Inactive
Notice ID:75N95023Q00283
Background: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal focal point for health research. Its mission is to seek fundamental know...
Background: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal focal point for health research. Its mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which is an Institute within the NIH, seeks to reduce the burden of neurological disease through supporting and conducting basic, translational, and clinical research on the healthy and diseased nervous system, fostering the training of investigators in the basic and clinical neurosciences, and seeking better understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders. The NINDS Division of Intramural Research, led by the Office of the Clinical Director, is especially focused on neuro-immune-related pathologies in the CNS. In human studies, these pathologies can be examined using cells from the spinal fluid and from the blood. Projects that have benefitted from this technology in our research group include HIV-1 neurocognitive complications driven by regulatory proteins of HIV-1, endogenous retrovirus involvement in ALS, as well as HTLV-1, HSV, and SARS-CoV2-focused studies. Examining neuro-immunology and virological complications of these illnesses, as well as those of patients with undiagnosed diseases demands a wide field of view of cellular processes involved. Conventional flow cytometry has served these studies well, allowing phenotyping in the range of 12-18 colors. NINDS recently acquired a Cytek Aurora Flow Cytometer, which allows up to 24 colors and the addition of the UV 355nm laser increases this flexibility to 40 colors. This unique technology minimizes the errors inherent in using closely related fluorophores. The immunophenotyping core facility that NINDS has collaborated with recently also uses this instrument and the proposed upgrade will allow it apply this ‘deep phenotyping’ methodology to many studies. Purpose and Objectives: The NINDS requires a brand name or equal Aurora Flow Cytometer UV laser plus Sample Loader ASL2.0 to be added to NINDS’ Cytek Aurora Flow Cytometer. By installing a 355nm UV laser, the complement of lasers and unique ‘spectral unmixing’ technology of the Aurora instrument expands our phenotyping of CSF and blood-derived cells to 40 markers in one sample. This is especially powerful when analyzing cerebral spinal fluid, which often contains a minimum number of cells and only allows for one sample total. This powerful tool will greatly facilitate NINDS’ investigations into neuro-immune pathological mechanisms. Salient Characteristics: The system must equal or exceed the following salient physical, functional, and performance characteristics: 355nm UV laser that expands the Aurora to 40 color acquisition and analysis in a compact instrument and a wide dynamic range, without the need to remove or re-configure inner workings of the instrument for full functionality. Vacuum fluidics and low background autofluorescence of the instrument, which allows safe and sensitive measures of human samples while better than tripling our current ability to combine cellular markers in single reads Allows resolution of dim-staining markers on the low end and extended positivity on the bright end of the range, thus minimizing errors excluding relevant data on either end of the spectrum. Must be compatible with Cytek Aurora Flow Cytometer Anticipated delivery date: Within 30 days of receipt of order Other important considerations: In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25. Must include two-year warranty Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products 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 and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 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, please 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 and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement 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) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Evan Feely, Contracting Officer at e-mail address evan.feely@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before May 12, 2023 at 1pm Eastern Time. 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 www.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).”
