7571PS26Q00001 Sources Sought Notice.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Solicitation Number: 7571PS26Q00001

Title: Class I biohazard aerosol containment enclosure

Classification Code: 6640 - Laboratory Equipment and

Supplies

NAICS Code: 339999 All Other Miscellaneous Manufacturing

Size Standard: 550 Employees

Description:

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified sources; and (2) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition.

Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether the requirement should be set aside or competed among qualified sources. All interested and qualified organizations, regardless of business size, are encouraged to submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Background:

A Class I biosafety enclosure is necessary to bring our Cytek Biosciences Aurora CS cells sorting into safety compliance. The Class I biohazard aerosol containment enclosure is enclosure will ensure operator safety when sorting samples with potential BSL-2 or BSL-2+ containment requirements, including virtually all human samples. This request includes the necessary enclosure system (custom built for this instrument) and a one-year system warranty.

Purpose and Objectives:

Cell sorting by its nature generates aerosols that can pose a biological hazard to the operator.

While currently operational with an internal aerosol management system, this instrument is not equipped with a secondary external biosafety enclosure as required by NIH safety standards, limiting its current usage to projects with no biohazard potential. The existing Aurora CS system was still in the beta development stage when acquired by the NCI and was evaluated and validated outside a hood system. Now that it has been fully integrated into NCI projects, it needs to be housed in a Class I biosafety enclosure to allow usage for BSL-2 and BSL-2+ studies. This system will provide a necessary element of operator biohazard protection and will greatly expand the number of studies this cell sorter can support.

Project Requirements:

Purchase Description

The Class I biosafety enclosure required for our existing Cytek Biosciences Aurora CS cell sorter must be able to fit the existing instrument, with minimum dimensions of 38” length (front dimension) x 36” deep (left and right side dimension) x 42” high, with specific resealable openings in the front to access the sorter, and smaller plenum openings on the sides and back to accommodate electrical, air and vacuum lines. The enclosure must have specifically located cutouts, plenums and resealable openings specific to the requirements of the instrument containing it, in this case the Aurora CS sorter. The Class I enclosure must not be freestanding but must be able to be set up on the existing cell sorter table (highly reinforced to accommodate the system weight). The hood must be equipped with a HEPA filter and fan system allowing airflow from the front access port to the top of the hood.

Salient Characteristics

• Class I hood system must meet size requirements that can fit the existing instrument, with minimum dimensions of 38” length (front dimension) x 36” deep (left and right-side dimension) x 42” high.

• Hood system must have sealable openings aligned to the access doors on the existing Cytek Biosciences Aurora CS cell sorter.

• Hood system must have plenum openings on the sides of the enclosure to accommodate power cords and air/vacuum lines.

• Hood system must be able to be mounted on an existing reinforced instrument table currently holding the existing cell sorter system.

• Hood system must be constructed of flexible paneling which can be completely disassembled when service access to the contained instrument is required.

• Hood system must be equipped with a HEPA filtration system allowing single path one-way air flow from the front access panel to the top of the hood.

• Hood should be installed by lab personnel, not requiring a visit from the vendor.

Delivery, Installation, and Training Delivery location will be NIH Bethesda campus, Building 10. Delivery timeframe should be within 90 days of initial order.

Other Requirements Warranty coverage should be one year.

Capability Statement /Information Sought:

Businesses that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products or services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, 4) manufacturing county of origin, and 5) any other information considered relevant to this program. Businesses must also provide their Company Name, UEI number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information.

Interested businesses are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in response to this notice.

However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please refer to the solicitation notice number.

The respondent must also provide their UEI number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone number, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist.

Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Michelle Bills, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address michelle.bills@hhs.gov.

The response must be received on or before February 09,12:00 PM, Eastern Time.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary mailto:michelle.bills@hhs.gov.

technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Description: