Transmission Electron Microscopes

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Introduction

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

Project Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Research Technologies Branch (RTB) is seeking to acquire two Talos 120 kV or equal transmission electron microscopes for performance across a wide range of applications, such as 2D and 3D imaging of cells, cell organelles, and soft materials, both at ambient and cryogenic (liquid-nitrogen) temperatures. Additionally, these microscopes will be used to screen both SARS-CoV2, and other vaccine candidates studied by scientists for on-going structural studies. The microscopes will provide a mechanism for quality assessment and serve as a first step towards evaluating proteins, viruses or bacterial preparations for high resolution imaging on a Titan Krios electron microscope. With high demand for ultrastructural studies by scientists, these microscopes will help evaluate samples not limited to SARS-CoV2 projects. The Talos 120 kV or equal microscopes would also play a crucial role in evaluating recombinant rVSV vaccine candidates, analyzing a replicating RNA lipid-based nanoparticle emulsions, and analyses of the spike protein between SARS variants and SARS-CoV2 micro-clot model systems as some examples. These microscopes will not only help alleviate the bottleneck on the Titan Krios by prescreening these samples but also serve as primary microscopes for all the SARS-CoV2 room temperature tomography projects.

Specifically, NIAID, RTB is seeking two transmission electron microscopes that must include all components and camera system requirements listed below:

1. The new microscopes must have dedicated tomography and single particle software embedded in the system.


2. One microscope requires a cryo-box and stage for operations under cryo-conditions.


3. All parts must be run by fully integrated software for unified single particle acquisition compatible with existing software on platforms already in use by the EM unit either EPU or SerialEM.


4. All hardware and software components of the microscope to be serviced by the microscope manufacturer.


5. The installation material, labor and training must be included with the microscopes. The training should be a minimum of 1 day on-site with an application specialist for up to six microscopists.


6. The microscope must provide performance access for a wide range of applications, including 2D and data collection for 3D imaging and reconstruction of cells, cell organelles, bacteria and viruses, both at ambient and cryogenic (liquid-nitrogen temperatures.


7. The microscopes software must automatically recall all optimized operating conditions, including lens settings, gun parameters, optical alignments and aperture alignments for the instrument and the different techniques such as TEM and low-dose under variable accelerating voltages.


8. The microscope should have a retractable CMOS camera with a minimum of 4k x 4k pixels.


9. The camera should come fully integrated with the microscope.


10. The microscope must include a column that has an oil-free vacuum system, IGP pumped gun assembly for improved vacuum, a twin objective lens for high contrast and high resolution, a high-speed, digital search-and-view camera, a pneumatically driven beam stop for diffraction work, Automated condenser and objective apertures.


11. The microscope should be able toggle between both High Contrast (HC) and High Resolution (HR) imaging modes.


12. The high tension (HT) switching time should be less than 1 minute with the stability of 3 ppm in 8 hours to ensure system stability during imaging sessions for overnight data collection.


13. The TEM line resolution should be less than 0.204 nm without dark-field in both x and y directions to provide highest level of resolution for a 120 kV scopes for low voltage single particle data collection.


14. The stage should be fully motorized with all four axes, XYZ and alpha tilt, with accurate specimen position recall and easy retrieval.


15. The specimen tilt angle should go to +/- 90 degrees.


16. The microscope should have the capability to be operated remotely.


17. The microscope should have a secure remote access facility that would facilitate remote diagnosis by the microscope service engineers.


18. Embedded software that facilitates identification of ROI for specialized techniques such as correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM).


19. There should be a quick recovery time after specimen holder insertion less than 1.5 minutes for room temperature specimens and less than 2 minutes for cryo-specimens.


20. The system should be protected from any environmental interference such as light and vibration by an outer shell or “box” for optimal stability.

Anticipated Period of Performance

It is anticipated that an award will be made on or about March 31, 2023. Delivery of microscopes will be required as soon as possible.

Capability Statement/Information Sought

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide two transmission electron microscopes which meets the minimum requirements and performance capabilities listed above, please provide the following information:

1. Organization name, address, point of contact, email address, website address, telephone number, DUNS number


2. Company location(s) and number of years company has been in business


3. Type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Other than Small, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code


4. Type of ownership for the organization


5. Identification of any Best-In-Class contract vehicles including Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) (e.g., GSA schedule) they may possess or are aware of that would support this possible requirement. If your organization does not provide the products/services under a GWAC, please identify availability as OPEN MARKET ONLY.


6. Tailored capability statement addressing the capability of the microscopes to meet NIAID’s minimum requirements. Capability document shall be no more than six pages.


7. Place of manufacture for the microscopes and components


8. Evidence that the organization is an authorized reseller or manufacturer of the instrument. Only Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) products are acceptable.

Submission Instructions

Interested businesses who consider themselves qualified to provide the above listed transmission electron microscopes are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by February 6, 2023, at 3:00 PM EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice shall be emailed to Hershea Vance at hershea.vance@nih.gov.

Disclamer and Important Notes

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality

No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).