Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing / Mass Photometer

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation Request for Quotation NIAID-RFQ-20-2001482 for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect with the Federal Acquisition Circular 2020-05 dated March 30, 2020. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC) is requesting to procure one (1) Mass Photometer with Analysis Software, Installation, one (1) day training with an additional three (3) day training, optional one (1) year service contract (one (1) - year extended warranty), and delivery. FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items, and FAR Part 13 - Simplified Acquisition Procedures will be used for this acquisition. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This acquisition will be awarded as a firm-fixed price type of contract, and is not a small business set-aside. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 333314, with the size standard of 500. Delivery to Bethesda, Maryland 20892 approximately 120 days after receipt and acceptance of award. The following apply to this acquisition: FAR Part 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items FAR Part 52.212-3 Offeror Representations and Certification - Commercial Items FAR Part 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items FAR Part 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Status or Executive Orders - Commercial Items (see attached) FAR Part 52.204-7 System for Award Management FAR Part 52.204-16 Commercial for Government Entity Code Reporting FAR Part 52.204-24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services of Equipment FAR Part 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business and Subcontractors By reference the Department of Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) 352.203-70 Anti-lobbying 352.222-70 - Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations 352.239-73 Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice. The NIAID, VRC focuses on vaccine development for HIV-1 and other infectious diseases. Production of various wild type and mutant viral proteins and anti-viral antibodies is critical in vaccine development. The Structural Biology Section (SBS), of the VRC applies structural biology to the development of an effect HIV-1 vaccine. Despite the vast potential of atomic-level design, current vaccine development does not utilize atomic-level information enough. In order for researchers in the SBS of the VRC to advance their research a Mass Photometer is required to further characterize biomolecules. The Mass Photometer will allow the lab to measure molecular weight of biomolecules, perform direct assessment of protein purity expression and purification, optimize buffer conditions to avoid protein aggregation or promote protein complex assembly and stability, validate protein mono-dispersity to guide, and analyze protein complex assembly to disassembly in a time-resolve manner. The Mass Photometer must meet the following salient characteristics: perform label-free mass measurement of single molecule directly in solution and in native or physiological conditions, utilize interference reflection microscopy and inter-ferometric scattering microscopy technology, perform molecular weight measurement for a variety of biomolecules (glycoproteins, nucleic acids or lipids), compact, bench-top instrument with the dimension less that 500x350x200 mm (WxDxH), wide mass range and high dynamic range and can measure molecular weight ranging from 40 kda to 3 MDa, perform measurement in large concentration range between 10pM to 100nM, perform mass measurement precision of up to 2% of object mass and mass measurement accuracy of up to 3% of object mass, and perform mass analysis to provide homogeneity, mass distribution, and structural integrity. The VRC, SBS laboratory work with a variety of biomolecules, which if the instrument cannot analyze biomolecules (glycoproteins, nucleic acids or lipids) there in no use for the instrumentation. Working with molecules of different sizes and oligomeric states, their molecular weight varies from a few Kda to a million daltons, which the lab requires an instrument that can handle a large range of mass weight for research. The lab requires an instrument that can determine mass weight at very low concentration, since it works with proteins that have different expression levels. Labeling of a protein chain with the chemical composition of a protein that cannot be used as immunogen is time consuming, verses an instrument that can perform label-free, mass measurement of a single molecules directly in solution and in native or physiological conditions. In addition to measurement, the lab needs to analyze the obtained results and provide information on the samples analyzed, especially the homogeneity, mass distribution and integrity of the molecules. Without this function, the instrument will not have the utility. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offerors: technical capability to meet required salient characteristics, 2) warranty, 3) delivery, and 4) price. All responsible sources who can provide the Mass Photometer instrument meeting the requirements of this solicitation may submit a response that could be considered by email (subject line to reference NIAID-RFQ-20-2001482) to Tonia Alexander at contact@example.gov, by 11:00 am eastern standard time (EST) Monday, May 4, 2020. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow NIAID to determine if it can meet the above salient characteristics described herein. By submission of an offer, the Offeror confirms the requirement that a prospective Awardee shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. Note: Lack of registration in SAM will make an Offeror ineligible for award. Quotes must be received by the reference date of April 4, 2020 and time of 11:00am EST. Any quotation received by NIAID after this date and exact time specified is late and will not be considered.