Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Background The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) requires a Brooks XPeel Automated Plate Seal Removal. The XPeel automatically removes seals from a wide range of microplate ... Background The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) requires a Brooks XPeel Automated Plate Seal Removal. The XPeel automatically removes seals from a wide range of microplate types with the single touch of a button and eliminates the need for repetitive, manual plate seal removal. It eliminates the need for microplate lids, and thus improves sample integrity. It can also operate in either stand-alone mode or can be integrated into automated systems. This allows fully-automated seal removal in a wide variety of sample storage environments. The addition of this instrument will allow scientists to support ongoing work for small molecule and combination screening, in silico virtual screening, nanobody/antibody design and optimization that are part of NCATS’ ongoing work to support the pandemic response. In addition, NCATS is performing in vitro assays to support ACTIV Trace’s efforts to characterize the response of variant SARS-CoV2 viruses to current vaccine and therapeutic interventions. Purpose The purpose of this acquisition is to acquire one (1) Brooks XPeel Automated Plate Seal Removal BRAND NAME ONLY and one (1) Brooks Kit Tape of 5 Spools BRAND NAME ONLY. Salient characteristics: Refer to Attachment 1: Product Description for a complete list of BRAND NAME equipment and the description of salient characteristics. Brand-name Justification for Brooks Life Sciences Xpeel Desealer 115V Brooks is the only manufacturer for the automated plate desealer that meets NCATS’ needs. The patented XTape removal medium eliminates the need for mechanical removal mechanisms which are often prone to failure. As it is patented, no other manufacturer can offer this same plate desealer. The Brooks XPeel can be used with a wide variety of microplates and is compatible with a wide variety of full-plate seals. It also eliminates cross contamination and reduces plate handling errors. The Brooks XPeel is able to process 200 plates per hour. These features are essential for NCATS’ labs.