Sensitive and Specific Detection and Identification of Biological Toxins in Environmental Samples.

This is a Sources Sought Notice, and is for informational/market research purposes only. Please note: This is not a request for proposals, quotations or bids. Responses to this Sources Sought announcement will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. No solicitation is currently available. The Government will not pay for any material provided in response to this market survey nor return the data provided. This notice is for information purposes only and is not a request to be placed on a solicitation mailing list nor is it a Request for Proposal (RFP) or an announcement of a solicitation. The applicable NAICS codes for this RFI are 334516, 541714, 325414, and 541715. The Joint Product Manager, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive Analytics and Response Systems (JPdM CBRNE A&RS), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD is conducting market research to identify potential analytical instruments/technologies (or combination of instruments/technologies) with the capability to assess for and identify hazardous biological toxins (also known as biotoxins) (produced from microorganisms and plants) in environmental samples in a Mobile Laboratory. The technology must have the following capabilities: Suitable for direct analysis of biological toxins Has the ability to analyze for the presence of bacteria and viruses (optional) Has the capability to add new assays for toxins and various microorganism (optional) to the suite of available assays Ability to simultaneously interrogate an environmental sample for multiple targets in a single reaction (also known as multiplex analysis) (optional) Ability to detect and identify biological toxins in complex hazardous environmental samples with or without the use of sample processing protocols (to include soils, plants, food, collected aerosols, and various liquid samples) Any included sample processing protocols must be able to overcome the interfering effects of environmental samples Ability to be operated safely on a bench-top outside of engineering controls during sample interrogation (optional). Simple user interface, operation, and data interpretation Have Windows 10 compatibility (Windows 10 Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) is preferred) Responses to this RFI should address the following: Describe the product's technical capability. What are the range of environmental conditions the technology can be used in? How is the product supported and maintained? Describe the company's capabilities and identify the technology/system's technology readiness level (TRL) and manufacturing readiness level (MRL). How is the company structured to support the product if integrated into a program in the near and long term? What is the maturity of the instrument being recommended? Is it early development, late development? Is it in production? Has it been fielded to any of the other Government agencies (please identify them)? Is the instrument or system in use within the private sector? What is the lead time for the product? What is the company's production capabilities/limitations? What consumables and ancillary equipment are required to support this instrument? What quantity of consumables are required per analysis? Consumables and ancillary equipment must be fully identified, even if manufactured by vendors other than themselves. How long will the product be available for purchase? How long will this product be supported? Describe the Operator interface (i.e., software, ease of use, data capture, interpretation, and data export). Describe the typical operation of system (to include sample preparation). Please describe any licensing or security requirements or restrictions. Are there any connectivity requirements for network, standalone, or wireless operation? All firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice are advised that their response to this notice is not a request to be considered for a contract award. All sources that are able to provide technologies meeting criteria in this announcement should submit their interest to Joint Product Manager CBRNE Analytics and Response Systems. Submissions are due no later than 5:00pm, 31 March 2021, Eastern Standard Time. The RFI response shall be submitted to: ATTN: Kevin Kearns: kevin.t.kearns.civ@mail.mil Alternate submission method: To Kevin Kearns, via mail at: Joint Product Manager CBRNE A&RS 8228 Scully Road POC: JPdM CBRNE A&RS, ATTN: Kevin Kearns Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5424 All information received in response to this notice that is marked proprietary will be handled accordingly. Acknowledgement of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the government's view of the information received. Responses to this notice will not be returned. The response to the RFI shall be limited to fifteen (15) pages (8.5" x 11") of English text, excluding test results and reports. It shall be single-spaced, 12 pitch with 1 inch left, right, top and bottom margins. The respondent must also identify all technical data contained in the white paper that is to be treated by the Government as "subject to restrictive markings". In the absence of such identification, the Government will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data in the white paper. Responses should be submitted, as indicated above, and at a minimum, should include: RFI number, company name, address, telephone number, website address (if available), and indicate business size in relation to the NAICS codes: 334516, 541714, 325414, and 541715. If available, provide your company's System for Award Management (SAM) Cage Code and DUNS number to verify your business status. Please provide any informational papers addressing the areas of interest listed above, brochures, published technical specifications, and 3rd party performance verification data. The name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives should also be included.