Notice of Intent to Sole Source- Super Resolution Microscope

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Agency Name: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST

Description: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to award a sole-source contract to Oxford NanoImaging Inc of San Diego CA, for a Super Resolution Microscope. The Biosystems and Biomaterials Division (BBD) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology requires a super-resolution microscopy system for the quantitative, spatial measurement of biological molecules in viruses, viral vectors, biological nanoparticles, and living cells. This need has three critical criteria, one related to the required capabilities and two related to safety, for integration into existing laboratory engineering safety controls and for the laser safety of the system itself. BBD has considered conventional format microscope systems that can deliver the needed measurement capabilities and found none that include both necessary safety criteria. BBD has also considered non-conventional format, integrated microscopy systems and found that only the Oxford Nanoimaging ONI Nanoimager instrument meets all three critical criteria of the Government's need.

Justification: This sole-source procurement is justified under FAR 6.302-1, as Oxford NanoImaging is the only responsible source capable of providing the Super Resolution Microscope due to critical criteria 1, the system must be imaging based with brightfield and fluorescence modes hardware capabilities for 100x magnification, epifluorescence illumination, highly inclined and laminated optical sheet (HILO) fluorescence illumination, and total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) illumination. These criteria are necessary for the single system to be capable of providing required measurements across the nanometer to micrometer length scales presented by the range of biological materials BBD currently needs to measure and characterize. Critical criteria 2, the system must be compatible with placement inside an existing, conventional biological safety cabinet (BSC) within BBD's laboratories. As such, the system must have an overall footprint no larger than 36" x 24" x 20" (w x d x h) to fit within the working volume of the BSC. In addition, the system must be constructed so as not to require any external vibration isolation or stabilization in excess of a placement surface that can support the physical weight of the system with a maximum system weight of 70 kg. These criteria are necessary since the biological materials to be studied by BBD include biological materials at biosafety levels 1 to 2+ and, therefore, require a biosafety enclosure for operator (person) protection during manipulations of the measurement samples. Furthermore, BBD needs to incorporate these new measurement capabilities into an existing laboratory space with one conventional BSC and no capacity to accommodate any measurement instrument-specific biological safety enclosures. Critical criteria 3, the system must operate as a class 1 laser device at all times during user operation. BBD's existing laboratory space for these measurements with biological materials is not equipped with the necessary engineering controls that would allow safe operation of laser devices classified above class 1 during user operation, and such engineering modifications are not currently feasible.

Contact Information: For inquiries, please contact Don Graham, Contracting Officer at donald.graham@nist.gov