The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has a requirement for the field emission scanning electron microscope FEI Apreo LoVac with EDAX TEAM Octane Super and four (4) optional maintenance/service years.

The Apreo low-vacuum will support NIOSH research in the areas of exposure assessment and characterization of occupationally relevant nanomaterials. The proposed FESEM has a unique compound lens for analyzing a variety of samples including magnetic samples. It also has in-lens detection system, and retractable back scatter and STEM detectors to accommodate the needs for high resolution imaging in STEM mode. The combined imaging and elemental analysis detectors would provide both ultra-structural information and chemical compound information at the molecular level. The FEI instrument design accommodates high resolution imaging in both high vacuum (resolution of 1.0nm@1kV) and low vacuum (resolution of 1.2nm@15kV) modes. It is also equipped with a unique compound lens system, a powerful technology not offered by other vendors. This technology enables the identification and quantification of a variety of nanomaterials in the work environment. These results can be used to assess worker exposure to nanomaterials and study the toxicity of nanoscale materials. These capabilities will advance measurement methodology for exposure monitoring. The equipment will support the NIOSH objective of reducing occupational disease and improving worker health.

The most important qualification is that the FEI Apreo Low-vac FESEM is the only commercially available SEM that is equipped a lens system combining electrostatic and magnetic immersion technology. This compound lens system enables the high resolution imaging in both high vacuum (1.0nm@1kV) and low vacuum (1.2nm@15kV) conditions for a variety of samples including magnetic samples. The FEI Apreo also has the following unique characteristics:

• Upgradable to a serial block-face imaging system to support research for analyzing biological samples and 3D reconstruction;
• A unique specimen chamber to house a fully automated high tilt (up to 90 degrees) specimen stage required for the tomography and 3D-SEM;
• Navigation camera for quick and safe sample loading, and fast relocation of point of interest. It comes with optional software for user-friendly measurement control, image analysis and image overlay to achieve the correlation of the results.

This project is supported by a Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition (JOFOC) to FEI Company under authority of FAR Parts: 13.106-1(b), 13.501(a), 41 U.S.C. 1903, and 41 U.S.C 3304(a)(1).

Funds are not presently available for this contract.

Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are hereby afforded the opportunity to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written capabilities statement and pricing information in the format they choose, not to exceed 10 pages. Please forward product and pricing information to Diane Meeder, Contracting Officer, CDC, OAS, through email at [email protected].

All vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov , prior to an award of a federal contract.

This is not a Request for Proposals; however, the Government will review any/all product, capabilities, and pricing information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, in accordance with FAR Parts 12, 13 and 13.5 an order/contract and/or negotiations will be conducted with FEI Company, 5350 NE Dawson Creek Drive, Hillsboro, Oregon 97124.