Purchase, Installation and Training for equipment to perform single cell spacial transcriptomic visualization spanning

Spatial transcriptomics is increasingly utilized to identify transcriptional patterns within spatially-resolved areas of tissues, offering a spatial cellular context that is not achievable with bulk or single-cell RNA sequencing. Given that the pathophysiological changes involved in Alzheimer's Disease and other aging-related chronic conditions are not well understood, improved characterization of altered cellular interactions and disease states using the MERSCOPE Ultra will be crucial and this enhanced capability will help pinpoint intervention targets for multiple research experiments. On behalf of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),Office of Acquisitions, intends to solicit on a sole-source basis by a request for quotation to Vizgen to acquire an upgraded Vizgen MERSCOPE instrument (MERSCOPE ULTRA). This upgrade will enable scanning of larger tissue sections at a much faster rate and facilitate the storage and analysis of data from multiple runs directly on the instrument. This enhancement is intended to meet the increased throughput demands of spatial transcriptomics samples for the NIA-IRP

The Computational Biology and Genomics Core (CBGC) of the Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics (LGG) at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) previously purchased the Vizgen MERSCOPE. To protect the integrity of ongoing experiments, it is essential that the upgraded microscope remain a Vizgen MERSCOPE.

In addition, the unique essential characteristics of the Vizgen MERSCOPE Ultra that limit the availability to a sole source are: Support for two, interchangeable flow cell sizes leading to optimized cost per sample. Maximum imageable area of 3.0cm2 which is deal for large samples or multiple smaller samples. Optimized optical design and high-performance analysis computer and data storage. Multiplexing capabilities up to 1000 plex gene panel. On-Instrument Storage Capacity of 58TB. Analysis PC Storage Capacity of 58TB. Full combability with current MERSCOPE and with previously purchased gene panels and other reagents. Single-cell spatial transcriptomic visualization spanning from subcellular resolution up to 3 cm2 of tissue or slide-adherent cultured cells, the ability visualize data using license-free software, and provide data that are compatible with open-source analysis tools like Scanpy and Seurat. End-to-end solution enabling massively multiplexed single-cell in situ transcriptomic imaging with co-detection of 140-1000 whole transcriptome probes with six proteins in a single experiment, use the extensively validated MERFISH (multiplexed, error-robust fluorescent in situ hybridization) protocol.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD ON A SOLE-SOURCE BASIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must provide evidence that they can provide equipment that meets all of the requirements in this announcement.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, NIH-NIA-NOI-25-006884. Responses must be submitted electronically to Christopher Belt, Contracting Officer, NIDA Office of Acquisitions, at cbelt@nida.nih.gov U.S. Mail and Fax responses will not be accepted.