Notice of Intent to Sole Source to Tecan US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), intends to award a sole source firm fixed priced simplified purchase order to Tecan US to procure a Fluent 1080 package with Flexible Channel Arm (FCA) and Robotic Gripper Arm (RGA). Chronic Viral Diseases Branch is seeking a fully autonomous laboratory liquid handling robot to streamline specimen processing and monitor HPV vaccination impact and HPV-related cancer burden in the U.S. population and subsets of specialized groups. An advanced robotic system is necessary to capture HPV prevalence more efficiently as specimen collections have increased in CVDB. After thorough research on instrumentation, CVDB has found the Fluent 1080 system the most advantageous and adaptable to carry out existing protocols for specimen handling and processing. TECAN U.S. is the sole source provider of the Fluent 1080 workstation. The Fluent 1080 system is a liquid handling workstation that is flexible to perform various laboratory tasks and experiments in one enclosed unit. The system has a large worktable that can accommodate up to 72 plates and allow up to 3 robotic arms for a completely autonomous workflow. For this procurement, CVDB needs two robotic arms, a Flexible Channel arm using air-displacement (FCA) and a robotic gripper (RGA), to carry out CVDB specimen processing. The FCA has eight individual pipetting channels with a dynamic pipetting range of 500 nanoliters to 1 milliliter without changing the head for a selected pipetting range. It can access any tube or well configuration in the cabinet, with automatic adjustment of tip spacing between different labware formats. Each channel has individual liquid level detection and independent volume control. Because of this flexibility, it can handle sample aliquoting, delicate workflows, and serial dilutions with different tube and plate formats in one protocol. The arm has a built-in tip ejection system to dispose of tips into a contained environment to prevent aerosols. The RGA is used to maneuver labware and tubes across the worktable and into integrated devices within the unit without interrupting the pipetting function. Both arms can work in unison or independently to efficiently simplify and carry out complex workflows, allowing increase laboratory productivity and consistency. CVDB would use both arms to transfer volumes from incoming bulk specimens into processing plates and storage tubes and dispensing necessary reagents to carry out cell lysis and DNA purifications. Tecan provides a large option with compatible accessories such as Laminar Flow Hood, plate stackers, carousels, 1D/2D barcode scanner, plate washing units, incubators, magnetic and vacuum units, vial gripper for capping/decapping, centrifugation, heating/cooling units, and Frida Reader module for quantifying nucleic acids. The system can incorporate 3rd party accessories, providing a catalog of drivers to integrate devices into protocols easily. Tecan's expansive accessory list allows CVDB to create full workflows that can be carried out overnight. The system includes a computer and two software, the Fluent Control software, used for instrument operation and protocol scripting, and the Fluent Gx Assurance Software, providing audit tools that will support CDC Quality Management standards and method recovery guidance to use during unexpected events, like power outages or computer failure, minimizing potential loss of valuable samples and reagents. From CVDB's research on liquid handling robotics, there are no known manufacturers that have a pipetting arm as versatile as Tecan's FCA and carry limited modules preventing a fully autonomous specimen workflow. This contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (SAP) and 41 U.S.C. 3304(c)(1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within seven (7) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the government. 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. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any quotation /response should be emailed to the Contracting Specialist at contact@example.gov (CTR) by 4:00PM EST on 07-27-2021. No telephonic quotes shall be considered.