Neurohistology of SARS-CoV-2 infected brain organoids and compound treated brain organoids

NON-COMPETITIVE COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION Title: Neurohistology of SARS-CoV-2 infected and compound treated brain organoids (i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items 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. (ii) The solicitation number is 75N95023Q00635 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; and FAR Part 12'Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. THIS IS A NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) COMBINED SYNOPSIS SOLICITATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisition (OA), on behalf of the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (including brand-name) to: Neuroscience Associates, Inc. 10915 Lake Ridge Dr Knoxville, TN 37934-4919 for Neurohistology of SARS-CoV-2 infected and compound treated brain organoids. This acquisition is conducted as non-competitive for a commercial item or service and is conducted pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The rationale for the brand-name justification is that this service involves the use of a proprietary technology called MultiBrain block embedding developed exclusively by NeuroScience Associates. (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2023-04, with effective date June 2, 2023. (iv) The associated NAICS code is 541380 and the small business size standard is $19M. This requirement is a sole source acquisition with no set-aside restrictions. (v) This requirement is for the following services: Neurophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infected and compound treated brain organoids as further defined in Attachment 1-Statement of Work (SOW). (vi) The Government anticipates award of a firm fixed-price purchase order for this acquisition, and the anticipated period of performance is one (1) month after receipt of sample delivery. The Government intends to provide samples within one (1) week after award. (vii) The additional instructions to offerors are as follows: The provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of provision) The following provisions apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Aug 2020) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Mar 2023) FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022) HHSAR 352.239-73, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015) The clause at FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of clause) The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020) FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022). Addendum to this FAR clause applies to this acquisition and is attached. HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015) HHSAR 352.239-74, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility (December 18, 2015) The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text. Offerors MUST complete the provisions at 52.204-24 and 52.204-26 and submit completed copies as separate documents with their proposal. FAR 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021) FAR 52.204-26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation (Oct 2020) FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Jun 2023) NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions (viii) The Government plans to make one award resulting from this solicitation. The resulting award will be made to Neuroscience Associates, Inc. as long as its quotation is technically acceptable and at a fair and reasonable price. If additional quotations are received, the award will be made to the vendor who represents the best value to the Government, price and other factors considered. The Government will use comparative evaluations to determine which quotation is the best value, in consideration of the following evaluation criteria: 1. Technical Capability: This criteria includes the ability to offer the services as defined in the SOW. 2. Past Performance: Past performance providing similar services. The Government may use any source of available past performance information (see FAR 13.106-2(b)(3)). 3. Price: The total price for the services. (ix) The Offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022), with its offer. If the offeror has completed FAR clause 52.212-3 at www.sam.gov, then the offeror does not need to provide a completed copy with its offer. (x) The clause at FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Dec 2022), applies to this acquisition. Addendum to this FAR clause applies to this acquisition and is attached. (xi) There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition. (xii) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. (xiii) Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. The Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, 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 quotations must be received by 1:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on August 31, 2023, and reference Solicitation Number 75N95023Q00635. Responses must be submitted electronically to Samson Shifaraw, Contract Specialist, at contact@example.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted.