75N94024Q00121.SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

(ACQUISITION OF MICROWAVE SOURCE FOR DYNAMIC NUCLEAR

POLARIZATION)

AGENCY: The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

TITLE: ACQUISITION OF MICROWAVE SOURCE FOR DYNAMIC NUCLEAR

POLARIZATION

PROPOSED SOLICITATION NUMBER: 75N94024Q00121

PROJECT SERVICE CODE: 5860 - STIMULATED COHERENT RADIATION DEV

NAICS CODE: 334610 - Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media and the small business size standard of 1,250.

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. There is no solicitation available at this time.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of all qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses;

HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses;

or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification according 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 a set- aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

BACKGROUND:

The Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance and Biomolecular Physics Section (SSNMRBPS) of the Laboratory of Chemical Physics (LCP) of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) performs molecular structural studies of disease-related protein assemblies by using solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) measurements. Members of SSNMRBPS have developed technology for carrying out the SSNMR measurements on frozen solutions of protein assemblies at very low temperatures. Because protein concentrations in frozen solutions are low, these measurements require enhancements of SSNMR signals.

Signal enhancements are achieved through excitation of electron spin-flip transitions by continuous irradiation with high-power microwaves. This important signal enhancement method is known as "dynamic nuclear polarization" (DNP).

Members of SSNMRBPS plan to apply their low-temperature, DNP-enhanced SSNMR methods in a series of studies of assemblies formed by the capsid protein of the HIV-1 virus. Successful completion of these studies will require maximal DNP signal enhancements. The microwave frequency for DNP in the planned experiments must be approximately 264 Gigahertz, which is the frequency needed for excitation of electron spin-flip transitions in the 9.39 Tesla magnet used in these studies. The microwave power must be at least 3.0 watts, so that maximal DNP signal enhancements can be achieved over the 25-100 K temperature range that will be used in these studies. A 264 Gigahertz microwave source with 3.0 watt output power is not currently available in SSNMRBPS or in other laboratories within the intramural research program of NIDDK.

Therefore, SSNMRBPS needs to procure a microwave source with the required performance capabilities.

SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS:

Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the organization will provide a microwave source with the required performance capabilities.

The following product features/characteristics are required for this requirement:

a. The microwave source must operate in a continuous-wave (CW) mode.

b. Microwave frequencies produced by the source must be tunable over a range from 263.3 GHz to 264.3 GHz by either mechanical or electrical adjustments.

(This tuning range is dictated by the electron spin resonance frequencies of nitroxide compounds used for DNP in existing NMR magnets.)

c. It must be possible to achieve a CW microwave output power of at least 3.0 W within the specified tuning range. (This output power level is required for maximization of NMR signal enhancements by DNP over a range of sample temperatures from 25 K to 100 K.) It must also be possible to operate at lower powers by adjustment of power supply settings.

d. The source must produce microwaves with a TE10 output mode for compatibility with existing waveguides and microwave horns.

e. Output power stability must be +/- 2% or better when temperature variations in the environment are less than 1 C. (This stability level is required because lower stability would introduce spurious noise in DNP-enhanced NMR data.)

f. Output frequency stability must be +/- 25 MHz or better when temperature variations in the environment are less than 1 C. (This stability level is required because lower stability would introduce spurious noise in DNP-enhanced NMR data.)

g. A power supply for the microwave source must be included. This power supply must produce all voltages and currents that are necessary for operation according to the specifications listed above.

h. A refrigerated water recirculating heat exchanger (i.e., chiller unit) for cooling the microwave source must be included. This chiller unit must have temperature, stability, flow rate, and other performance characteristics that are sufficient for

CW operation of the microwave source according to the specifications listed above.

i. All cables, tubes, connectors, and other items for interfacing the microwave source with the power supply and chiller unit must be included.

j. For compatibility with available laboratory space, the microwave source itself (not including power supply and chiller unit) must fit within a 2 ft X 2 ft area with 3 ft height. The microwave source must be operable in the fringe field of an existing NMR magnet, where the field strength is 15 G.

The following product features/characteristics are required for this requirement:

a. The microwave source must operate in a continuous-wave (CW) mode.

b. Microwave frequencies produced by the source must be tunable over a range from 263.3 GHz to 264.3 GHz by either mechanical or electrical adjustments.

(This tuning range is dictated by the electron spin resonance frequencies of nitroxide compounds used for DNP in existing NMR magnets.)

c. It must be possible to achieve a CW microwave output power of at least 3.0 W within the specified tuning range. (This output power level is required for maximization of NMR signal enhancements by DNP over a range of sample temperatures from 25 K to 100 K.) It must also be possible to operate at lower powers by adjustment of power supply settings.

d. The source must produce microwaves with a TE10 output mode for compatibility with existing waveguides and microwave horns.

e. Output power stability must be +/- 2% or better when temperature variations in the environment are less than 1 C. (This stability level is required because lower stability would introduce spurious noise in DNP-enhanced NMR data.)

f. Output frequency stability must be +/- 25 MHz or better when temperature variations in the environment are less than 1 C. (This stability level is required because lower stability would introduce spurious noise in DNP-enhanced NMR data.)

g. A power supply for the microwave source must be included. This power supply must produce all voltages and currents that are necessary for operation according to the specifications listed above.

h. A refrigerated water recirculating heat exchanger (i.e., chiller unit) for cooling the microwave source must be included. This chiller unit must have temperature, stability, flow rate, and other performance characteristics that are sufficient for CW operation of the microwave source according to the specifications listed above.

i. All cables, tubes, connectors, and other items for interfacing the microwave source with the power supply and chiller unit must be included.

j. For compatibility with available laboratory space, the microwave source itself (not including power supply and chiller unit) must fit within a 2 ft X 2 ft area with 3 ft height. The microwave source must be operable in the fringe field of an existing NMR magnet, where the field strength is 15 G.

TYPE OF ORDER

Firm-Fixed Price

DELIVERY / INSTALLATION

All items shall be delivered to the National Institutes of Health, Building 5, Room 412, Bethesda, MD 20892-0520. Shipping arrangements and payment for shipping will be made in a separate order with the supplier after production of the microwave source has been completed. Installation in NIH Building 5, Room 412 shall be performed by members of SSNMRBPS.

TRAINING

There are no training requirements. Complete operation instructions must be included with the microwave source.

PAYMENT

Payment will be made after delivery of all items and testing in NIH Building 5, Room 412 by members of SSNMRBPS. Payment terms per the vendor allowance being a small business (net 30) after receipt of order (ARO).

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Delivery within 12 Months of purchase order award.

All qualified small businesses, whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses;

veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; interested in submitting a corporate capability statement should demonstrate their capability to provide equipment that meets the characteristics below.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

This is a full and open competitive requirement. This is a requirement for the

ACQUISITION OF MICROWAVE SOURCE FOR DYNAMIC NUCLEAR

POLARIZATION.

The vendor will be evaluated on their quoted product meeting the specifications under section SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

If you or your firm/business has an interest and possess the required expertise we invite you to submit a corporate capability statement to assist the Government in determining in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b) whether or not this procurement will be set-aside for any of the programs described above. The associated NAICS code is 334610 - Manufacturing and Reproducing Magnetic and Optical Media and the small business size standard of 1,250. All respondents are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business.

Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice should adhere to the following:

(a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities. The capability statement should not exceed 15 pages using a font size 10 or larger.

(b) Small business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake the efforts should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. This capability statement should include: 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of scientists, medical experts, and technical personnel as they relate to the requirements, 3) a description of general and specific facilities and equipment available, including computer equipment and software, and 4) any other specific and relevant information that would improve the Government's consideration and evaluation of the information presented.

Further, Past Performance documentation, which should include, but not be limited to, a minimum of two (2) contracts performed for either Government or commercial organizations shall be provided. References shall include for each contract: names, titles, contract number, total price or cost, telephone numbers of government Contracting Officer Representative and Contracting Officers.

(c) All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to the Point of Contact below in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The subject line must specify 75N94024Q00121. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. Electronically submitted capability statements are due no later than 9:00 AM (Eastern Prevailing Time) seven (7) calendar days (including date of submission to amber.harris@nih.gov) after posting of the Small Business Sources Sought Notice.

CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE

CONSIDERED

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.

mailto:amber.harris@nih.gov