Inactive

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE strictly for market research purposes. THIS IS NOT A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST) TO ... This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE strictly for market research purposes. THIS IS NOT A FORMAL REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST) TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE The purpose of this notice is for planning purposes only and to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified business sources. Your response to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. NIST does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this notice or otherwise pay for information requested. No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by NIST will arise as a result of the submission of responses to this notice and NIST’s use of such information. There will be no question and answer period associated with this Sources Sought Notice. NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses capable of providing technical assistance to the NIST Mass Spectrometry Data Center (MSDC) for the NIST/EPA/NIH Mass Spectral Library and the Tandem Mass Spectral Library (“The Libraries”). BACKGROUND: The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Material Measurement Laboratory (MML), Biomolecular Measurement Division (BMD) in Gaithersburg, MD is responsible for the development of chemical databases to accomplish NIST’s mission to carry out collection, compilation, critical evaluation, publication and sale of standard reference data in accordance with Public Law 90-396. 90th Congress, H.R. 6279, July 11, 1968. The chemical databases provide standard reference data for laboratories, both within NIST and to the worldwide scientific community. The Mass Spectrometry Data Center (MSDC), a component of the BMD, is responsible for the development of the NIST/EPA/NIH Mass Spectral Library as well as the Tandem Mass Spectral Library (“The Libraries”, https://chemdata.nist.gov/dokuwiki/doku.php?id=chemdata:start). GENERAL: Conduct activities aimed at serving the needs of the broad community of users of The Libraries. These users include GC-MS and LC-MS manufacturers and software firms that incorporate The Libraries into their products, as well as analytical chemists who rely on The Libraries as an aid to the identification of chemical compounds using mass spectrometry. The Contractor shall carry out technical functions designed to better serve users of The Libraries and assist the MSDC in solving specific problems with customers. Activities will include: 1: Participation in end user/distributor group workshops and Library tutoring demonstrations at large conferences (virtual or in-person). For these events, materials shall be prepared for presentation purposes, highlighting differences in Library releases, software updates, or applications of The Libraries. 2: Preparation of manuals, applications notes, read me files, etc. for periodic updates of The Libraries. 3. Development of an annual FAQs document that represents questions, and answers to these questions provided by the Contractor, that are frequently asked by the analytical chemist/end user and instrument manufacturer/distributor communities. 4. Ongoing investigation and reporting on new LC-MS and GC-MS instruments and how these are using or can use The Libraries. 5. Ongoing research to compile recommendations on the development methods for using The Libraries with commercial data systems and interfacing The Libraries’ associated software to commercial instruments and software. 6. Ongoing research to compile potential modifications to The Libraries to improve performance on new or updated commercial GC-MS and LC-MS systems. 7. Preparation of procedure language programs specific to an instrument manufacturer to assist commercial users of The Libraries to more efficiently use The Libraries for their research. 8. Responding to email inquiries received requiring technical expertise. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: Contractor’s Facility unless in a travel status attending a conference or a visit to the NIST Gaithersburg MD campus PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 24 Sep 2023 through 23 Sep 2024 base period with four (4) 1-yr. option periods TRAVEL: Attendance at the annual American Society of Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) Conference or one (1) trip to the NIST Gaithersburg MD campus MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: B.S. or equivalent in Chemistry with a demonstrated expertise in mass spectrometry and at least 2 yrs. of experience in mass spectrometers on the technical and commercial as demonstrated through publications (online and/or peer-reviewed) The small business size standard for the applicable NAICS code of 541690 (Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services) is $19.0M. In order for a vendor to clearly convey their capability to fulfill the above-identified need, they MUST SUBMIT the following information: Company name, address, unique entity ID (UEI), CAGE Code, Point of Contact (PoC) information Brief narrative providing evidence of proficiency with using NIST mass spectral libraries and associated software (AMDIS, MS Search, MS Interpreter) for identification of mass spectra Brief narrative providing evidence of the capability to perform Activities 1-8 Capabilities Statement discussing core competencies. Description of the company’s previous experience providing the services described in this notice Any published pricing Current socioeconomic status of your company including applicable North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes An indication of whether your company currently has an active registration, including completed on-line representations and certifications (FAR Report), at the System for Award Management (www.sam.gov) website. Contractors must have a valid, current registration to be considered for award. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in finalizing its market research If any element(s) described in this notice is/are considered a hindrance to competition, respondent shall include that information with its response, discussing how their solution to carry out The Libraries technical activities/functions differs from the stated requirements defined in this notice. No telephone requests will be honored. All information provided will become property of NIST and will not be returned. The synopsis is for information and planning purposes and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. This is not a solicitation for proposals and no contract will be awarded from this announcement. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this announcement and any follow-up information requests. Respondents will not be notified of the results of their capability statement assessment but may be contacted for additional information. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this Sources Sought Notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s capability to provide technical assistance activities 1-8 to the NIST Mass Spectrometry Data Center (MSDC) for the NIST/EPA/NIH Mass Spectral Library and the Tandem Mass Spectral Library (“The Libraries”). 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. No proprietary, classified, 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). After the results of this market research activity are obtained and analyzed, NIST may opt to conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. All capability statements and information requested above must be submitted via e-mail to randy.schroyer@nist.gov. Responses must be submitted not later than the response date for this Sources Sought Notice. Responses shall be limited to 10 typed pages, including attachments.