Official name: Aarhus Universitet
National registration number: 31119103
Postal address: Nordre Ringgade 1
Town: Aarhus C
NUTS code: DK042 Østjylland
Postal code: 8000
Country: Denmark
Contact person: Ann Sophie Steffensen
E-mail: udbud@au.dk
Telephone: +45 23382421
Internet address(es):
Main address: https://www.au.dk/

Body governed by public law

Education

Single photon counting confocal Fluorescence Microscope with single molecule sensitivity

38000000 Laboratory, optical and precision equipments (excl. glasses)

Supplies

Aarhus University wishes to purchase for research purposes a state of the art confocal fluorescence microscope with 4 lasers capable of both pulsed and CW operation and with high single molecule sensitivity

This contract is divided into lots: no

Value excluding VAT: 529 989.23 EUR

NUTS code: DK042 Østjylland

The instrument should be a complete system that is software controlled, including easy alignment and configuration, and with the following fluorescence intensity and lifetime measurements modalities:

• Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM)

• Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), Fluorescence cross correlation spectroscopy (FCCS); FLCS, FLCCS

• Variable focus FCS

• scanning FCS

• Single molecule FRET of freely diffusing and surface-immobilized molecules

• Antibunching

• Fluorescence anisotropy for time trace and imaging

• PIE and ALEX excitation schemes

• Time-Correlated-Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) and TTTR mode for investigation of fast dynamics

• DIC Imaging

Full list of requirements:

- Four diode laser systems with both pulsed and cw operation and three of them ready for Alternative Laser Excitation (ALEX). Wavelengths and minimal power requirements in pulsed mode at maximum repetition rate: 405 nm and 3 mW, 485 nm and 5 mW, 530 nm and 50 mW, 640 nm and 20 mW

- lasers housed in a compact unit, with one polarization-maintaining optical fiber output for perfect overlap of multiple colors

- Software controlled laser operation, including excitation selection - including setting of lasers, filters and dichroic mirrors-, and parameters in the PIE excitation scheme

- Software-controlled auto-alignment procedure to optimize system performance for the applications above. One-click daily alignment based on internal cameras, without any sample required.

- calibrated photo diode allowing to readout the laser power at the objective position, power displayed in physical units ( for example µW).

- Research grade motorized inverted microscope with autofocus module

- 3D Image Scanning:

◦ xy galvo beam scanning and piezo scanning in z for 3D imaging:

▪ Imaging speed: at least 5 fps (frames per second) in the 512 x 512 pixel mode

▪ Pixel dwell times from 0.5 μs to 1 s

◦ 3 axes galvo scanning technology optimized for FCS

◦ > 2 kHz line frequency, allowing fast line scans for scanning FCS data acquisition

◦ Scanner bypass for highest photon sensitivity for in vitro smFRET and FCS studies

- Free-space detection path optimised for maximum sensitivity, enabling best performance for single molecule studies

- Four Single Photon Counting detectors with spectral detection range between 400 nm and 1000 nm and detection efficiency of 70 % at 700 nm

- Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) electronics for 6 channels with low (< 700 ps) dead time and a time resolution of < 5 ps

- Intuitive data acquisition and analysis software for the experiments above with GPU accelerated fitting (including online best fit suggestion of FCS and TCSPC decays and automated recognition of immobilized emitters in an image). Open data format enables transparent acquisition, data transfer, and complementary analysis

- Implemented smFRET corrections according to community-driven benchmark study (Nat Meth, 2018), allowing online determination of correction factors in an automated way.

- Accessible system architecture for custom adaptions, including easy exchange and replacement of dichroics and filters without the need of special tools or a service visit. Reserved space in specific points in the excitation and detection path for custom insertion of additional optical elements

- Software controlled adjustable observation volume allowing for the switch between diffraction limited and 3-6 times larger volume (depending on the wavelength). The feature is critical for checking dynamic transitions of freely diffusing labeled molecules

- Software-controlled sequential DIC imaging, descanned via galvo allowing overlay of DIC images with FLIM images. DIC optics do not interfere with FLIM image quality due to sequential mode

- Early adopter product release benefits, including access to exclusive test data for novel product features

Options: no

The procurement is related to a project and/or programme financed by European Union funds: no

Award of a contract without prior publication of a call for competition in the Official Journal of the European Union in the cases listed below

Explanation:

Several microscope suppliers on the market offer instruments that fulfil some portion of the requirements specified above. PicoQuant is the sole manufacturer and supplier that can offer all required technical specification in one single system.

The procurement is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement: yes

24/06/2022

The contract has been awarded to a group of economic operators: no

Official name: PicoQuant
Town: Berlin
NUTS code: DE Deutschland
Country: Germany

The contractor/concessionaire will be an SME: no

Total value of the contract/lot/concession: 529 989.23 EUR

Official name: Klagenævnet for udbud
Postal address: Toldboden 2
Town: Viborg
Postal code: 8800
Country: Denmark
E-mail: klfu@naevneneshus.dk
Telephone: +45 72405708
Internet address: https://erhvervsstyrelsen.dk/klagenaevnet-for-udbud

Precise information on deadline(s) for review procedures:

Please contact Aarhus University, if you have a comment about this notice - udbud@au.dk

Following the notification, a standstill period of 10 calendar days will be held in accordance to paragraph 3 of Act No. 593 of 2 June 2016 on the Danish Act on the Complaints Board for public Procurement. This implies that the Contracting Authority cannot sign the Contract with the winning Tenderer before the standstill period has expired.

In case of complaints about tenders or decisions, e.g. award of contracts covered by Section II or III in the Danish Public Procurement Act must be submitted to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement (Klagenævnet for Udbud) within 45 calendar days from the day after the contractor published a notice in the Official Journal on the conclusion of a contract. At the latest concurrently with submission of an appeal to the Complaints Board for Public Procurement, the complainant must inform the Contracting Authority of the alleged infringement, and whether the appeal is to be referred to the board.

Official name: Konkurrence- og Forbrugerstyrelsen
Postal address: Carl Jacobsens Vej 35
Town: Valby
Postal code: 2500
Country: Denmark
E-mail: kfst@kfst.dk
Telephone: +45 41715000
Internet address: www.kfst.dk

26/06/2022