42987-4A-5A-10A-13A-ACAN - Stereo Investigator System

BACKGROUND:
Notice is hereby given by the University of Ottawa of the intent to enter into a contract with MBF Bioscience (MicroBrightField LLC) to procure a turnkey Stereo Investigator System, which includes MBF Stereo Investigator and Neurolucida 360 software’s, MBF Bioscience Vesalius Spinning Disk system with Zeiss AxioImager M2 Microscope, and related components.

PROCESS:
Suppliers that consider their equipment functional, successfully tested, readily available and fully compliant to the ACAN minimum requirements may submit, in writing, a statement of specifications to the contact person identified in this Notice, on or before the closing date of this Notice. In the statement of specifications, the supplier must unequivocally demonstrate how their equipment, at minimum, equals, or exceeds the stated requirements.

If no other supplier submits a statement of specifications, on or before the closing date of this Notice, the competitive requirements of the University of Ottawa will be considered having been met. Following notification to any suppliers not successful in unequivocally demonstrating that their statement of specifications equals or exceeds the requirements set out in this Notice, the contract may then be awarded to the pre-identified supplier.

Date of issue:      April 30, 2024  
Closing Date:      May 14, 2024, at 3:00:00 P.M. Eastern Standard Time

INTENDED USE:
The system will facilitate the project “Optogenetic manipulation and reorganization of memory and motor neural networks in the central nervous system” to support the advancement of novel lines of fundamental research identifying how the brain normally functions to support these cognitive and motor processes.

The request equipment will quantify brain-wide neuronal expression of immediate-early genes in rodents in response to optogenetic stimulation during behavioral tasks and identify plasticity changes in neuronal morphology required to support new memory formation.

FUNCTIONALITY:
The equipment must conform to the following Minimum Requirements:

The system consists of three main components:

1. Stereological imaging and analysis, and neuronal tracing software for brain-wide neuronal expression and morphology research.
   • Stereological Analysis tools with user friendly, automated and semi-automated workflows for accurate and unbiased estimation of the number, length, area, and volume of structures within tissue specimens.
   • Automatic neuron tracing and quantitative analysis tools to reconstruct and edit somas, dendrites, axons, spines, varicosities, and synapses.
   • Integrated and computerized control of the microscope and its components to visualize and capture brightfield, widefield fluorescent, or confocal fluorescent image for stereological and neuronal analysis.
   • Capable of real-time analysis to perform stereology directly on the microscope as well as off-line analysis of previously acquired microscope images.
   • Capable of analyzing brightfield, widefield and confocal fluorescence image data.
   • Capable of capturing large area images from multiple microscopic fields-of-view, to create high-resolution montages of the entire rodent brain section area (up to ~150mm2).

1. Stereological imaging and analysis, and neuronal tracing hardware for brain-wide neuronal expression and morphology research.
   • Stereological hardware, upright microscope, and microscope components must be fully compatible and integrated with above software
     • Spinning disk confocal for high-speed fluorescent imaging of DAPI, FITC, Cy3, Cy5, and Cy7 channels.
     • Brightfield and 5-channels widefield fluorescent (DAPI, FITC, Cy3, Cy5, and Cy7) imaging.
     • Scientific grade monochrome (minimum 4 megapixel and 95% QE) and color cameras.
     • Must include at least the following 6 objectives magnification range, optimized for fluorescent and confocal imaging: 2.5x, 5x, 10x, 20x, 40x and 60x.
     • Motorized microscope stage with x y z axis control.
   • Tabletop vibration isolation platform for the microscope.

• • Full system installation, integration, calibration, testing, and training.

3. Computer workstations
   • Workstation computer designed for optimal performance to work with above hardware and software for real-time usage with the microscope.
   • Second workstation computer designed for optimal performance to work with above software for analysis of acquired microscope image data.
   • Uninterruptable power supply backup suitable for each workstation.

3. Other:
   • Software Upgrades and Support Services: 6 years
   • Warranty: Equipment must have a standard manufacturer warranty of a minimum of one (1) year. Annual Extended Warranty/Service Agreement shall be available upon expiration of manufacturer standard warranty for a minimum of five (5) years on key components.