Opportunity: VAST BioImager System

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Research Triangle Park (RTP) in Durham, North Carolina intends to award a firm fixed-price contract on a sole source basis to Union Biometrica in accordance with 13.106-1(b), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. EPA's National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL) is engaged in research studying whether the microbiome can modify developmental toxicity in zebrafish. To perform this research, the laboratory requires vertebrate automated screening technology (VAST) BioImager system to screen chemicals for developmental toxicity to see if toxicity is modified by microbiota. Union Biometrica is the only source that has a VAST system with the unique properties to meet the agency's requirement. A major barrier to evaluating chemical toxicity in zebrafish relates to sample orientation and imaging. The VAST system created by Union Biometrica will assist in the time consuming and tedious manual steps of loading, positioning and rotating each zebrafish larva for high-throughput high-content imaging screens. The system can load, orient, and image anesthetized larvae, without user intervention, from a 96 well plate. Union Biometrica is able to provide a VAST system with the following unique properties that are critical to the agency's requirement: - Perform high-resolution imaging of large numbers of 2-7 day old zebrafish larvae - Automatically handle, orient and image 2-7 day old zebrafish using a capillary device. - Can image batches of larvae from either a stirred 50 ml sample container or from a 96 well plate. - Enable manual or automated control of all the steps needed to capture and store images of the fish in your sample using instrument software. - Be placed on upright microscopes for whole fish fluorescence imaging using a high resolution microscope stage and mounting kit that contains a fine resolution stage plus hardware for mounting the system on an upright, high-resolution microscope. - Capture bright-field whole fish images using an onboard camera - Contains a camera resolution of at least 10 microns (¿m) - Rotationally position zebrafish +/- 3 degrees - Laterally position zebrafish +/- 2 mm - Can sort/unload larvae into two output containers - Run using Windows 7, 64 bit computer. - Allow for bidirectional communications between the system, microscope and accessories, including the camera using two TTL signal outputs and two TTL signal inputs. - Contains an automated sample introduction system designed specifically for gentle handling of zebrafish larvae that is capable of aspirating samples from the wells of multiwell plates and delivering them intact to the automated imaging system. - Seamlessly integrate the sampler and imaging components of the system using system software. - Handle object ranging from 1 to 1500 microns in diameter. - Is capable of processing multiple samples simultaneously for continuous sample introduction. - Fits in a workspace of 12¿X11¿X13¿ (electronic box) and 9¿X16¿X3.2¿ for the capillary module. - Run off of a 50/60 Hz, 4 A @ 110 V electrical outlet. This Notice of Intent is not a request for proposals. This notice of intent is for information purposes only; therefore, no solicitation will result from this announcement. All capability statements received within 10 days after publication of this notice (29 May 2016) will be considered by the Government. Responses must be supported with clear and convincing evidence to clearly be able to provide the services outlined and itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. A request for documentation will not be considered as an affirmative response. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Contracting Officer. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Submit capability statements via email (using PDF, MS Word, Excel attachments) to Contract Specialist, Adrianne Wells, at Wells.Adrianne@epa.gov. No telephone calls will be accepted. The NAICS code for this procurement is: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing