Inactive

THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS ... THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED, AND A SEPARATE WRITTEN SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED. THE SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF FAR PARTS 12 AND 13. This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04 effective June 2, 2023. The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1000 Employees. Quoters must possess an ACTIVE registration in the System for Award Management system, www.SAM.gov, when submitting a quotation and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. The Contracting Officer will confirm that quoters have an “active” registration at the www.sam.gov website upon receipt of the quotation. If the SAM.Gov registration is not active, the quotation will not be considered for award. The Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group within the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) needs to acquire an automated droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) system with a capability of multiplexing 6 dyes to make absolute quantifications of Standard Reference Materials. This type of instrument would be the main work horse in the Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group to validate cancer biomarker materials and determine absolute DNA quantitation for genome editing consortium materials. The requirement is for an automated droplet digital PCR system that includes an automated droplet generator and droplet reader that can detect at least 6 dyes. The objective of this solicitation is to establish a Firm-Fixed-Price purchase order based on the specifications described in the attached Statement of Requirements (SOR). This is a BRAND NAME ONLY requirement for the Bio-Rad QX600 AutoDG Droplet Digital PCR System (Part#17008371). Any manufacturer other than the stated one will not be accepted. BRAND NAME RATIONALE The Biomarker and Genomic Sciences Group within the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) needs to acquire an automated droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) system with a capability of multiplexing 6 dyes to make absolute quantifications of Standard Reference Materials. NIST currently owns a Bio-Rad QX200 ddPCR system procured through PO SB1341-17-0484 in 2017. This system only has two-dye detection plus reference capability. The system has become outdated, and we need to upgrade our Standard Reference Material (SRM) measurement capabilities to a new system with automated droplet generation and six-dye multiplexing capabilities. Only the Bio-Rad QX600 AutoDG Droplet Digital PCR System (Part# 17008371) can meet all of the Government’s requirements for this new system. The Government requires the ability to be able to compare data and advance on the research completed in the last 5 years using the existing Bio-Rad QX200 ddPCR system and only a compatible system from the same manufacturer will fulfill this requirement. The following certified materials relating to cancer biomarkers, SRM 2373 and RM 8366, were fully characterized and stability studies are routinely performed, every five (5) years, using the existing Bio-Rad QX200 ddPCR system. The characterization is performed using a particular mastermix from Bio-Rad (Supermix, no dUPTs) that generates droplets using the Bio-Rad ddPCR system. The mastermix from Bio-Rad has been fully characterized by the NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory (PML) and droplet volumes have been measured so that calculations of absolute DNA concentration and copy number values can be ascertained with associated variances, traceable to the SI. The same is also true for measurements collected for RGTM 10120 and RGTM 10163, soon to be RMs. If we purchased a different instrument, we would have to characterize the manufacturer's mastermix and obtain a new measured volume of droplets from PML to obtain a new value for calculations. Additionally, we would have to do bridging studies for all materials mentioned here to obtain new values for the new instrument. It would take up to two (2) years to obtain new measurements and validate the instrument and materials mentioned above. It would set our group back at least one (1) year to obtain new measurements on this instrument. The approximate cost to change equipment would be $250,000 based on 3 NIST scientist's time (3200 labor hours) and an additional PML charge of approximately $20,000 to measure the volume of droplets for metrological traceability to the SI unit. Acquiring the Bio-Rad QX600 Droplet Generator Part# 17008371, allows us to streamline our current process, ensure compatibility with existing measurements and procedures, and saves the Government substantial time and money. Authorized resellers of the Bio-Rad QX600 AutoDG Droplet Digital PCR System (Part# 17008371) are acceptable as they can provide the required equipment. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS Responsible quoters shall provide a quotation for the following Contract Line Items (CLINs), in accordance with the specifications outlined in the attached Statement of Requirement. All equipment must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award.: BASE LINE ITEMS: Line Item 0001: (Quantity 1 Each) BRAND NAME ONLY Bio-Rad QX600 AutoDG Droplet Digital PCR System (Part# 17008371), inclusive of delivery, training, and a 1-year warranty, in accordance with the SOR OPTION LINE ITEMS: LINE ITEM 0002 (OY1) – (Quantity 1 Year) Bio-Rad Service Agreement, in accordance with the SOR. LINE ITEM 0003 (OY2) - (Quantity 1 Year) Bio-Rad Service Agreement, in accordance with the SOR. LINE ITEM 0004 (OY3) - (Quantity 1 Year) Bio-Rad Service Agreement, in accordance with the SOR. LINE ITEM 0005 (OY4) - (Quantity 1 Year) Bio-Rad Service Agreement, in accordance with the SOR. DELIVERY TERMS Delivery terms shall be FOB Destination. The Contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery. EVALUATION CRITERIA & BASIS FOR AWARD: The Government intends to award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Contractor whose quotation, conforming to the solicitation, provides the lowest priced, technically acceptable quote. Technically acceptable means that the quote: Meets or exceeds the minimum equipment specifications listed within the Statement of Requirements; Meets training, warranty, and installation requirements as applicable; and Meets the required delivery schedule. Price: The price evaluation will determine whether the quoted prices are fair and reasonable in relation to the solicitation requirements. Quoted prices must be entirely compatible with the technical quotation. INSTRUCTIONS: Completed Solicitation Provisions A completed version of all required solicitation provisions (see attached provisions/clauses document – required submissions highlighted in blue). Due Date for Quotations and Questions All quotations must be submitted, via e-mail, to Rudolph Spencer, Contract Specialist, at rudolph.spencer@nist.gov with a carbon copy to Donald Graham, Contracting Officer, at donald.graham@nist.gov. Submissions must be received no later than 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on September 6, 2023. FAX quotations will not be accepted. Quoters must reference the RFQ number in the subject line of the e-mail submission. Quotes shall not be deemed received by the Government until the quotation has entered the e-mail inbox of the individual(s) set forth above. Questions: All questions regarding this notice must be submitted via e-mail to rudolph.spencer@nist.gov with a carbon copy to Donald Graham, Contracting Officer, at donald.graham@nist.gov, no later than 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on September 1, 2023. Quotation Preparation Instructions Each quotation shall consist of two (3) separate electronic files: (1) Technical Quotation (2) Pricing Quotation (3) Completed Provisions and Clauses document Technical Quotation: (1) Technical description and/or product literature. Quoters shall include the manufacturer, make and model of the product, manufacturer sales literature or other product literature which CLEARLY DOCUMENTS that the offered products meet the BRAND NAME ONLY specifications outlined in the statement of requirements. It is the responsibility of the quoter to ensure that submitted documentation clearly addresses all specifications and requirements. (2) The quoted delivery timeline for the deliverables. (3) A description of the quoted installation, training, and warranty. Price Quotation: (1) All Quoters shall submit a firm fixed price, FOB Destination, price quotation for the base line items. The quotation must include a unit price and the aggregate price for all line items. (2) The price quotation shall include a cover page with the following information: The solicitation number 1333ND23QNB640616; The name and address, of the Quoter; The name, phone number, and email address of the Quoter’s point of contact; Government Unique Identifier number for Quoter’s active SAM.Gov registration. Any applicable discount terms. A statement that the Contractor agrees to all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. If the Contractor objects to any of the terms and conditions contained in this solicitation, the Contractor shall state “The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:” [Contractor shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s)]. It is the sole responsibility of the Contractor to identify in their quote any exceptions to the terms and conditions of the solicitation. A statement that the quotation is valid for a minimum of 60 days from the response deadline of this solicitation. Please note that this procurement IS NOT being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If a contractor submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price. However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant Purchase Order, not the terms and conditions of the contractor’s FSS or GWAC contract. PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES: The provisions and clauses applicable to this solicitation are identified in Attachment 2 titled “Applicable Clauses & Provisions”. The full text of a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision or clause may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov/far. The full text of a Department of Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR) provision or clause may be accessed electronically at or http://www.osec.doc.gov/oam/acquistion_management/policy/. ATTACHMENTS: The following attachments apply to this solicitation: 1. Statement of Requirements 2. Applicable Clauses & Provisions