Active

Contract Opportunity

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source

1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N95024Q00135


2. TITLE: Covaris R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator (Brand Name)


3. CLASSIFICATION CODE:

6640 – LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

NAICS CODE: 334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

1. RESPONSE DATE:

February 28, 2024, at 4:00 PM ET

1. PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT:

Maggie Brant

Maggie.brant@nih.gov

Phone: 301.827.1771

1. DESCRIPTION:

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Covaris, LLC to provide a Covaris R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator (Brand Name). Covaris R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator (Brand Name) is the only ultrasonicator on the market that has the adaptative focused acoustics (AFA) technology to generate precisely controlled and focused bursts of ultrasonic acoustic energy to generate and collapse millions of cavitation bubbles in an area as small as a few millimeters creating high hydrodynamic shear stress that enables the preparation of homogenous materials. This technology is applicable to a variety of sample types including (i) cells, (ii) tissue, (iii) blood, (iv) FFPE, and (v) bodily fluids. In addition to more uniform sample processing compared to traditional methods, AFA provides greater efficiency and higher reproducibility, as well as contactless sample manipulation minimizing sample loss and contamination.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization).

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-02 dated January 22, 2024.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES:

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting, and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives.

The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which mission it is to catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions.

The Analytical Chemistry Core (ACC) at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) maintains a state-of-the-art laboratory, the mission of which is to support chemistry research throughout the Center. The laboratory has a variety of instrumentation utilizing various analytical techniques, including but not limited to; liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, high-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance to facilitate early-stage chemical development. Initially focused on small-molecule purification and analysis, the laboratory’s capabilities have expanded to other therapeutic modalities, such as peptides, proteins, antibody-drug conjugates and lipids. The laboratory manages several cutting-edge mass spectrometers with the capability to perform high-throughput sample analysis, peptide and protein analysis (top-down and bottom-up), post-translational modification analysis, multiple reaction monitoring (MRM), proteomics, metabolomics, and ultra-high-resolution analysis of small molecules. NCATS’ goal is to increase the productivity, efficiency and integrity of chemistry efforts by optimizing workflows and integrating automated processes

NCATS requires the following:

Covaris R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator (Brand Name)

Salient Characteristics:

The Covaris R-230 Focused-Ultrasonicator is a proprietary adaptative focused acoustics (AFA) technology. The equipment enables the preparation of homogenous biological materials with minimal sample in a high-throughput capacity. JSON TCP/IP based drivers for universal API integration. Direct on-deck integration compatible with most liquid handlers. Sound frequencies in the ultrasonic range (0.5 to 1 MHz). Real-time temperature monitoring to ensure sample-to-sample reproducibility. User-defined fragment size distribution. Automation compatible with integrated RFID for sample tracking and reduced human error.

The unique features of the R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator are:

500620 – R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator Package

R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator

Computer

Plate racks

Installation

Training

Two (2) years warranty (included)

ESTIMATED DELIVERY:

Eight (8) weeks after receipt of the award

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Covaris, LLC is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the products required by the NCATS.

Covaris R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator (Brand Name) is the only ultrasonicator on the market that has the adaptative focused acoustics (AFA) technology to generate precisely controlled and focused bursts of ultrasonic acoustic energy to generate and collapse millions of cavitation bubbles in an area as small as a few millimeters creating high hydrodynamic shear stress that enables the preparation of homogenous materials. This technology is applicable to a variety of sample types including (i) cells, (ii) tissue, (iii) blood, (iv) FFPE, and (v) bodily fluids. In addition to more uniform sample processing compared to traditional methods, AFA provides greater efficiency and higher reproducibility, as well as contactless sample manipulation minimizing sample loss and contamination. The Covaris R230 Focused-Ultrasonicator (Brand Name) is available from only one source.

The intended source is:

Covaris, LLC

14 Gill Street, Unit H

Woburn, MA 01801-1721

CLOSING STATEMENT

THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity ID (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95024Q00135. Responses must be submitted electronically to Maggie Brant, Contract Specialist, at maggie.brant@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.

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