Statement_of_Work.docx

STATEMENT OF WORK

Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter

I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Biomolecular Structure and Function (BSF) group in the Biomolecular Measurement Division of the Materials Measurement Laboratory at the national Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (1) advances novel measurement methods and models, for the determination and analysis of the structure and function of biological macromolecules, including lipids, DNA, RNA, and proteins and macromolecular complexes and assemblies formed by these molecules; (2) advances methods to determine the physical and chemical factors which determine the specific interactions of macromolecules with cofactors and ligands; (3) studies the relationships between biomolecule structure, dynamics, function, and energetics using computational, biophysical and biochemical techniques; (4) develops reference databases for these properties; and (5) advances measurement methods for engineering complex biological systems.

BSF is leading a NIST Innovation in Measurement Science (IMS) program entitled “Next Generation Protein Sequencing.” The biomolecular aspects of this project rely heavily on the ability to screen libraries of yeast-surface-displayed recombinant proteins, for their affinities for sequence-specific peptide ligands. Flow cytometry and fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) are robust techniques for high-throughput (HT) screening of yeast libraries. To further support the goals of the IMS program, BSF needs a flow cytometry-based FACS instrument. This instrument will allow in-house screening of yeast libraries and cell sorting, that enriches desired cellular and/or molecular characteristics.

In addition to advancing the aforementioned IMS program, this FACS instrument will support other efforts in both yeast and bacterial phenotypic, and metabolic engineering aligned with NIST initiatives in the field of engineering biology.

II. SCOPE OF WORK

The Contractor shall deliver, install and provide user training for one (1) flow-cytometry based fluorescence activated cell sorter having specifications described below.

III. SPECIFICATIONS

Hardware:

· The FACS instrument shall be a new instrument and not be a refurbished instrument.

· The FACS instrument shall have a benchtop form factor. (Any instrument-associated fluidics cart and/or air compressor is not required to fall within the benchtop form factor.)

· The FACS instrument shall use end-user changeable, consumable microfluidic assemblies (chips, cartridges, etc.) at the point of sample interrogation. The assemblies shall have a specified changing frequency ranging from per sample to per 24 hours of instrument operation.

· The FACS instrument and/or instrument control software shall perform automatic alignment of the microfluidic assembly for optimal optical and cell sorting performance.

· The FACS instrument and/or instrument control software shall perform automatic calibration of the “droplet delay” and/or “sort delay” necessary for optimal cell sorting performance.

· The FACS instrument shall have at least two lasers for excitation at blue (488 nanometer (nm)) and red (between 630-640 nm) wavelengths with each laser having nominal power of at least 30 mW.

· The FACS instrument shall have photodetectors for forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC).

· The FACS instrument shall have at least four photodetectors for fluorescence (FL) detection.

· The FACS instrument shall be equipped with fluorescence photodetectors having at least 16 bit analog-to-digital conversion for intensity binning.

· The FACS instrument shall be equipped with dichroic mirrors and filters suitable for measuring fluorescence emission from the following fluorophores: green fluorescent protein (GFP), phycoerythrin (PE), AlexaFluor 647 and SytoxAADvanced. A non-exhaustive listing of suitable filters used in commercial instruments follows as examples:

Green fluorescent protein

(GFP)

Blue (488 nm)

(488 nm)

AlexaFluor 647

(AF647)

Red (633-638 nm)

(488 nm)

· The FACS instrument shall be able to analyze cells at a rate of at least 50,000 events above threshold per second.

· The FACS instrument shall be able to sort cells at a rate of at least 10,000 events per second with greater than 95% purity and 80% yield.

· The FACS instrument shall be able to sort different size cells including yeast, bacteria (E. coli) and mammalian cells.

· The FACS instrument shall have variable temperature control in the range of at least 5 to 25oC.

Software:

· The FACS instrument control software shall either (1) be installed on an instrument-embedded computer or (2) can be installed on a computer purchased separately given that such computer meets Contractor-provided minimum technical specifications.

· The FACS instrument control software shall support exporting experimental data in “flow cytometry standard (.FCS)” file format.

· The FACS instrument control software shall be capable of applying a full compensation matrix across all fluorescent channels.

Installation: The Contractor shall install the instrument at NIST/IBBR, Rockville, MD. Installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpacking of all equipment, setup and hook-up of all equipment, instrument startup, demonstration of instrument performance within specifications and removal of any trash. The FACS instrument shall operate at manufacturer’s specifications upon installation. The manufacturer’s specifications (required upon quote submission) will be incorporated into the resultant purchase order. Installation shall take place between 8:30 am and 5:00 pm Easter Time, Monday through Friday except Federal Holidays. Installation shall be coordinated with the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) defined within this statement of work. Delivery and installation of the FACS instrument shall occur within 60 days from the award date.

Warranty:

· The Contractor shall include, at minimum, a one (1) year warranty on all parts, materials and labor for the FACS instrument to keep the instrument operating at specification, throughout the warranty period, consistent with the standard maintenance requirements provided by the manufacturer.

Training: The contractor shall provide training, at the installation site for at least 4 personnel, for a minimum of eight (8) hours to commence within 60 days of award.

The following are desired instrument specifications that exceed the Government’s minimum technical requirements:

· Instrument capability for bulk sorting two gated populations and negative cells simultaneously.

· Instrument capability for sorting one gated population of cells directly into 96-well plates with software capability for “index sort” identification of the sorted cells.

IV. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be one (1) year from award of this requirement.

V. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All work shall be completed at the Contractor’s facility. Installation of the instrument and training shall be accomplished at NIST/IBBR, Rockville, Maryland. Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with the exception of Federal holidays.

VI. GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

Access to the NIST/IBBR facility, Rockville, MD

VII. DELIVERABLES

VIII. PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENT SUMMARY

The Contractor shall demonstrate that all performance standards in this statement of work have been met.

IX. GENERAL INFORMATION

Safety: The Contractor employee shall be responsible for knowing and complying with NIST installation safety prevention regulations (http://www-i.nist.gov/mml/safety/policies/index.htm.) Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Patent Rights: The Government retains a Government use license to all inventions arising from this work.

Security: NIST/IBBR is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and may be obtained from the security desk upon arrival.

Identification Badges: Contractor employees shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. The Contractor employee is responsible for absences due to expired identification and access documents. Each Contractor employee shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST/IBBR security badge. The badge must show the full name, title, and if required by NIST, the words “Contractor” in front. The Contractor employee shall turn in the NIST identification badge and vehicle pass to the TPOC, COR, or Contracting Officer (CO) upon termination of their services under this contract.

Media Inquiries: The Contractor employee shall not respond to any media inquiries. Any inquiries from the media shall be immediately relayed to the TPOC, COR, and/or CO. There shall be no interviews, comments, or any other response without the knowledge and approval of the NIST Director.