National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Microscope, table, and associated accessories for whole cell slice electrophysiology studies

Title: Two Olympus electrophysiology rigs and associated accessories or equal (1) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items/services prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (2) The solicitation number is 75N95019Q00018 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13'Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5'Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12'Acquisition of Commercial Items and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. (3) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-101, dated September 26, 2018. (4) The associated NAICS code is 334516 and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees. This requirement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside. (5) Description: See purchase description (6) Delivery: See purchase description (7) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (8) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following is an addendum to 52.212-2: Responses received to this RFQ will be evaluated on a trade-off basis. The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. Price is an unscored component. Technical Evaluation criteria when combined are significantly more important when compared to price. Each quotation will be evaluated in strict conformity with the evaluation factors, utilizing written critiques. The evaluation will be based upon the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective contractor in relation to the needs of the project as set forth in the RFQ and will use an adjectival evaluation rating scheme based on the following responses: a. Excellent (Risk level: Very low); Good (Risk level: Low); Acceptable (Risk Level: Neutral); Marginal (Risk level: High); Unacceptable (Risk level: Very high). b. (1) Technical Capability: Offerors shall clearly indicate possessing the capability to achieve the essential salient characteristic features of this requirement. The Offeror must indicate in its quotation the ability to provide all of the requirements and the ability to meet the delivery requirements. Offerors will be evaluated based on documenting evidence showing an understanding of the work and possessing the required technical experience and capability of successfully performing this requirement. c. Options: N/A d. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. (9) The Offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications'Commercial Items, with its offer. (10) The FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (11) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders'Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. See attachment. (12) The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions as determined by the contracting officer are necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices. FAR clause 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999) (a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as - brand name or equal, the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government's needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that - equal products must meet are specified in the solicitation. (b) To be considered for award, offers of - equal products, including - equal products of the brand name manufacturer, must (1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation; (2) Clearly identify the item by (i) Brand name, if any; and (ii) Make or model number; (3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and (4) Clearly describe any modification the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modification. (c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate - equal products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer. (d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an - equal product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation. (End of provision) (13) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. (14) Responses to this solicitation shall include sufficient information to establish the interested parties bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. The price quote shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s); product description; and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Such factors may include: past performance; special features required for effective program performance; trade-in considerations; probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item; warranty considerations; maintenance availability; and environmental and energy efficiency considerations. In addition the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All questions and responses to this solicitation must be submitted electronically via email to: Jeffrey Brown: jeffrey.brown@nih.gov Email subject line: - Response to 75N95019Q00018 Two Olympus electrophysiology rigs and associated accessories or equal Facsimile responses are not accepted. The response must be received on or before Monday December 17, 2018 by 12:00 pm Eastern Time.