NIH-NINDS - 22-006205 - Notice of Intent

Submitted by patelsnv on
Post Date/ Solicitation Issue Date
Closing Response Date
Proposed Award Date
Project Title
Objective z-Piezos and fast beam modulator
Contracting Office
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Contact Points

Primary Contract Specialist

Valerie
Gregorio
valerie.gregorio@nih.gov
NAICS Code Number
334516
Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Small Business Size Standard
1,000 employees
FPDS Classification Code
N/A
Estimated Period of Performance
N/A
Delivery of Goods
BLDG 49 RM 2A35
Competition Status
Brand Name Only
Vendor Name
Thorslab
Address
56 Sparta Avenue
Newtown, New Jersey 07860
United States
Single-Sole Source Determination
Thorlabs is a leading provider of objective z-piezos and fast beam modulators. Primary competitors for z-Piezos include nPoint and PhysikInstrumente. zPiezos with similar performance characteristics from nPoint and PI are substantially more expensive (generally several thousand dollars more each), have much less favorable form factors (larger casings with protrusions that prevent the present application use of bringing two microscope objective arms close together), and much longer lead times (generally several months versus several weeks with Thorlabs). A primary competitor for fast beam modulators is ConOptics. Their products are substantially more expensive (several thousand dollars), require more auxiliary hardware for a complete system and are thus more complex and require more expertise to implement and have more components prone to failure or misalignment, occupy more precious optical air table surface space, and present greater hazards due to the use of EOM (very high voltages across a birefringent crystal) and the need to capture and dissipate the rejected polarized beam. They also have substantially greater lead times (several months versus several weeks).
Background/Description of Requirement

A major goal of the research performed by the lab is to understand communication between the neocortex and cerebellum while animals learn novel behavioral skills over weeks. The lab measures activity in both cortex and cerebellum simultaneously using a custom dual-site two-photon microscope, across multiple genetically defined populations using dual-wavelength two-color imaging, and by combining imaging of one neural population with stimulation of another. Essential components of this are z-Piezo objective scanners and fast beam modulators.

Interested parties may identify in writing their interest and capability in response to this requirement. 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 be received by closing date and must reference the announcement. Responses may be submitted electronically to the attention of the contract specialist. Fax responses will not be accepted.

All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.