Basic Information

Reference Number

0000270023

Issuing Organization

University of Ottawa

Owner Organization

University of Ottawa

Solicitation Type

RFP - Request for Proposal (Formal)

Solicitation Number

2024004-RES-RFP

Title

Automatic High-Content Screening Microscopy System

Source ID

PU.AC.ON.11752.C94742

Agreement Types

Broader Public Sector (BPS)

Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA)

Details

Location

Canada, Ontario, National Capital Region

Delivery Point

TBD

Purchase Type

Duration: TBD

Description

PART 1: INTRODUCTION

1. - Background Information

Since 1848 the University of Ottawa has been Canada’s university and the largest bilingual university in Canada. At the University of Ottawa we understand our past and our desired future. The University of Ottawa is a major player in the cultural and economic development of the National Capital Region.

The University of Ottawa is one of Canada's leading research-intensive University. The University of Ottawa fosters excellence and success in research, whether the research is basic or applied, of intrinsic value or of commercial importance. The University of Ottawa considers itself to be Canada's university of the 21st Century by launching new initiatives in emerging areas, promoting collaboration within and across faculties, and providing the milieu in which creativity can flourish.

Further information regarding the University of Ottawa can be found on the Web site http://www.uottawa.ca/

We hereby invite your company (proponent) to partner with the University of Ottawa in this great project by submitting an offer to this Request for Proposals.

Please find attached the Request for Proposals documentation with specifications to be completed and returned with your proposal.

1. - Statement of Requirements

1.2.1        The University of Ottawa is pleased to invite qualified proponents to submit a proposal for a automatic high-content screening microscopy. The requested microscopy system will dramatically improve or enable high throughput screening that require imaging of a large number of embryos (typically 96 per plate). These zebrafish embryos will be expressing reporter transgenes or stained with live dyes that highlight endogenous events or responses to chemical treatments. Continuous parallel imaging of large numbers of embryos differing in genotypes can enable rapid data acquisition without significant delays. Such a microscopy system will also benefit drug-screening applications where a large number of drugs need to be screened or individual drugs applied to multiple embryos with different genotypes. For some projects, we will also perform cell-based high-content screening microscopy with cells of different genotypes expressing specific reporters, undergoing different treatments. Our lab is a pioneer in the the xenotransplantation of human cancer cells into zebrafish larvae. For these projects, zebrafish embryos are typically not labeled, but injected cells are. A microscopy system that can continuously monitor injected cell behaviour over several days under different treatment conditions will significantly improve the quality and quantity of the data compared to more standard manual imaging approaches. Most importantly, the availability of an AI-powered analysis platform will revolutionize the processing of images captured and allow for automated analyses in a high-throughput format which will greatly increase reproducibility and decrease analysis time.

                General Description:

The microscope system should have at least 4 fluorescent channels, be capable of 3D imaging, auto-focus and precise XY motion. In addition to fluorescent channels, brightfield illumination should also be present to cross-reference the location of the fluorescent signals to the zebrafish embryo body or to discern gross cellular morphology. The filters should prevent bleed-through between channels but be sufficiently flexible to allow as many fluorophore combinations as possible. We require primarily air objectives from 4x to 40x due to the extensive objective movements between different wells and/or fields of view. The camera system on the instrument should be capable of capturing both fluorescent signals and colored brightfield. The camera should have at least 3 MP resolution. The system should be flexible with regard to the sample format but be capable of accommodating 6 to 96 wells. It should also be adaptable to slides or microscopy dishes when low-throughput applications will be performed. The system should also be completely enclosed, independent of environmental light and have temperature controls. The ideal system must also have software adapted or easily suitable for high-throughput, reproducible zebrafish analyses.

The automated microscopy system we are seeking to acquire should have the following technical characteristics:

Z-stack imaging either using confocal methods or by other methods such as auto-focus.
The precision of the XY and Z-motions is ≤200 nm
The following light sources need to be present: Brightfield LED, Fluorescent channels for DAPI, FITC/GFP, TRITC/RFP/Cy3, Cy5. These channels will be laser-based in case of a confocal system or LED-based in an epifluorescent system.
Filters that enable either simultaneous imaging of some channel combinations or sequential. The details will vary among different systems, so we are not including the precise details here.
Air objectives: 4x, 10x, 20x and 40x. These need to have the maximum available numerical apertures.
Color brightfield and fluorescent signal camera or cameras of >3 MP resolution.
Immediate compatibility with 6 to 96-well plates as well as potential compatibility with slides and microscopy dishes
Environmental controls for light and temperature. CO2 control should either be available by default or to be easily added by later purchasing relevant components.
Software capable of analyzing zebrafish images is of particular importance. This should be proven by publications from labs which previously used the instrument. Specifically, the software should be able to automatically detect the outline of zebrafish embryos and larvae for background removal. The ability to automatically identify key/landmark morphologoical features in the zebrafish embryo is particularly desirable.

The environment where the equipment will be placed is wet lab space on the third floor of the CAREG building at the University of Ottawa

Specifications listed in Appendix A – Technical Specifications Compliance Form of this RFP are the mandatory minimum requirements for the Automated High-content Screening Microscopy System and Analysis Platform for Imaging Zebrafish Embryos and for Cell Culture Applications.

1. 1. Should any equipment included in a proposal be superseded by a newer model during the period of time between the award of contract and the delivery date, the successful Proponent will be required to inform the University of Ottawa of the new specifications, the newer model pricing will remain the same as what was offered in the RFP. At its sole discretion, the University of Ottawa may opt to make changes from the list of equipment by altering, adding, or deducting some equipment.

Dates

Publication

2024/05/16 09:23:27 AM EDT

Bid Intent

Not Available

Question Acceptance Deadline

2024/05/24 03:00:00 PM EDT

Questions are submitted online

Yes

Closing DateA - Latest Amendment

2024/06/10 03:00:00 PM EDT

Contact Information

Ana Lopes

613-562-5800 ext. 2312

alopes@uottawa.ca

Bid Submission Process

Bid Submission Type

Electronic Bid Submission

Pricing

In attached document

Bid Documents List

Item Name	Description	Mandatory	Limited to 1 file
Attachment #1	Technical/Qualitative Proposal and supporting documents as listed in section 2.3.3 & 2.3.4 in the RFP document	Yes	No
Attachement #2	Financial Proposal and supporting documents as listed in section 2.3.5 in the RFP document	Yes	No
No entries

Additional Bidding Instructions

1. - Proposals Submitted Only In Prescribed Manner

1. 1. The Proponent’s proposal must be submitted in the following manner:

1. 1. The Proponents must submit their proposal using Merx EBS no later than the time and date stated in section 2.2 – Timetable. No other forms of delivery will be accepted by the University.

The proposals must be complete and submitted in the prescribed format with the following information:

1. 1. The Proponent must provide two (2) separate attachments (files) containing the Proponent’s proposal labelled in the following manner:

Attachment #1 Technical/Qualitative Proposal: 2024004-RES-RFP_Insert Company Name
Attachment #2 Financial Proposal: 2024004-RES-RFP_Insert Company Name

1. 1. Attachment #1 – Technical/Qualitative Proposal must include the following mandatory documents:

Appendix A (Technical Specifications Compliance)
Appendix B (Rated Criteria)
Appendix C (Equipment, Utility, and Environmental Requirements) and all the referenced associated documents
Appendix D (Supplemental Information)
Appendix E (Reference Consent Form)
Appendix F (Submission Declaration Form)
Appendix H (Proponent’s Checklist Form)
All supporting technical documentation for the proposal
Detailed quotation without pricing
Bottom of every page of RFP initialled

1. 1. Attachment #2 – Financial Proposal must include the following mandatory documents:

Appendix G (Price Schedule Form)
Detailed quotation with pricing

© MERX - All rights reserved. No part of the information on this Web Site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of MERX and the Minister of the participating government department (if applicable). MERX, the Minister nor the Contracting Authority will assume responsibility or liability for the accuracy of the information contained in the publication.