DIABETES MOLECULAR GENETICS SECTION CELL SORTER

The National Institutes of Health, through the Office of Logistics and Operations within the Department of Health and Human Services, is acquiring a BD FACSMelody cell sorter with three lasers and nine-color fluorescence capability for use by the Diabetes Molecular Genetics Section at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland. The instrument is essential for isolating specific cell populations from stem cell-derived pancreatic islet organoids, enabling precise analysis of cell identity, maturation, and response to experimental conditions. This capability is critical because mixed cell populations can lead to ambiguous results in research, and while single-cell sequencing can identify individual cell types, it is prohibitively expensive and impractical for routine use. The cell sorter will provide a more efficient, cost-effective alternative by leveraging fluorescent markers to sort cells based on surface protein expression, significantly reducing reliance on high-cost sequencing methods. The solicitation is a non-competitive, sole-source procurement under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures, with an estimated value not to exceed $350,000, and is directed exclusively to Becton, Dickinson and Company. Offers must be submitted electronically by July 30, 2026, to the designated point of contact at NIH, and respondents are required to provide a technical proposal, cost-price proposal, period of performance, Unique Entity ID, Taxpayer Identification Number, and certification of business size, with all offerors required to maintain active registration in the System for Award Management. The place of performance is firmly established at the NIH facility in Bethesda, Maryland, where the instrument will be delivered and deployed. Although no formal clause list, pricing line items, packaging specifications, or detailed inspection criteria are provided, compliance with manufacturer specifications for the BD FACSMelody system—including its three-laser, nine-color configuration—is implied as the primary performance standard. Acceptance of the equipment is expected to occur at the NIH facility, and no formal contract administration roles such as COR or COTR are designated beyond the primary contact. The procurement follows standard simplified acquisition protocols without competition, and the award is anticipated to be made based on technical acceptability and cost-effectiveness under the LPTA framework, consistent with applicable FAR guidance.