1 - Bill of Material-Minimum Specifications for RFQ-NIAID-2086647.xlsx

Sheet1

The instrument must have a compact footprint to fit a small bench and be equipped with a built-in touch screen to operate the robot. The robot must have mouse and foot pedal controls. The blotting chamber must be accessible from both the left and right sides of the instrument. The instrument must provide possibility to apply samples manually with a pipette through a small side port on the left and the right side of the instrument. Both application and wait time should be controlled with the software. The device must blot grids from both sides simultaneously. Excess fluid should be removed from the grid by blotting with filter paper on rotating foam pads. The blotting force must be variable and should be controlled with the software. The blotting has to be done under an angle to create the gradient of vitreous ice. The device must support up to 16 blotting actions per grid. The controls for the blot offset and drain time must be present. The instrument must have automated shutter control. Once the grid is submerged in liquid ethane, the coolant container must be able to move down synchronously with the sample. Grid transfer from the coolant chamber to the grid box could be semi-automated.

Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999)

(a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as "brand name or equal," the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government’s needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that "equal" products must meet are specified in the solicitation.

(b) To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must-

(1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation;

(2) Clearly identify the item by-

(i) Brand name, if any; and

(ii) Make or model number;

(3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and

(4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications.

(c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate "equal" products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.

(d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an "equal" product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation.

(End of provision) https://www.acquisition.gov/far/11.107