Automated Liquid Handling System -- Notification of Intent to Sole Source

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice in conjunction with procedures in FAR Part 13. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; a written solicitation will not be issued. This is also notice that The Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), intends to negotiate under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), a sole source contract with Perkin Elmer Life and Analytical Sciences, Inc. for the acquisition of the following requirement: A dual armed liquid handling system which is expandable. One arm must be a 96 tip head which can load 384 well plates; the other must be able to "cherry pick" individual samples from a 96 well plate. Platform must hold multiple plates. The following specifications represent minimum acceptable criteria: The system must be capable of using eight fixed washable or disposable tips at one time. It should also be capable of using any number of lesser tips independently. All tips will be located on a single arm for high throughput sample processing. Each sampling tip will be capable of independent motion in the Z-direction. All systems must be configurable enabling a choice of methods for eliminating carry-over between samples. Must be able to use both disposable tips and fixed washable tips to be used on a single sample probe. No manual intervention is required to switch from one tip type to another. Changing from disposable tips to fixed washable tip processing can be done within a single operation step in a protocol. The Instrument must be equipped with 8-tip pipetting arm. The system must allow the user to utilize a variety of dispense heads to be automatically switched "on-the-fly" for optimal performance. Choices of dispense heads shall not be limited to: P235 and P50 96-channel dispense heads, P30 384-channel dispense head, and the P1 384-channel head capable of pipetting between 50 and 1000 nL. Instruments shall also be able to utilize a variety of pin tool options that can be automatically switched "on-the-fly." The Instrument should be able to aspirate greater than 1.5ml of solvent in a single aspiration step. System must offer optional low volume sampling tip options to enable pipetting volumes below 10 ?L and down to 500 nL. Submicroliter pipetting must be available with both disposable tips and fixed washable tips. The liquid handling system must be capable of providing independent liquid level sensing in a multi-tipped mode with fixed, washable sampling tips or disposable tips. The minimum volume to be detected should be 50 ?L in a microplate and 100 ?L in a test tube. Liquid level sensing must be capable of detecting non-ionic and organic solvents such as deionized water, DMSO or methanol. When utilizing fixed tips or conductive disposable tips, the system's liquid level sensing must be sensitive enough to detect sample volumes of less than 100 ?L in test tubes or 50 ?L in microplates with standard racks and in a multi-tipped configuration. The liquid handling system must be equipped with variable tips for automatic computer-controlled variable sample probe spacing. This enables most formats of labware such as tubes, microplates, PCR plates, vials or reagent troughs to be processed in a multi-tipped mode. Systems must be capable of probe-to-probe spacing from 9 to 20 mm with four-tip systems or 9 to 40 mm with eight-tip systems. When equipped with variable tips, should be able to utilize both standard and conductive disposable tips. Conductive tips should enable liquid level sensing. Multiple disposable tip sizes should be compatible on single sampling probe including 10 ?L, 20?L, 200?L, and 1000?L tips. All disposable tips should be capable of being utilized in a multi-tip mode. The system must include electrical sensors to verify disposable tip pick up and disposal. Sensors should be capable of being turned on or off at a users discretion. Software should enable users to determine when to dispose of tips and when to reuse them. System should be capable of re-using a tip when performing duplicate transfers. Disposable tips should be available in both robotic compatible tip boxes and hanging tip boxes. The system must include the ability to operate at the user discretion with fewer than total tips configured on the system at one time. The system should have a capacity of up to 32 microplates tiles. The system must allow any combination of labware to be included on deck for use in processing within a single protocol. Labware should include but not be limited to test tubes, microplates, deep well plates, troughs, micro centrifuge vials, etc. System should be compatible with a variety of automated temperature control options enabling both chilling and heating to occur on the deck. Multiple heating tiles can be operated automatically, simultaneously, and independently at different temperatures ranging from ambient to 100C. The system software shall be built around a graphical user interface with mouse-driven pull-down menus and shall be compatible with Windows XP operating system. The software must allow 'drag and drop' functionality for definition of labware on the deck. Software programs must be provided as standard to test accuracy and precision performance of each syringe pump, XYZ motions and liquid level sensing to satisfy GLP (Good Laboratory Practice). Hard copies of precision/accuracy performance should be generated when a printer is provided. The system must be capable of demonstrating precision of better than 3.0% coefficient of variation at 5 ?L with a 20 ?L tip. Also precision of less than 1.0% should be seen at 50 ?L with a 200 ?L tip dispensing distilled water. In both cases accuracy of better than +/- 1.0% should be seen. Software should enable users to define customized message boxes before or after protocols, or between tests allowing for easier user instructions and interfacing with other instrumentation. Templates should be convertable to Read-only format to prevent user from modifying validated protocols. Contract Line Item Numbers: (CLIN) 0001: One (1) each JANUS Expandable Platform, 8-tip (Item No. AJL8M01); CLIN 0002: One (1) each JANUS Versa Tip HD PLUS RoboRack Kit (Item No. 7002357); CLIN 0003: One (1) each Low Volume DT Option, 8 tip (Item No. 7002348); CLIN 0004: Twelve (12) each Plate Adapter Support Tile (Item No. 7601836); CLIN 0005: One (1) each P50/96 MDT Disposable Tip Head (Item No. 70243541); CLIN 0006: One (1) each Line Cord (Item No. 1654363); CLIN 0007: One (1) each P20 MDT (Item No. 69000032); CLIN 0008: Six (6) each MDT Medium Plate Support Tile (Item No. 7401026); CLIN 0009: Five (5) MDT Tall Plate Support Tile (Item No. 7401027). NOTE: FOB Destination delivery six (6) weeks from date of order. Ship to: NOAA, Auke Bay Laboratories, Ted Stevens Research Institute, 17109 Pt. Lena Loop Rd., Juneau, AK 99801. Solicitation Number AB133F-08-RQ-0054 is being issued as a Request for Quotation. This acquisition is NOT a small business set-aside, and the associated NAICS code is 334516 with a size standard of 500 employees. This solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through the April 2008 Federal Acquisition Regulation revision, which includes the consolidation of all Federal Acquisition Circulars through 2005-25. Full text of clauses and provisions are available at http://www.arnet.gov/far/. The following FAR clauses apply to this solicitation: FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Apr 2008), FAR 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Aug 2007), 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Feb 2007), 52.247-34 F.o.b. Destination (Nov 1991), 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (May 2008). The following clauses listed in 52.212-5 are incorporated: 52.203-6 Restrictions on Subcontractor Sales to the Government (Sept 2006) with alternate I (Oct 1995)(41 U.S.C. 253g and 10 U.S.C. 2402); 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns (May 2004)(15 U.S.C. 637(d)(2) and (3)); 52.219-28 (Post Award Small Business Program Representation (June 2007) (15 U.S.C. 632(a)(2)); 52.222-3 Convict Labor (June 2003) (E.O. 11755); 52.222-19 Child Labor-Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies (Feb 2008)(E.O. 13126); 52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Feb 1999); 52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (Mar 2007)(E.O. 11246); 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212); 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 1998)(29 U.S.C. 793); 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Sept 2006) (38 U.S.C. 4212); 52.222-39 Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees (Dec 2004) (E.O. 13201); 52.225-13 Restrictions on Certain Foreign Purchases (Feb 2006); 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003)(31 U.S.C. 3332). It is anticipated that a non-competitive sole-source firm fixed price contract will be issued for this requirement. However, all responsible, responsive concerns having the expertise and required capabilities to furnish the above item(s) are invited to submit complete written information fully demonstrating the capability, expertise, qualifications, and experience to meet the above requirements. All submittals received by the due date set forth in this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All interested concerns must submit the aforementioned documentation to Loren.Frei@noaa.gov no later than 2:00 PM June 13, 2008. This notification of intent closes at 2:00 PM Pacific time June 13, 2008. Questions regarding this solicitation may be directed to Loren Frei, Contracting Officer, at Loren.frei@noaa.gov. All vendors doing business with the Government are now required to be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR). NO award can be made unless the vendor is registered in CCR. For additional information and to register in CCR, please access the following web site: http:///www.ccr.gov/. In order to register with the CCR and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all offerors must also have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at https://www.dnb.com/product/eupdate/requestOptions.html or by phone at (800)333-0505. Additionally, this procurement also requires offerors to complete the On-Line Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) at https://orca.bpn.gov/. NOTE: Offerors interested in submitting a quote on this acquisition should obtain a copy of (1) Standard Form 1449 (2) and accompanying Schedule. Offers must include with their offer an originally signed SF-1449, and a completed schedule. Quotes will be valid for 30 days.