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Contract Opportunity

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Background and Objectives: The National Institute on Aging (NIA) is working to create a national resource of isogenic sets of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias mutated iPSC lines, complimented by foundational phenotypic data sets from differentiated disease-relevant cells derived from these lines. The automated slide staining system is capable of high throughput immunohistochemistry, and fluorescent in situ hybridization methods. The reproducibility and processing speed of the instrument will improve the efficiency of phenotyping our iPSC lines.

Salient Characteristics:

Shall provide a slide capacity of 36 slides

Shall provide one reagent rack with a maximum of 40 reagent vials

Shall provide an antigen retrieval temperature range from room temperature to 103ºC; max 110ºC at sea level

Shall provide a multi-dispensing syringe capacity of 5mL.

Shall provide a dispensing volume as follows. Antibody: 140uL, Reagent: 65uL min – 400uL max

Shall provide a 2L wash buffer carboy

Shall provide 4L hazardous and 4L non-hazardous waste carboys

Shall provide one unit control per computer

Shall provide a footprint size of 36.5 in x 36 in x 24 in / 93 cm x 91 cm x 61 cm with door open

Shall provide an electrical requirement of 120V 110/120V (±10%) 60Hz (±2Hz) 850 watts

Shall provide a voltage tolerance of 100 to 240 AC

Shall provide a minimum operating noise 47.0 dBA, and maximum operating noise 69.6 dBA

Shall provide slide barcode, patient information, staining run reports

Shall provide a HL7 server connection and MSSQL database connection

Anticipated delivery date: 6 - 8 weeks after receipt of order.

Capability statement /information sought: Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Small businesses must also provide their Company Name, DUNS number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information.

Interested small businesses are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, reference the solicitation notice number.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirements and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to ten (10) pages. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought Notice must be submitted to Fred Ettehadieh, Contracting Officer, by email at fred.ettehadieh@nih.gov before the closing date and time of this announcement. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Facsimile responses are not acceptable.

“Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).”

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