Inactive

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Laboratory of Pathology (LP), requires a... The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Laboratory of Pathology (LP), requires an automated staining system that provides consistent staining of tissue microanatomy that will assist in identifying connective tissue, carbohydrate, pigments, minerals, amyloid, and microorganisms. 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, 75N91021Q00170, 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 (07-12-2021), simplified acquisition procedures for commercial items. The North American Industry Classification System code is 334516 and the business size standard is 1,000 employees. 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), Laboratory of Pathology (LP), requires an automated staining system that provides consistent staining of tissue microanatomy that will assist in identifying connective tissue, carbohydrate, pigments, minerals, amyloid, and microorganisms. These stains provide valuable information which aid the pathologist in diagnosing and characterizing various pathological conditions including neoplasia, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, and infectious diseases. 3.0 TYPE OF ORDER This is a Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order. 4.0 PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS The required Agilent Technologies Artisan Link Pro Special Stains System or equivalent shall: Provide an optimized workflow compared to manual staining by allowing 48 slides from more than 10 special stain tests to be stained simultaneously without the need for a technologist to transfer slides from reagent-to-reagent to complete the staining process as is required with manual staining. Provide a menu of at least 29 staining options. Include an onboard drying capability and deparaffinization which allows for minimum delay in the staining patient slides. This feature eliminates an additional first step of preparing the slides for staining. Typically drying and deparaffinization is a 30-minute process that occurs after microtomy, before the slides are placed on to the special staining instrument. Include an optimized waste management through the separation of combined dyes, water soluble solutions, trace metals, and alcohols. Accumulating this waste in separate containers allows for easy disposal by the Histopathology staff and the National Institutes of Health’s chemical waste team. Include the DakoLink Software or equivalent which shall allow for staining optimization down to the minute, providing pinpoint testing accuracy. Include a handheld barcode scanner to provide technologist with the capability to scan the slide barcode that will then upload the case number into the software, minimizing manual typing of patient labels. Additionally, the instrument shall include a stand for barcode scanner to ensure technologist have a designated place to store the barcode scanner to prevent it from becoming damaged through day-to-day usage. Include a Powervar UPS or equivalent to provide the instruments with emergency power. In instances of power outages, the patient samples shall be unaffected. Include a physical server to eliminate the need for the Histopathology Laboratory to search for a computer with compatible specifications to operate the staining instrument. 4.1 DELIVERY / INSTALLATION Delivery shall be within 6 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 installation. The installation date and time shall occur within 14 calendar days after delivery. Installation shall be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified operator. The instrument shall be delivered and installed at the following location: 10 Center Drive Room 2s259 Bethesda, MD 20892 The TPOC for delivery and installation are below: TBD at award Phone: TBD at award Email: TBD at award 4.2 TRAINING The Contractor shall provide one day of onsite training within 14 calendar days of installation for five histotechs. 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 AM EST, Monday, July 26, 2021 (07/26/2021). 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 11:00 AM EST, Thursday, July 29, 2021 (07/29/2021). Reference 75N91021Q00170 on all correspondence. 5.1 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. 5.2 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. 5.3 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 4.1. 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 4.2 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.