FLOW CYTOMETRY FUSION CELL SORTER SYSTEM

NOTE: The original Small Business Sources Sought Notice was modified below to correct a miss stated brand, on the first page and the NAICS code informaion was updated to 334516. This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice for a future equipment requirement. THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information. Your response to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. This Small Business Sources Sought Synopsis is in support of market research being conducted by the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD) to identify capable manufacturing or distribution sources for a BD FACSAria Fusion System, or better, meeting the specifications and capabilities, to be listed below. Compatible accessories, kits, and other supplies are also identified. General Specifications: The BD FACSAria Fusion System, or better, will offers patented technologies, exceptional multicolor performance, and the ease-of-use of previous BD FACSAria models. The BD FACSAria Fusion System, or better, model has fluidics and optics similar to previous models (Model 2), providing continuity in the quality of the research data. The BD FACSAria Fusion System, or better, will use FACSDiva software (proprietary and backwards compatibility). - The BD Cytometer Setup and Tracking (CS&T) feature of BD FACSDiva software establishes baseline settings and optimizes instrument sensitivity and fluorescence resolution. - The software reduces the chances of operator error, and ensures consistency of results. It allows for the creation of application-specific settings for rapid performance of routine experiments in a more consistent manner. Tracking capabilities in the software measure a number of instrument settings and report on performance, simplifying daily quality control. - Levey-Jennings plots help users understand instrument performance and identify maintenance issues. - Acquisition and analysis: BD FACSDiva software enables researchers to preview and record data from multiple samples with an automated acquisition process. The software manages acquisition templates, experiment layouts, and compensation procedures to further facilitate data acquisition for efficient and convenient analysis, the software provides automated hierarchical snap-to gating, user selectable plot configurations, and batch analysis functions. Recorded data can be analyzed by creating plots, gates, population hierarchies, and statistical views on a BD FACSDiva global worksheet. Once the global worksheet is saved, it can be used to analyze multiple sample tubes from an experiment, thereby saving time. Other productivity benefits come from features such as user-definable batch analysis and automated gate resizing, pausing between data files, exporting statistics, and printing before proceeding to the next data file. - Index sorting - Index sorting makes it possible to review the complete cell surface phenotype of every cell sorted into a multiposition sort device, such as a 96-well tray. Sort and tray position information is available on an event-by-event basis according to the X and Y coordinates of the sort collection device. Post-sorting results can be precisely traced back to the flow characteristics of the specific cell. - Digital electronics - The gel-coupled cuvette and electronics operate together to deliver the maximum amount of signal information about each particle. The electronic sampling rate is precisely matched to the speed of the particles flowing through the cuvette. Electronic design has demonstrated linear and accurate event data acquisition at up to 70,000 events per second. 4. Training - Hands-on training. 5. Technical application support - Technical application support specialists, available to provide field or phone-based assistance and advice. Expert in a diverse array of topics, technical application. 6. Field service - Technical Field Service Engineer dispatched to the customer site. On-site service and maintenance agreements, available to provide long-term support. 7. Custom services - Mobilizing technology for research applications requires close collaboration. The Custom Technology Team (CTT) working with the customer to provide solutions through custom reagents, panels, or assay protocols. 8. Special Order Research Products - Instruments can be customized to meet customer requirements via the Special Order Research Products (SORP) programs. 9. The BD FACSAria Fusion System, or better, requires consumables, accessories, and supplies comparable to those used by The BD FACSAria Fusion System. 10. The BD FACSAria Fusion System, or better, requires the BD FACSAria Fusion Class II Type A2 Biosafety Cabinet: - Fully integrated Class II Type A2 (or higher) biosafety cabinet; National Sanitation Foundation International Standard 49, the European Standard 12469, and the Australian Standard AS 2252.2'2009. - A built-in Aerosol Management system (AMS) which operates as an independent redundant safety. - A patented flow cell with gel-coupled cuvette with fixed optical architecture. - Patented Accudrop technology to assists the user to set drop-delay value automatically. - Patented collection optics with octagon pathways to maximize signal detection. 11. Installation - All Installation shall be included, within the capability statements. 12. Delivery: The government requires delivery to made within 90 days from the date the contractor receives an order. The government will evaluate, as regards to time of delivery, offerors that propose delivery within the applicable delivery period specified above. Offeror's that propose delivery that will not clearly fall within the applicable anticipated delivery period specified above will also be considered. The Government reserves the right to award either the anticipated delivery schedule or the proposed delivery schedule. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS: ANY INTERESTED and CAPABLE business should submit a capability statement from their company, along with applicable product lists which demonstrates the firm's ability to supply the products described above. Responses must reference Sources Sought Number HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-13-005 and include the following: (1) Name and Address of the Organization, (2) Size and type of business: Small Business; HUBZone Small Business; Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business; 8(a) Small Business; Veteran-Owned Small Business; Woman Owned Small Business; or Small Disadvantaged Business, (3) Point of contact with name, title, phone, fax and email, (4) DUNS number,-(5) Contractor's capability statement addressing the required item, (6) List of organizations to whom the same or similar types of equipment have been previously provided to include contract number, dollar value, name and phone number of Contracting Officer, (7) Applicable Product list. ALL INFORMATION SUBMITTED IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT (BY EMAIL OR DELIVERY) MUST BE RECEIVED ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE. THE CLOSING DATE FOR RESPONSES IS DUE within 15 days of release of posting at 5PM Eastern Time (EST). EMAILED CAPABILITY STATEMENTS are authorized (either in Microsoft Word or PDF), but it is the responsibility of the vendor to make certain that the email was received at the email address that follows. The government is not responsible for acknowledging receipt or capability statements sent by email, by mail, or courier. All capability statements, questions, and/or comments must be in writing and may be emailed to Timothy Johnson at johnsontim@od.nih.gov. Comments and questions will NOT be answered, but will assist in creating a solicitation for this requirement. Three (3) copies of the capability statement are required if submission is via mail. Submissions via mail shall be sent to: Timothy Johnson (Ref. HHS-NIH-OD-OLAO-SBSS-13-005), National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions, 6011 Executive Blvd., Room 529W, (MSC-7663) Bethesda, MD 20892-7663. (NOTE: If you are using a courier service, Federal Express, UPS, or Express Mail, the city, state, and zip code should read ROCKVILLE, MD 20852). Facsimile copies will not be accepted. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice DOES NOT obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise reimburse vendors for cost involved with providing a 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 or deliver the required equipment or supplies. 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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will NOT be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. 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(s).