AUTOMATED TISSUE STAINING ANALYZERS - COLUMBIA VAMC

The Columbia VA Health Care System; WJB Dorn VAMC has a requirement for two fully automated tissue staining analyzers which will perform special high quality staining. The system must have a parental system, Digital Pathology, that includes instrument installation, configuration, and connection to laboratory information system (LIS). The instrument must provide consistent and reliable special stains for diagnosing a wide variety of pathologic entities. The system must provide exceptional streamlining of workflow.

Performance Requirements shall be met:

- Fullly automated baking, deparaffinization and staining of Special stains in Histology

- The unit should be able to reduce technicians' exposure to harmful chemicals with ready to use staining kits.

- The unit must have 1-20 slides with independent temperature control for each position.

- The unit must have reagent carousel with 20-25 reagent position.

- The unit must have the ability to stain slides 25 mm x 75 mm, 1in x 3 in or 26 mm x 76 mm Superfrost Plus.

- The unit must have up to 4 bulk fluids in 3 to 6 liter on-board containers. This will improve efficiency and ensure adequate fluid capacity with integrated bulk reagent and waste sensing.

- The unit must be free standing or modified benchtop installation.

- The unit should run any test next to any other test with independent slide heating. Help protect patient samples with individual slide staining

- The unit must appreciate features like easy slide loading and unloading, ready-to-use kits and an integrated retractable work surface.

Maintenance Requirements:

- A technical assistance center shall be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

- Equipment repair shall be provided during core business hours. M-F 8a-5p. Certain circumstances may dictate the need for repair service to be conducted outside routine business hours. If this is the case; all arrangements shall be coordinated with the COR.

- Preventative maintenance will be performed as frequently as published in manufacturer’s operator’s manual and within 2 weeks of the scheduled due date.

Upgrade Requirements:

- The Contractor shall provide upgrades to both the equipment hardware and software in order to maintain the integrity of the system and the state-of-the art technology at no charge to the government. These shall be provided as they become commercially available and at the same time they are being provided to commercial customers. This requirement only applies to “system upgrades” that enhance the model of equipment being offered, i.e. new version of software, correction of hardware defect, upgrade offered to commercial customers at no additional charge, upgrade to replace model of equipment no longer Contractor supported, etc. This does not refer to replacing the original piece of equipment, it does refer to significant changes in the hardware operational capability.

Ancillary support equipment Requirements:

- The Contractor shall provide, install and maintain any and all ancillary support equipment to fully operate the analyzer. Contractor shall include all ancillary components that are customarily sold or provided with the model of equipment proposed.

- The Contractor shall provide any additional support material this is routinely provided to equivalent commercial customers and assists in regulatory compliance,