Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Surgery Branch (SB) requires the procure... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Surgery Branch (SB) requires the procurement of one (1) I-DOT 2.0 dispensing system or equivalent for the preparation of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) Library Preps of T-Cell Receptors (TCRs). This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and shall be processed in accordance with FAR Part 13 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation, 75N91021Q00073, is issued as a request for quote (RFQ) and includes all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2021-05 (03-10-2021), simplified acquisition procedures for commercial items. The North American Industry Classification System code is 334516 and the business size standard is 1,000 employees. THIS IS A TOTAL SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE. 1.0 BRAND NAME OR EQUAL This requirement is for the procurement of the brand name or equivalent instrument described in Section 4.0. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal (AUG 1999) is applicable to this requirement. 2.0 BACKGROUND The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Surgery Branch (SB) is a combined laboratory and clinical research unit devoted to the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies and their translation to the treatment of patients with cancer. Treatment of patients enrolled in clinical trials run by SB, and research into how to improve these treatment protocols, often requires the identification of TCR sequences. SB cannot determine these sequences from conventional whole-exome and RNA sequencing methods and therefore SB generates TCR specific sequencing libraries. Due to the nature of the T-cell receptor, SB needs to perform TCR sequencing on a single-cell basis in order to determine correct pairing of alpha and beta TCR chains. Single-cell sequencing approaches use smaller volumes which makes them more sensitive to errors in pipetting, they require processing more samples at a time, they are more prone to issues of cross-contamination, and in the case of TCR sequencing, uses RNA as the starting material which makes the setting-up process more susceptible to experimental nuances. The procurement of a non-contact low-volume liquid dispensing system will enable SB to process plates more quickly, without contact and more accurately than SB is currently able to do and therefore improve the qualities of the libraries that are generated. 3.0 TYPE OF ORDER This is a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order. 4.0 PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS The following product features/characteristics are required: The I-DOT 2.0 is the base unit and shall include the following minimum specifications: Dispensing head with 8 pressurized channels for dispensing up to 96 liquids. These channels shall be individually controlled positive pressure channels that are required for generating liquid droplets for dispense. Together with the I-DOT pure plates or equivalent, this technology shall allow for the generation of droplets at up to 100 per second per channel, therefore allowing the dispense and distribution of 10 nanoliters across a 96 well plate in 10 seconds. The use of pressurized channels for liquid dispense means that the system is non-contact and therefore will eliminate carryover and cross-contamination. I-DOT assay studio control software or equivalent. This is required for control and programming of the instrument. It will also alert users to any problems with dispense or if users run out of reagents during dispense by interacting/interfacing with the bubble detection and drop detection technology. Adapter plates for destination plates. These are required metal spacer plates that sit in the target tray, underneath the target plate. They shall be able to move the target plate closer to the source tray to minimize droplet flight path in cases where a particularly shallow target plate is used. Source tray accommodating 1 Society for Biomolecular Screening (SBS) well plate (no deep well). This is to house the I-DOT or equivalent source tray. Starter pack (3 I-DOT pure plates or equivalent). These pure plates shall come with the unit as standard. The bottom of each well has a precise 90-micron hole from where the droplet gets dispensed. These plates coupled with the pressurised channel technology produce maximum reproducibility of droplets (varying from 8-50 nanoliters). The required instrument shall include a large reservoir option. This is required in order to use passive cooling blocks in the instrument which will create a chilled environment for temperature sensitive reagents. The required instrument shall include 100 large reservoir consumables that shall be a larger capacity version of the starter pack of I-DOT or equivalent pure plates. They are required so that SB can use the passive cooling blocks and to contain the larger volume of master mix required when processing multiple plates at once. The required instrument shall include passive cooling blocks. These will be used to create a chilled environment (4°C) for temperature sensitive reagents and reaction setup. This will be criticial for effective synthesis of cDNA from RNA. The required instrument shall include an oil-Free air compressor. This will provide the 3 to 10 bar inlet pressure required for instrument functionality. The laboratory does not have a compressed air line in the room where the instrument will be located and so a separate air compressor is required. 4.1 DELIVERY / INSTALLATION Delivery shall be within eight (8) weeks of the Purchase Order award. The Contractor shall coordinate delivery and tracking information with the NCI Technical Point of Contact (TPOC), TBD at award, with tracking information to anticipate delivery to the best extent possible. All shipping/handling (including FOB) and delivery/installation fees shall be included in the quote. Upon delivery, the Contractor shall notify the TPOC to schedule the unboxing and installation. The unboxing and installation date and time shall occur within 20 business days after delivery. Installation shall be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified operator. The Contractor shall deliver and install the equipment at the following address: The instrument shall be delivered and installed the following location: 10 Center Drive Bldg.10 Rm.3-3857 W Bethesda MD 20814 The TPOC for delivery and installation are below: TBD at award Phone: TBD at award Email: TBD at award 4.2 TRAINING At the time of installation, the Contractor shall provide on-site training for at least two (2) users of the equipment. 4.3 WARRANTY The Contractor shall warrant that any instruments, equipment, components, or other supplies (“Supplies”) procured by this purchase are free of defects in design, material, or manufacture for a period of at least 12-months from date of installation. The Contractor shall warrant that all consumables or expendable parts are free of defects in design, material, or manufacture for a period of at least 90 calendar days from date of acceptance by the Government. Supplies which are repaired or replaced shall be warranted for the remainder of the initial warranty period or for 90-days – whichever is greater. 5.0 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS/EVALUATION QUESTIONS Questions must be submitted electronically via email to Contracting Officer, Adam Hernandez, at adam.hernandez@nih.gov in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), no later than 11:00 A.M. ET, Monday, May 03, 2021 (05/03/2021). Please be advised that the Government reserves the right to transmit any questions and answers of a common interest to all prospective Contractors. QUOTATIONS Quotations must be submitted electronically via email to Contracting Officer, Adam Hernandez, at adam.hernandez@nih.gov in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), no later than 1:00 P.M. ET, Friday, May 07, 2021 (05/07/2021). Reference 75N91021Q00073 on all correspondence. BASIS FOR AWARD & EVALUATION The purchase order will be awarded to the firm that submits the Lowest Price Technically Acceptable (LPTA) quotation. A technically acceptable quote is one in which the quoter(s) complies with the Statement of Need (SON) and does not take exception, nor object to any of the terms of the RFQ. Quotes that are not technically acceptable will not be considered for award. Award will be made on an all or none basis. If you are providing an “equal” product, you must submit additional documentation that highlights and describes how your offering is equal in accordance with FAR Clause 52.211-6. Evaluation and award will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of FAR 13.106. The technical evaluation will be a determination based on information furnished by the Contractor. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information which is not identified in the quotation. The Government intends to evaluate quotations and make a single award. Quotations should contain the quoter’s best terms from a price and technical standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to request quote revisions that seek additional price discounts, provide revisions to the technical quote, or clarify aspects of the quote. In the event quote revisions are requested, the Government will not necessarily be seeking revisions from all quoters. The Government may reject any or all quotes if such action is in the public interest; accept other than the lowest quote; and waive informalities and minor irregularities in quotes received. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS This Request for Quotation (RFQ) does not commit the Government to pay any cost for preparation and submission of a quote. In addition, the Contracting Officer is the only individual who can legally commit the Government to the expenditure of public funds in connection with this proposed acquisition. By submitting a quote in response to this solicitation, it is understood that your firm’s quote shall become a part of the official contract file. The Vendor’s quote must stipulate that it is predicated upon all the terms and conditions of this RFQ and signed by an official authorized to bind your organization. In addition, it must contain a statement to the effect that it is firm for a period of at least 60 days from the date of receipt thereof by the Government. Quotes shall be submitted with a completed copy of FAR 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment, located in Section 8.0 attached to this RFQ. Price Quote: The price quotation must contain all information necessary to allow for a comprehensive evaluation of the prices quoted. The quote must also contain the following information: a. Federal Tax Identification Number (TIN); b. Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) Number; c. Business Size (e.g., small or large) SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS DUE TO COVID-19 Due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, please pay close attention to the following delivery instructions and ensure that sufficient information is included in the quote to be considered for an award. Please be aware that due to the fluidity of the existing pandemic, instructions may be updated as needed after award. All quotes must include confirmation that equipment is or will be available for delivery by the due date indicated in Section 4.0. Quoters must confirm: Willingness to store or hold equipment until NCI is ready to accept the equipment at no additional cost. The equipment will not be sold to another company in the event NCI is not ready to accept delivery due to unanticipated changes related to COVID-19. Training as identified in Section 4.0 may be made available and provided to required staff at different times and dates at no additional cost. Communicate and follow instructions from the NCI TPOC to coordinate delivery, installation, and training. The delivery address and TPOC’s information will be provided at time of award and must be included as part of the order/shipping label.