NCATS TOX 21 and Kalypsys HTS automated cell-based assay systems service agreement

NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source 1. SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N95023Q00376 2. TITLE: NCATS TOX 21 and Kalypsys HTS automated cell-based assay systems service agreement 3. CLASSIFICATION CODE: 811210 - ELECTRONIC AND PRECISION EQUIPMENT REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE NAICS CODE: J066 - MAINT/REPAIR/REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT-INSTRUMENTS 4. RESPONSE DATE: June 12, 2023 at 3:00 PM EST 5. PRIMARY POINT OF CONTACT: Michelle Cecilia michelle.cecilia@nih.gov Phone: 301.827.7199 6. DESCRIPTION: INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Arimiation, LLC to maintain the TOX Robot and the Kalypsys HTS automated cell-based assay systems via a service agreement NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 811210 - Business Size Standard $34 million. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13'Simplified Acquisition Procedures. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13'Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6'Competition Requirements. FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization). The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04 dated June 2, 2023. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT This request is to Arimation Robotics to provide service to repair the incubator which is integrated onto the Tox robot. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) has invested millions of dollars in multiple robotic screening systems. These platforms are capable of screening thousands of 1536-well plates per week. The custom incubator installed with these systems nearly two decades ago remains a critical component of all operations involving cell-based and biochemical assays as they need controlled environment for humidity CO2 and 37C for the cells to survive, grow and produce quality data for example. These high-capacity plate storage incubators are essential to the required throughput as well. NCATS is interested in purchasing service to repair a Tox21 robot incubator. This will ensure continuity of RSC service to the Tox21 group with the system again having 2 working and reliable incubators. The incubators on the Tox and Kalypsys robots are complex, and custom made. Repairs are required by a specialized technician with the requested knowledge to work on these specific machines to evaluate their repair and provide maintenance. Arimation Robotics was founded by one of the original engineers who designed and built these incubators particular to NCATS. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: Arimation Robotics is to provide onsite service to repair and maintain the custom high-capacity, controlled environment incubator integrated onto the Tox21 and Kalypsys robots. This will include disassembling the incubator, cleaning the motor, repairing the gasket, lubrication, and reassembling as well as index alignment. Arimation Robotics is to provide service to assess, repair and replace hardware as needed. SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS: The project consists of repairs of the TOX 21 and HTS Systems. Arimation Robotics has the requisite knowledge base to conduct repairs and maintenance on these customized systems. The machines require a technically certified technician to rebuild and repair the motors within each machine. The robots are - learning machines that once repaired must relearn their subjective tasks with the technician's technical expertise. Anticipated Period of Performance: Base: 6/26/2023 - 6/25/2024 OY1: 6/26/2024 - 6/25/2025 OY2: 6/26/2025 - 6/25/2026 OY3: 6/26/2026 - 6/25/2027 CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Arimation Robotics is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the technical expertise required by NCATS. The intended source is: Arimation Robotics 14140 Northdale Boulevard Rogers, MN 55374. CLOSING STATEMENT THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the solicitation number 75N9502300376. Responses must be submitted electronically to Michelle Cecilia, Contracting Officer, at michelle.cecilia@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.