MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services (OAGS) is issuing this source sought announcement on behalf of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), in order to determine if there are existing small business sources capable of providing a Upright Fluorescent Microscope. Other than small business concerns, especially vendors who may be able to offer domestic products are also encouraged to submit a capability statement that provides company information, as well as information demonstrating that it can meet all of the minimum requirements included below, to include the country of manufacture of products offered. If your firm is considered a small business source under North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing; with a Small Business Size Standard of 1,000 employees and you believe that your firm would be able to provide the FDA with the supplies/services described below, please submit an email to Warren.Dutter@fda.hhs.gov. Background: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER), Office of Vaccines Research and Review (OVRR), Division of Bacterial, Parasitic and Allergenic Products (DBPAP), requires the purchase of an upright microscope with fluorescent image acquisition and processing. An upright fluorescence microscope with digital imaging and image analysis capabilities is required to support research on malaria parasite biology and gene regulation. The system will be used to evaluate parasite morphology and determine the intracellular localization of proteins of interest through fluorescent protein tagging and immunofluorescence assays using fluorophore-conjugated antibodies. High-resolution image acquisition is required to accurately document protein localization patterns and morphological changes throughout the parasite life cycle. The microscope must include an integrated digital camera and image acquisition software capable of capturing, processing, and analyzing fluorescence images. Continuous access to the instrument is necessary to support live-cell imaging experiments and longitudinal observation of parasites throughout their approximately 48-hour intraerythrocytic life cycle. Dedicated access minimizes imaging artifacts associated with sample fixation, storage, and transport and enables the collection of reproducible data under physiologically relevant conditions. Minimum Technical Requirements: 1. Upright Configuration The proposed system shall be an upright microscope configuration suitable for slide-based brightfield, fluorescence, and differential interference contrast (DIC) imaging. 2. Mechanical Stage and Specimen Holder The system shall include a mechanical X-Y stage with a minimum travel range of 75 mm × 50 mm. The stage shall include adjustable friction or torque cont…