below. 2.STAGE. A motorized stage is required to precisely control the position of the sample to be imaged with the microscope. a.The stage shall hold the sample at a specified position with a resolution of </= 0.01 um, a repeatability of </= 1 um, an orthogonality between the stage x-axis and y-axis of </= 10 arcsec, and a range of >/= 100 mm (x-axis) by >/= 100 mm (y-axis). b.The stage shall be fully integrated with microscope control and data acquisition software in order to precisely control and monitor the lateral position and motion of the stage. 3.SCIENTIFIC CMOS CAMERA. (Quantity = 1) A state-of-the-art scientific CMOS camera is required to image and track nanoparticles with high sensitivity, high recording speed, low background noise, and high mechanical stability. The minimum performance specifications for this camera are as follows: a.The camera shall have an array of >/= 2048 pixels × 2048 pixels with a pixel size of </= 6.5 um × 6.5 um to enable wide-field imaging and super-resolution image analysis with a pixel size of </= 65 nm when the camera is used with a microscope objective lens of 100X magnification. b.The camera shall have a quantum efficiency of >/= 80 % at 600 nm and >/= 55 % at a wavelength of 750 nm to enable the sensitive detection of faint optical signals from single nanoparticles. c.The camera shall have a readout speed capability of >/= 100 frames per second at full resolution to enable high-speed recording of the motion of rapidly moving nanoparticles. d.The camera shall include any cables, connectors, and PCI Express cards required to link the camera to a computer and transfer data to the computer at the full readout speed capability of >/= 100 frames per second at full resolution. e.The camera shall have a typical root mean square readout noise of </= 1.6 electrons per pixel at the standard scan mode so as to not interfere with the sensitive detection of faint optical signals by the contribution of undue camera background noise. f.The camera shall include any trigger cables needed for connection to external hardware. 4.SCIENTIFIC COLOR CAMERA. A state-of-the-art scientific color camera is required to image and track fluorescent and scattering nanoparticles with red-green-blue distinction, high sensitivity, high recording speed, low background noise, and high mechanical stability. The minimum performance specifications for this camera are as follows: a.The camera shall have an array of >/= 4250 pixels X 2838 pixels with a pixel size of <\= 3.1 um X 3.1 um to enable wide-field imaging and super-resolution image analysis with a pixel size of </= 31 nm when the camera is used with a microscope objective lens of 100X magnification. b.The camera shall have a dark current </= 0.1 electrons per pixel per second to enable highly sensitive color discrimination of nanoparticles. c.The camera shall include any cables, connectors, and PCI Express cards required to link the camera to a computer and transfer data to the computer at the full readout speed capability of >/= 10 frames per second at full resolution. d.The camera shall have a typical root mean square readout noise of </= 6.8 electrons per pixel at 39 MHz readout speed so as to not interfere with the sensitive detection of faint optical signals by the contribution of undue camera background noise. 5.ILLUMINATION SOURCES. Two illumination sources are required for different microscopy applications. a.A transmitted light LED shall be provided for inspecting samples, as well as providing DIC imaging in conjunction with a condenser and associated hardware. b.A reflected light LED excitation source shall be provided for darkfield and fluorescence excitation across the visible spectrum in conjunction with the darkfield reflector and circular differential interference contrast reflector module described below. 6.REFLECTORS, FILTERS, AND HOLDERS. A darkfield reflector and associated holder are required to measure scattering from nanoparticles. A reflected light module and associated holder are required to correlate reflection and transmission techniques. A circular differential interference contrast reflector module is required for integration with the hardware described below. a.A darkfield reflector and holder shall be provided b.A reflected light module and holder shall be provided c.A circular differential interference contrast reflector module and holder shall be provided. 7.CIRCULAR DIFFERENTIAL INTERFERENCE CONTRAST (C-DIC) COMPONENTS. Circular DIC hardware is required for phase/contrast imaging of nanostructures. DIC optical components and hardware shall be provided for integration with the circular differential interference contrast reflector module described above and with existing EC Epiplan objective lenses. a.Two circular differential interference contrast sliders will be provided, one for low magnifications and one for high magnifications. 8.SYSTEM CONTROL AND DATA ACQUISITION. A high level of integration of the microscope system is required. A microscope control computer with data acquisition software shall be provided to integrate the microscope system for the implementation of controlled and automated experiments. a.The software shall control the configuration of motorized components integrated into the microscope stand (beam path selector, reflected and transmitted light shutters, fluorescence reflector turret, and focal position). The system shall display the configuration of these components through the software interface and control computer, as well as through a dedicated hardware display. b.The software shall control the lateral position and motion of the microscope stage. c.The software shall control all optical parameters of the camera relevant to data acquisition such as exposure time and pixel binning. d.The software shall control all aspects of data acquisition including recording images and videos. 9.SYSTEM DESIGN, ASSEMBLY, AND SERVICE. The microscope system, including all hardware and microscope control and data acquisition software, shall be designed, assembled, and serviced by technicians who are trained and authorized by the microscope manufacturer. Beyond the stated hardware compatibility requirements, the upgrades of existing microscope systems, along with the function and performance of these components, are specified as follows: 1.STRUCTURED ILLUMINATOR. High sensitivity and high spatial resolution is required for imaging of fluorescent nanostructures. A structured illuminator will provide increased spatial resolution and improved imaging sensitivity on an existing microscope system. a.The structured illuminator and associated hardware and software shall generate optical sections of </= 0.2 um thickness with 490 nm wavelength illumination light. b.The structured illuminator and associated hardware and software shall project a grid structure into the focal plane of the specimen. c.The structured illuminator and associated hardware and software shall process image stacks with a deconvolution algorithm. 2.SCIENTIFIC CMOS CAMERA. (Quantity = 2) A state-of-the-art scientific CMOS camera is required to image and track fluorescent nanoparticles with high sensitivity, high recording speed, low background noise, and high mechanical stability. The minimum performance specifications for this camera are as follows: a.The camera shall have an array of >/= 2048 pixels × 2048 pixels with a pixel size of </= 6.5 um × 6.5 um to enable wide-field imaging and super-resolution image analysis with a pixel size of </= 65 nm when the camera is used with a microscope objective lens of 100×magnification. b.The camera shall have a quantum efficiency of >/= 80 % at 600 nm and >/= 55 % at a wavelength of 750 nm to enable the sensitive detection of faint fluorescent signals from single nanoparticles. c.The camera shall have a readout speed capability of >/= 100 frames per second at full resolution to enable high-speed recording of the motion of rapidly moving fluorescent nanoparticles. d.The camera shall include any cables, connectors, and PCI Express cards required to link the camera to a computer and transfer data to the computer at the full readout speed capability of >/= 100 frames per second at full resolution. e.The camera shall have a typical root mean square readout noise of </= 1.6 electrons at the standard scan mode so as to not interfere with the sensitive detection of faint fluorescent signals by the contribution of undue camera background noise. f.The camera shall include any trigger cables needed for connection to external hardware. Additionally, the following terms shall be met: DELIVERY: NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, foreign, and small businesses. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 334516, as those domestic sources having 500 employees or less. Please include your company's size classification in any response to this notice. Companies that can provide fast multichannel digitizer cards that meets the stated requirements are requested to email a detailed report describing their abilities to forest.crumpler@nist.gov no later than the response date for this sources sought notice. The report should include achievable specifications and any other information relevant to your product or capabilities. Also, the following information is requested to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice: 1. Name of the company that manufactures the system components for which specifications are provided. 2. Name of company(ies) that are authorized to sell the system components, their addresses, and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address). 3. Indication of number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of such systems. 4. Indication of whether each instrument for which specifications are sent to forest.crumpler@nist.gov is currently on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and, if so, the GSA FSS contract number(s). 5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research. Point of Contact: Forest Crumpler, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 975-6753, Email forest.crumpler@nist.gov
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NIST/AcAsD/AMD-16-SS37/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition, Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, United States
- Zip Code: 20899
- Zip Code: 20899
- Record
- SN04184963-W 20160717/160715234924-20e90df96967aa5146155298a94fb2b1 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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