Bruker Biospin Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Q-Band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Equipment

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with FAR Part 12, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and in conjunction with FAR Subpart 12.6.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) , Intends to acquire new Bruker Biospin Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Q-Band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Equipment Upgrades to Expand Research Capabilities and Replace End-of-Life Instrumentation or Equal.

SEE ATTACHMENT for Bruker Biospin NMR Product List

This acquisition is being conducted as an open market purchase. The Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order resulting from this solicitation.

2. Description of Requirement

2.1 Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Laboratory of Chemical Physics (LCP), conducts advanced research in biomolecular structure, conformational dynamics, and molecular mechanisms using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The advanced NMR and EPR instrumentation in the LCP support mission-critical biomedical research. 

The federally conducted research programs focus on: 

• Structural and dynamic characterization of proteins and nucleic acid 

• Mechanisms of phosphorylation and regulation in intrinsically disordered proteins 

• Transient conformational states associated with ligand and substrate binding 

• Sparsely populated excited states of proteins associated with macromolecular recognition, allostery, assembly and fibril formation 

• Long-range distance measurements in biomolecules using pulsed Q-band EPR techniques 

This research supports NIH’s mission to advance fundamental knowledge of biological systems and to improve understanding of disease mechanisms relevant to diabetes, metabolic disorders and related conditions, and neurodegenerative conditions associated with protein fibril formation and aggregation leading to a variety of amyloidosis. High-field 600-MHz NMR spectrometers equipped with cryogenic probe technology and Q-band pulsed EPR spectrometers capable of Double Electron-Electron Resonance (DEER) measurements are essential infrastructure for this research. These complementary methods provide distance measurements and structural and dynamic information that is not obtainable by other biophysical techniques. NMR provides atomic resolution information that allows almost every atom in a protein to be probed. While one of the main sources of structural information provided by NMR relates to interproton distances separated by less than 5-10 Å, pulsed Q-band EPR spectroscopy, particularly Double Electron–Electron Resonance (DEER) enables distance measurements between pairs of paramagnetic centers ranging from 20-160 Å. When combined with rapid mixing/freeze-quenching methods, DEER measurements can provide critical insight into kinetics and mechanisms of conformational transitions. 

2.2 Objective

To obtain NMR and Q-Band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Equipment Upgrades to Expand Research Capabilities and Replace End-of-Life Instrumentation 

3. Product Specifications/Features/Salient Characteristics Required Minimum Specifications

See Attachment.

3.1 Services Requirements

The vendor shall provide:

1. Delivery to NIH Main campus in Bethesda, MD.

2. Installation and operational startup.

3. Manufacturer warranty coverage; and

4. Manufacturer-supported service associated with the delivered system.

4. Delivery, installation, startup shall be performed at:

National Institutes of Health

Bldg. 5, Room B1-3001

Bethesda, MD 20892

5. Basic For Award

The Government intends to award to the quoter whose quotation represents the best value to the Government, considering the following evaluation factors:

1. Technical Acceptability

2. Past Performance

3. Price

5.1 Technical Acceptability

Technical acceptability is the most important factor. The Government will evaluate whether the quoted product meets all salient characteristics and minimum requirements of this solicitation.

For any “equal” product, the vendor must provide sufficient technical documentation to demonstrate equivalency, including product literature, specifications, brochures, and point-by-point crosswalk to each salient characteristic. Failure to clearly demonstrate compliance with all minimum requirements may render the quotation unacceptable.

5.2 Past Performance

The Government will evaluate the vendor’s record of recent and relevant past performance. The Government may consider information obtained from the vendor, CPARS, prior Government experience, and other available sources.

5.3 Pice

Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. The Government may make an award to other than the lowest-priced quotation if a higher-rated quotation is determined to provide the best value.

6. Quotation Instructions

Vendors shall submit a complete quotation package that includes the following:

6.1 Volume I – Technical Quote

The technical quote shall include:

Manufacturer name and model number.

Description of the quoted system.

Point-by-point response to each salient characteristic.

Description of included software, accessories, automation, warranty, applicable service.

Delivery lead time;

Installation.

6.2 Volume II – Past Performance

Provide up to three examples of recent and relevant contracts or purchase orders for

customer name,

dollar value,

period of performance,

point of contact with email and phone number.

6.3 Volume III – Price Quote

The price quote shall include:

unit price,

extended price,

total quoted price,

any shipping charges,

warranty information,

any other separately priced items.

The total quoted price shall include all costs necessary to provide a complete and fully functional system meeting the requirements of this solicitation.

6.4 SAM Registration

In order to receive an award, offerors/contractors must maintain an active SAM registration for all awards throughout the entire contract/order lifecycle, from offer submission to final payment. Failure to maintain an active SAM registration can the award or result in non-payment. Lack of valid registration in SAM will make an offerors/contractor ineligible for award.

6.5 Small Business Subcontracting Plan
In accordance with FAR 52.219-9, other-than-small-business (large business) offerors must submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan with their quote.

This requirement does not apply to small business concerns. If the offeror represents itself as a small business under the designated NAICS code for this procurement, no subcontracting plan is required."

Other-than-small-business offerors who determine that zero subcontracting opportunities exist for this microscope procurement are still required to submit a formal Small Business Subcontracting Plan. The plan must state 0% goals and include a detailed, written justification outlining why subcontracting is not feasible (e.g., fully integrated in-house manufacturing). Failure to submit a plan with the required justification will render the quote non-responsive."

7. Submission Instructions

Quotations shall be submitted electronically to:

Tina Robinson@ robinsti@mail.nih.gov

Quotations are due no later than:

August 13, 2026, prior to 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Late submissions may be rejected and not considered for award.

8. Clauses and Provisions

The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition, in addition to any others required by law or agency policy:

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services

52.240-90 Security Prohibitions and Exclusions—Representations and Certifications

52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights

52.203-19 Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements

52.204-13 System for Award Management — Maintenance

52.209-6 Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred,  Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment

52.209-10 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations

52.212-4 Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services

52.219-8  Utilization of Small Business Concerns

52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan

52.219-16 Liquidated Damages—Subcontracting Plan

52.222-3 Convict Labor

52.222-19 Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies

52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Veteran

52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities

52.222-37 Employment Reports on Veterans

52.222-40  Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act

52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons

52.222-54 Employment Eligibility Verification

52.223-23 Sustainable Products and Services

52.225-5   Trade Agreements

52.225-6 Trade Agreements Certificate

52.226-8 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving

52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—System for Award Management

52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors

52.233-3 Protest After Award

52.233-4 Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim

52.240-91 Security Prohibitions and Exclusions

52.244-6 Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial Services

9. Brand Name of Equal Information

This requirement is issued on a brand name or equal basis. The referenced brand name product is the Bruker Biospin Corporation products provided on the attachment.

Any quotation offering an “equal” product must include sufficient descriptive material to permit the Government to determine whether the product offered meets all salient characteristics identified in the solicitation. The burden is on the vendor to establish equivalency.

The Government is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the quotation. If the vendor is providing an equal  product(s), please supply descriptive data for evaluation purposed to determine the validity of how it is equal.  The following FAR provision applies to this solicitation FAR 52.211.6 Brand Name or Equal.

(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/attachment.

(b) To be considered for award, offers of “equal” product, including “equal” products of the brand name manufacturer, must -

(1) Meet the salient physical, functional or performance characteristics 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/Specialist; 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/Specialist is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.

(d) Unless the offer clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an "equal" product, the offer shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation/attachment.

10. Important Notice

This solicitation is issued as a competitive RFQ. The Government reserves the right to:

•   make award without discussions.
•   request clarification if needed
•   reject any or all quotations; and

Quoters are advised that the Government may share your information with non-government personnel who are assisting with the evaluation of quotes. The exclusive responsibility for source selection will reside with the Government. By submitting yoru quote, you will be consenting to disclosure of your quote to non-government personnel for purposes of evaluation.