6640--Research Equip - Hamamatsu Orca Quest Camera Notice for Brand Name

Pre-Solicitation Notice for notice of intent to award a sole source brand name or equal firm fixed priced purchase order. This is not a solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs intends to purchase the Hamamatsu ORCA-Quest 2 Digital qCMOS Camera Kit, (product # ORCA-QUEST2-KIT) and the Interface Kit - Firebird CoaXpress with Cables for ORCA-Ques, (product # CAMRA-1012-000-KIT) from Hamamatsu, 300 Foothill Rd, Bridgewater, NJ 08807, or any authorized distributer for the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, Research Office, 11301 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90073. The overall goal is to meet the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center need by providing the requested ORCA-Quest 2 Digital qCMOS Camera Kit and the Interface Kit - Firebird CoaXpress with Cables for ORCA-Ques, brand name or equal. Please see below for the required Salient Characteristics: Uses a qCMOS image sensor. Ultra-low noise readout mode (0.30 electrons rms). Very high quantum efficiency (QE) in voltage sensors emission regime (300 nm 600 nm). Quantification of single photons for acquiring high quality data in the low SNR conditions typically associated with voltage imaging in biological tissue. Realisation of photon number resolving (PNR) output. Back-illuminated trench structure minimizing pixel crosstalk. Capable of high bandwidth readout rates of over 1000 Megapixels per second, allowing for imaging a large field of view (~600x300 um) at the fast frames rates required to capture action potentials (500 Hz). Pixel size of 4.6µm x 4.6µm paired with high readout bandwidth allow for high spatiotemporal resolution needed to capture activity of large neuronal populations Combination of low-noise and high QE of qCMOS image sensor allows for long term imaging due to reduced photobleaching (for experiments longer than 10 minutes). Much better spatial resolution than other voltage imaging camera alternatives such as the DaVinci, which has a pixel size of about 15µm x 15µm. Established software drivers (DCAM-API) with support for developing online image processing software for low latency closed loop experiments. NOTE: Brand name or equal alternate cameras meeting all the salient characteristics will be considered. The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center has a need for the Hamamatsu camera. Voltage imaging is an imaging technique for recording activity from large neuronal populations at very high temporal resolution. These techniques require cameras that can record large fields-of view at very high frame rates with extremely low noise. The intent is to use the Hamamatsu Orca Quest camera to perform ultrafast imaging of voltage dynamics from large populations of neurons required to support current research studies. This camera must use a qCMOS image sensor for imaging a large FOV (~600x300 um) at very high frame rates (500Hz) with low noise. The Hamamatsu camera has a very high quantum efficiency and is able to quantify single photons, that is critical for acquiring high quality data in the low SNR conditions typically associated with voltage imaging in biological tissue. The applicable NAICS code is 334516 with a 1,000 Employee Size Standard. The FSC/PSC is 6640. Copies of the solicitation will not be available for mailing. All prospective contractors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to award of the contract. Registration may be accomplished at www.sam.gov. Questions concerning this procurement may be directed to the Contracting Officer Ann Marie Stewart at annmarie.stewart@va.gov