Intent to Sole Source - Octet® R2 system, System Installation, onsite training and transfer tools

The National Institutes of Health is pursuing a sole-source acquisition under FAR 6.302-1 to procure the Octet® R2 system from Sartorius, citing the unique and irreplaceable nature of the technology for label-free, real-time biomolecular analysis essential to developing PET ligands that target pathogenic agents. This acquisition is justified because no other vendor offers a comparable system capable of delivering the required kinetic measurements and quantitation of binding affinities for molecules over 150 Da, which are critical to identifying pathogen reservoirs in animal models and human patients. The procurement includes the Octet® R2 instrument with 2-channel quantitation, cooling to 15°C, 96-well plate compatibility, software for small molecule analysis, a desktop computer, LCD monitor, accessory kit, and a one-year warranty, along with onsite installation, one-day training, and a biosensor transfer tool. The total contract value is estimated at $110,025.83, covering all deliverables including freight, and is processed under simplified acquisition procedures due to its value being below the threshold. The system will be delivered to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, under Incoterms®2020 CPT terms, with Sartorius responsible for transport and packaging costs. Installation and training must be performed on-site, and vendor personnel will require escort if they lack a NIH badge, with no access granted to NIH systems or handling of PII/PHI. Strict export controls prohibit re-export to Russia or Belarus, with a penalty of up to 30% of the contract value for noncompliance. The notice is not a request for proposals but a solicitation for capability statements from other potential sources to validate the sole-source determination, with submissions due by June 2, 2026, via email to Valerie Gregorio with the specified subject line. No formal evaluation factors, inspection criteria, or standardized contract clauses are outlined, consistent with a non-competitive justification under 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1). The Contracting Officer’s Representative is Hayatt Abadico, and the contracting officer is Valerie Gregorio, with no COTR designated. The acquisition excludes socioeconomic set-asides and does not require vendor certifications for small business status, UEI, or CAGE codes to be submitted at this stage, though off-premise data hosting by the vendor triggers mandatory security reviews.