FDA Automated vitrification instrument system

The FDA is soliciting a fully automated laboratory vitrification system under solicitation number 75F40126Q134450, with a total small business set-aside under NAICS code 334516. The system is intended for use at the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in Silver Spring, Maryland, to support cryo-electron microscopy by enabling high-resolution vitrification of biological samples using dual-sided blotting and precise environmental controls between 4°C and 60°C with 0–100% relative humidity. The equipment must seamlessly integrate with existing Tundra Cryo-TEM systems and produce reproducible specimens suitable for structural analysis of antigens, antibodies, and viral particles critical to vaccine research and regulatory review. The contract is a Firm-Fixed-Price award to be made using a Lowest Price Technically Acceptable approach, where technical acceptability serves as an absolute threshold and price determines selection among compliant offers. Only one unit is being procured, with delivery to be made FOB Destination to the specified CBER facility. The solicitation mandates strict compliance with Section 508 accessibility standards, requiring submission of an Accessibility Conformance Report based on the VPAT template and completion of the HHS Section 508 Conformance Checklist. All documentation submitted must be macro-free and in non-executable formats such as .docx or .pdf, and submissions containing macros will be considered non-responsive. Invoicing must occur exclusively through the HHS Invoice Processing Platform, with payment terms set at Net 30 days after government acceptance. Contractors must register and maintain an active Unique Entity Identifier in SAM.gov, and are required to disclose all direct labor, subcontractors, and detailed cost breakdowns for labor, travel, and indirect costs. No security clearances are required, and the contract includes no options, extensions, or increments. Compliance with government integrity clauses including prohibitions on confidentiality agreements that impede whistleblower reporting, trafficking in persons, and debarred subcontracting is enforced through incorporated FAR clauses. The Contracting Officer, Tim Walbert, is the sole point of contact for proposals, which must be emailed by the deadline of June 11, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time, following SAM.gov registration as a prerequisite for eligibility.