Inactive

DESCRIPTION This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National ... DESCRIPTION This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified small business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned business concerns that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract based on responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 with a size standard of 1,000 employees is being considered. NCI may issue a request for quotation (RFQ) as a result of this Sources Sought Notice. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NCI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. 1.1 BRAND NAME OR EQUAL This requirement is for the procurement of a Brand name or equal MACSQuant® Analyzer 16 digital benchtop flow cytometer and AutoMACS® Pro Separator - Starter Kit. The Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal (AUG 1999) is applicable to this requirement. BACKGROUND The Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) of the CCR, NCI, is performing translational researches on brain tumors, especially on the most malignant form - glioblastoma, using biological, biochemical, pathological, and immunological methods to develop novel therapeutics for the patients with brain tumors. NOB is seeking a basic and pre-clinical research approach to understand immunology for targeting brain tumors. To this end, NOB is purchasing a Brand name or equal MACSQuant® Analyzer 16 digital benchtop flow cytometer and AutoMACS® Pro Separator - Starter Kit. PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS The following product features/characteristics are required: Product features of the MACSQuant® Analyzer 16: The MACSQuant Analyzer 16 instrument was designed to incorporate user-friendly automation with powerful flow cytometric analysis. Compact, digital benchtop flow cytometer (60x35x40 cm) Incorporated touch-screen monitor and computer for increased performance and size reduction Three spacially-separated, air-cooled lasers: violet (405 nm, 65 mW diode), blue (488 nm, 50 mW diode pumped solid state (DPSS)), and red (640 nm, 72 mW diode) Multi-parameter cell analysis including side scatter (SSC), forward scatter (FSC), and 14 fluorescent channels that can be measured in a 5-decade logarithmic scale In-process buffer exchange without stopping acquisition or requiring fluidics priming 405 nm violet–derived side scatter detection to enhance small particle resolution Automated start-up, shutdown, and cleaning programs Transferable instrument settings between instruments with automatically adjusting gain values Automated set-up and calibration process Automated 8x8 matrix compensation Offline recompensation in MACSQuantify Software Automated sample labeling, incubation, processing, and analysis Absolute cell counting (volumetric, CV <7%) MACS Enrichment Column: In-line cell enrichment column utilizing MACS MicroBead technology for the analysis of rare cell populations Robotic uptake port (y- and z-movements) for automated sample processing with an automated washing station Analysis rate up to 15,000 events/second Minimal uptake volume is 1 ?L User-definable flow or target event rates (25, 50, and 100 ?L/min or 500 events/sec, 1000 events/sec and 2000 events/sec) Cooling sample racks with barcodes utilized with the MACS MiniSampler Plus (high-flexibility of any sample types (microcentrifuge tubes, 5 mL tubes, and 96-well microtiter plates) Inter-sample carryover <0.01% 24-bit fixed point data processing (typically >18-bit effective above noise in area measurement) MACSQuantify Software allows data display in linear, log3, log4, log5, and Hlog scales FCS2.0, FCS3.0, and FCS3.1 file export Remote diagnostics and support via internet access Internal two-dimensional bar code reader Internal 15.6" TFT touchscreen monitor 27. VGA connector, USB-2, and Ethernet (100 Mbit/second) port Product features of the autoMACS® Pro Separator: The autoMACS Pro Separator, an automated magnetic separation system, was developed to isolate specific subpopulations of cells from larger heterogeneous populations. The system allows for positive selection or depletion of cells and biomolecules without affecting their function or viability. Separated material can go directly to culture, flow cytometric sorting or analysis, functional studies, or transplantation without detaching the MicroBeads. MACS Products are ideal for rare event isolation and small sized particles. Manually labelled samples alongside those that have been automatically labelled. The autolabelling reagents are the same as those used in manual separations so reducing costs by avoiding the purchase of specialized reagents and allowing the easy translation from manual to automated systems. A. Barcode reader (“code reader”) or touchscreen activate0d automated cell isolation system with pre-programmed isolation protocols that are utilized by the integrated computer. A 2D code reader (“barcode” reader), which is fitted as an integral part of the autoMACS® Pro Separator identifies the reagent and programs the instrument accordingly. If desired, the program can be manually adjusted to suit individual protocols. Sequential separation and labelling of up to six samples without user intervention for both negative and positive selection. Six samples can consist of both manually and autolabelled cells. Custom cooling sample rack to keep samples cool during the separation process. Reagents used for auto-labelling are the same as used for manual protocols using MACS Reagents. System uses biodegradable 50 nm super-paramagnetic MicroBeads (iron) coated with polysaccharide that form a colloidal suspension. MicroBeads are directly conjugated to monoclonal antibodies. Separation time of 3–10 minutes, depending on the program. Input volume of 100 ?l to 50 ml. Automated system cleaning. Patented columns: Dual super-paramagnetic, bio-Teflon® coated matrix columns that are reusable over a two week period or up to 100 separations, whichever comes first. High-gradient magnetic field optimised for cell isolation while maintaining optimal cell viability and function. Sensitivity: Highly pure selection and recoveries of very rare populations, frequencies down to 10-8 DELIVERY / INSTALLATION Delivery shall be within 30 calendar days of purchase order award. Upon delivery, the Contractor shall notify the NCI Contracting Officer Representative (COR) to schedule the installation date and time that shall occur within 14 days after delivery. Installation shall be performed by, or under the direct supervision of, a certified operator. The Contractor shall deliver and install the equipment at the following address: Neuro-Oncology Branch, NCI-NINDS, NIH, 37 Convent Drive, Building 37, Room 1016, Bethesda, MD 20892 TRAINING Cytometer Trainings are offered for 1 user (4days) at vendor’s site and 3 users on site when installation (daily) without cost. WARRANTY A minimum of 12-months warranty from the date of installation shall be included, which covers the cost of repair and/or replacement, including labor or any defect in workmanship or parts. RESPONSE DELIVERY POINT All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. All questions must be in writing and should be emailed to Jolomi Omatete, Contracting Officer at Jolomi.omatete@nih.gov by 1:00 P.M. EST on Wednesday, March 25, 2020 (03/25/2020). A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the System for Awards Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number 75N91020Q00041 on all correspondence. 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, an RFQ may be published. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s).