Fluigent - Microencapsulation Fluidics System

1.0 DESCRIPTION

This is a combined solicitation for commercial products and commercial services conducted in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12 – Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, using the simplified procedures at RFO FAR 12.201-1. This notice serves as the solicitation. Quotations are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), intends to procure, on a sole source basis, a Fluigent Microencapsulation Platform, including the required microfluidic modules, pumping and droplet-generation components, computer and software, installation, and training from the manufacturer, Fluigent, 73 Princeton St., Suite 310, N. Chelmsford, MA 01863.

The NIEHS Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), Mechanistic Toxicology Branch (MTB), conducts laboratory research to identify human health hazards and understand environmental toxicity through hybrid basic and applied science approaches, including the development of new approach methods (NAMs) for toxicology research. The MTB is advancing innovative toxicology research using advanced cell systems, including human tissue chips and three-dimensional (3D) organoid and microtissue models, to understand the adverse effects of chemicals, drugs, and natural products and to develop innovative solutions for translational toxicology research.

The Government requires a specialized microencapsulation fluidics platform capable of combining liquid-form alginate with human cell suspensions under highly controlled conditions to generate droplets that form eggshell-like alginate capsules around suspension cells. This controlled encapsulation process is required to support the formation of 3D microtissues, organoids, spheroids, and other advanced cell models for translational toxicology applications. The required system includes a specialized combination of microfluidic pumping and larger-size droplet-generation capabilities that can reliably produce alginate-encapsulated human cells at the scale and level of control required for the Government's research activities.

The Government intends to procure the Fluigent Microencapsulation Platform on a sole-source basis from Fluigent. The required system includes a suite of modular microfluidic components that are integrated to provide controlled pumping, mixing, and droplet generation for alginate encapsulation of human cell suspensions. The requirement also includes the associated computer and software, installation, and training necessary to establish and implement the system within the NIEHS laboratory. Installation and training will be performed by Fluigent representatives at the NIEHS facility to support proper system setup, configuration, operation, and rapid onboarding of laboratory personnel. The system will operate independently of NIEHS information technology systems and will not require NIEHS IT support. Acceptance of the system will be demonstrated by the successful formation of alginate-encapsulated human liver microtissues within the NIEHS laboratory.

The NIEHS conducted market research to identify potential sources capable of meeting the Government's specific technical and operational requirements. The market research considered commercially available microencapsulation and microfluidic technologies capable of providing the required combination of controlled microfluidic pumping, larger-size droplet generation, alginate encapsulation, and integration necessary to produce human cell-containing microtissues for translational toxicology research. Based on the market research conducted, Fluigent was the only vendor identified as capable of providing a commercially available system with the required combination of capabilities and configuration necessary to satisfy the Government's requirement.

The required combination of microfluidic pumping and larger-droplet generation capabilities is essential to the Government's intended application. The system must reliably and reproducibly combine alginate with human cell suspensions and generate appropriately sized droplets to produce consistent alginate-encapsulated microtissues. Based on the market research conducted, no other vendor was identified that could provide the required combination of capabilities in a commercially available, integrated configuration suitable for the Government's intended application. Alternative systems would require substantial modification, additional component integration, and development and optimization of pumping, droplet-generation, and alginate-encapsulation parameters. Such modifications would introduce technical and schedule risks and could affect the consistency, reproducibility, and comparability of the microtissues generated for the Government's planned translational toxicology studies.

Fluigent is the only vendor identified through the Government's market research as capable of providing the complete required configuration, including the specialized microfluidic pumping and droplet-generation components, associated computer and software, system integration, installation, and training necessary to implement the technology at NIEHS. The Fluigent platform provides the modular components and configuration required to support controlled and scalable formation of alginate-encapsulated human microtissues, organoids, and spheroids. Accordingly, based on the market research conducted, Fluigent was the only source identified as capable of satisfying the Government's current technical and operational requirements.

The contractor shall provide a firm-fixed-price Fluigent Microencapsulation Platform consisting of the required microfluidic modules, pumping and droplet-generation components, computer and software, and associated installation and training. The contractor shall provide installation of the system at the NIEHS facility and training necessary to enable laboratory personnel to operate the equipment and perform the required microencapsulation procedures.

The expected delivery date for the computer and software is September 25, 2026, with full installation and implementation anticipated during the Fall of 2026 based on vendor engineer scheduling availability. The work will be performed at the NIEHS Rall Building 101, laboratories E144-146. Vendor travel associated with installation and training will be provided at the vendor's expense. The estimated value of the requirement is $46,150.00.

This RFQ is being posted to the Governmentwide Point of Entry (GPE) in accordance with RFO FAR 5.201. This acquisition will be conducted in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12 – Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, using the simplified procedures at RFO FAR 12.201-1.

Anticipated Delivery Date: September 25, 2026

Delivery Location: NIEHS, Rall Building 101, Laboratories E144-146, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

The applicable NAICS code is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The applicable PSC is 6630 – Chemical Analysis Instruments.

Please see the attached requirements document titled “75N98026Q01230 – Requirements Document” for additional information.

2.0 UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONTRACTOR

The proposed contractor, Fluigent, is the manufacturer of the required Fluigent Microencapsulation Platform and associated installation and training necessary to support the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT) and Mechanistic Toxicology Branch (MTB) research activities. The required equipment is a specialized microfluidic system designed to provide controlled pumping, mixing, and larger-size droplet generation for the encapsulation of human cell suspensions in alginate matrices. The system is required to support the controlled and reproducible formation of alginate-encapsulated human microtissues, spheroids, and organoid models for translational toxicology research. The requirement includes the integrated microfluidic modules and associated components, computer and software, installation, and training necessary to establish and operate the system within the NIEHS laboratory.

The Fluigent Microencapsulation Platform is a specialized research system that provides the combination of microfluidic pumping and controlled larger-size droplet generation required for the Government's intended application. The system must reliably combine liquid-form alginate with human cell suspensions and generate appropriately sized droplets to form eggshell-like alginate capsules around suspension cells, thereby supporting the formation of three-dimensional microtissues and organoid models. The required application involves specialized fluidic control, droplet-generation parameters, alginate encapsulation conditions, and system configuration that must be established to achieve consistent and reproducible microtissue formation. Use of an alternative microfluidic or droplet-generation system would require substantial modification, component integration, and additional development and optimization of pumping, droplet-generation, and encapsulation parameters, which could introduce technical and schedule risks and affect the consistency and reproducibility of the resulting microtissues. Market research was conducted to identify commercially available sources capable of meeting the Government's specific technical and operational requirements, and Fluigent was the only vendor identified as capable of providing the complete combination of microfluidic pumping, larger-size droplet generation, alginate encapsulation capabilities, system configuration, installation, and training necessary to meet the Government's requirements.

BASIS FOR AWARD

The Government intends to issue a firm-fixed-price purchase order to Fluigent. However, all timely quotations received will be considered. To be considered for award, a quotation must demonstrate that the products and services offered satisfy all the Government's scientific and technical requirements identified in this RFQ and the attached requirements document. Award will be made to the responsible organization whose quotation satisfies the Government's requirements and whose price is determined fair and reasonable.

RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

This is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for commercial products and commercial services issued in accordance with the simplified procedures of RFO FAR Part 12. The Government intends to award a purchase order on a sole-source basis to Fluigent based on the Government's determination that Fluigent is the only source identified as capable of satisfying the Government's requirements. However, all responsible sources may submit a quotation that demonstrates their ability to satisfy the complete requirements identified in this RFQ and the attached requirements document. All timely quotations will be considered by the Government.

The response and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management (OALM) to determine whether the respondent can fulfill the requirement. Quotations shall identify the products and services being offered, manufacturer and applicable part numbers, quantities, unit and total prices, delivery schedule, installation and training capabilities, and sufficient technical information to demonstrate that the products and services offered satisfy all of the Government's scientific and technical requirements identified in the attached requirements document.

All responses must be sent via email to Contract Specialist, Jordan Neal, at Jordan.Neal@nih.gov, copying Contracting Officer, Alice Pagán Pereira, at Alice.Pagan@nih.gov by no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on Monday, September 21, 2026.

To be eligible for award, the contractor must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM.gov) in accordance with applicable requirements. Reference: 75N98026Q01230 on all correspondence.