NINDS NOI 23-008938

Submitted by patelsnv on
Post Date/ Solicitation Issue Date
Closing Response Date
Proposed Award Date
Project Title
Repair and Maintenance of two-photon microscope computer
Contracting Office
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Contact Points

Primary Contract Specialist

ELAINE
ESTRELLA
ESTRELLAEK@MAIL.NIH.GOV
NAICS Code Number
333310
Commercial and service industry machinery manufacturing
Small Business Size Standard
1000
FPDS Classification Code
J066
Estimated Period of Performance
06/02/2023 - 09/30/2023
Delivery of Goods
BLDG 35 RM 3C1002
Set-Aside Status
Not Set Aside
Competition Status
Brand Name or Equal
Vendor Name
BRUKER NANO, INC
Vendor Address
5465 East Cheryl Parkway
Madison, WI 53711
Brand Name
BRUKER NANO
Rationale/ Salient Characteristics
This two-photon microscope is a custom system that has its most critical parts designed by and generated for Bruker microscopes alone. In particular, the computer is a custom computer that communicates with a custom PCI-expansion box that then is designed to communicate with the custom Bruker microscope that only a factory trained technician knowledgeable of the two photon microscope would be be able to perform the troubleshooting and repair.
Single-Sole Source Determination
This two-photon microscope is a custom system that has its most critical parts designed by and generated for Bruker microscopes alone. In particular, the computer is a custom computer that communicates with a custom PCI-expansion box that then is designed to communicate with the custom Bruker microscope. The repair should be performed only by Bruker technicians that have received training on the custom Bruker two-photon microscope that we own. Therefore, Bruker technicians are the only technicians that have the expert knowledge to service our two-photon Bruker system. There are no other sources available to meet the government needs.
Background/Description of Requirement

The Cellular Neurophysiology Unit focuses on circuit and cellular properties of dopaminergic neurons located in the midbrain. We are interested in the physiology of a subset of dopamine neuron located in the substantia nigra pars comacta (SNc) that undergo selective cell death in Parkinson’s patients.  We are interested in understanding how synaptic and intrinsic conductances differ among subpopulations dopamine neurons with the hope that this may provide insight to why SNc dopamine neurons are particularly vulnerable in Parkinson’s disease.  Our goal is to identify novel physiological and genetic markers in single SNc dopamine neurons which may be useful in defining subpopulations of these neurons in a meaningful way. 

In order to examine dopamine neuron subpopulations, we need to be able to perform calcium imaging experiments in order to monitor their activity. In addition, we examine intracellular Ca in subcellular compartments in order to study how Ca contributes to cellular signal processing such as cellular firing activity and plasticity. In order to examine Ca signaling in different subcellular compartments, we use a two-photon microscope that we would like to have repaired. Therefore, the two-photon microscope is essential equipment for our studies.

The purpose of our requirement is to have a maintenance and repair visit by authorized factory trained engineer to address specific problem with the computer and currently non-functional. The equipment were damaged by the BLDG 35 Flood over the winter holiday and researches are delayed due to the equipment non-functioning. 

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.