The National Institutes of Health (NIH), NIDDK Acquisitions Branch, National Library of Medicine (NLM), intends to procure an XR-550B, bottom mount TEM camera with 5.5 megapixel scientific sCMOS sensor on a sole-source basis from Advanced Microscopy Techniques Corp. This is a digital camera system that will be used for bright-field, dark-field and diffraction imaging of protein assemblies on an existing FEI Morgagni transmission electron microscope (TEM). This camera must be compatible with our existing FEI Morgagni TEM and must be attached in a bottom-mount configuration. This will enable us to continue to use our existing side-mount camera. It must also include the following: A computer system and software for camera control, image acquisition, and image processing. This system and software must be capable of controlling and acquiring images from both the new camera and our existing AMT Advantage HR camera and must communicate with the FEI Morgagni TEM to read imaging parameters such as electron energy and magnification. The software must permit manual adjustments of exposure times, gains, image averaging parame, and gray scale limits, so that bright-field, dark-field, and diffraction imaging modes can be optimized. It must be possible to output images at 50 frames per second, allowing rapid scanning over large sample areas and rapid averaging of images to minimize electron exposure and beam damage. It must include a 5 megapixel or higher sCMOS sensor. This sensor is required because of its intrinsically high signal-to-noise and intrinsically low blooming characteristics. The noise level must be below 4 electrons per pixel at 50 frames per second readout and full resolution. Blooming must be negligibly low, allowing the diffraction pattern of a gold film to be imaged without blocking of the direct electron beam. The sensor must include electronic Peltier cooling, with no requirement for external cooling sources. Raw data must be acquired at 16 bits resolution with 15000:1 dynamic range or higher and the exposure times must be adjustable from 10 microseconds to 10 seconds. To the best of the Governments knowledge, only Advanced Microscopy Techniques (AMT) is able to provide a new camera system that includes a computer and software that will be able to control both the new camera and our existing AMT camera. Therefore, this particular camera will meet all of our technical requirements. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, if any other interested party believes that it can meet the requirements it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement and any other information furnished must be in writing, and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow a determination of the partys ability to meet all of the foregoing requirements. The determination to compete or not compete the proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. It is anticipated that Request for Quotation (RFQ) NIHLM2010113 will be available for award two (2) after the publication of this synopsis. Receipt of quotations will be due two (2) days after release of the RFQ. Requests for copies of the RFQ must be in writing to the NIDDK Acquisitions Branch, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, Room 770B, Bethesda, Maryland, 20817, Attention: Lisa Josephowitz, [email protected]. FAX quotations must contain offerors names, address, telephone and fax number. FAX quotations will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. FAX NUMBER 301-480-7443.

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