Brand Name or Equal FiberVision Platform for Single Fiber Analyses of DNA Replication.

Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) http://www.nci.nih.gov or http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/ Key Dates: Capability Statement Due Date: Tuesday June 20, 2019 by 12:00PM Eastern Standard Time. 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 businesses that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of 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 1000 employees. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NCI may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ). 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. The DNA Replication Group, Developmental Therapeutics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH requests to purchase a Brand Name or Equal FiberVision platform for single fiber analyses of DNA replication. This system will replace the current DNA combing apparatus, which relies on a B-D Pathway 855 analyzer that is no longer maintained by the manufacturer. The machine will be needed for visualization of DNA replication patterns on single DNA fibers obtained by dynamic molecular combing and will be used collaboratively by several groups at the CCR to investigate how cells regulate the duplication of the genetic material and respond to anticancer therapy. The Contractor shall meet the following product features/characteristics for this requirement: - Must be able to perform dynamic molecular combing of single fibers of DNA obtained from cancer and normal cells. DNA shall be straightened at a consistent pace forming uniform fibers that could be detected at single fiber resolution. - Must be able to attach uniformly straightened DNA to microscope coverslips covered with a specialized coating to facilitate in situ hybridization and visualization of replication label using fluorescent antibodies. - Must have slide storage and automated slide loader capabilities; enabling to queue and analyze several slides from different group/scientists at any time. - Must be able to visualize microscope slides scanning entire slides with single fiber resolution in a minimum of 3 colors including 430 nm, 568 nm and 650 nm: excitation filters at 390 nm, 434 nm, 568 nm and 650 nm; emission filters including triple-band filters at 515/588/700 mm, 425/527/685 nm. - Must be capable of concomitant visualization of DNA fibers on microscope slides. The apparatus includes a microscope with excitation and emission filters of 3 fluorescent colors combined. Must include an automatic scanner capable of scanning an entire slide and create a composite image detecting all 3 colors in the following combinations: blue, green and red, cyan, green and red and UV, cyan and yellow. - Must include an analysis module, including specialized software for identification, recording and quantification of signal coordinates from fluorescent in situ hybridization and replication studies. - Must include software for visualization, recording and quantifying fluorescent signals automatically identified as initiation and elongation of replication forks as well as in situ hybridization bar-codes on isolated mammalian DNA fibers. - Must include software capable of identifying replication fork initiation, elongation and termination when fibers are labeled first with 568 nm signals and then with 650 nm signals or vice versa. - Must include software modules capable of calculating average and statistical variance of replication fork speed, inter-origin distances on single fibers, and statistical analyses of replication fork symmetry. - Must have a minimum one (1) year manufacturer warranty and online support for the first 12-months after award. - Must include training and installation - Quote must include shipping, including (FBO origin) and installation cost. NCI will not be responsible for any cost not included. 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal. (Aug 1999) (a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as "brand name or equal," the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government's needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that "equal" products must meet are specified in the solicitation. (b) To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must- (1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation; (2) Clearly identify the item by- (i) Brand name, if any; and (ii) Make or model number; (3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and (4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications. (c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate "equal" products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer. (d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an "equal" product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation.(End of provision) HHSAR 352.203-70 ANTI-LOBBYING (MAR 2012) Pursuant to the current HHS annual appropriations act, Public Law 112-74, except for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships, the Contractor shall not use any HHS contract funds for: (a)Publicity or propaganda purposes; (b)The preparation, distribution, or use of any kit, pamphlet, booklet, publication, electronic communication, radio, television or video presentation designed to support or defeat the enactment of legislation before the Congress or any State or local legislature or legislative body, except in presentation to the Congress or any State or local legislature itself; or designed to support of defeat any proposed or pending regulation, administrative action, or order issued by the executive branch of any State or local government, except in presentation to the executive branch of any State or local government itself; or (c)Payment of salary or expenses of the Contractor, or any agent acting for the Contractor, related to any activity designed to influence the enactment of legislation, appropriations regulation, administrative action, or Executive order proposed or pending before the Congress or any State government, State legislature or local legislature or legislative body, other than for normal and recognized executive-legislative relationships or participation by an agency or officer of a State, local or tribal government is policymaking and administrative processes within the executive branch of that government. The prohibitions in subsections (a), (b), and (c) above shall include any activity to advocate or promote any proposed, pending, or future Federal, State or local tax increase, or any proposed, pending, or future requirement for, or restriction on, any legal consumer product, including its sale or marketing, including, but not limited to, the advocacy or promotion of gun control. How to Submit a Response: 1. Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12-point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of a one page resume of the individuals meeting the requirements, and up to two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. Statements should also include an indication of current small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. 2. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than June 20, 2019 by 12:00PM Eastern Standard Time. 3. 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 emailed to ronette.collins@nih.gov. 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 Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA) through sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number 75N91019Q00090 on all correspondence. 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 RFQ may be published in Fed Biz Opps. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Point of Contact: Inquiries concerning this Notice may be direct to: Ronette Collins at ronette.collins@nih.gov 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.