75N95023Q00016_Sources Sought Notice.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95023Q00016

2. Title: Mechanical cryo-plunger for sample preparation for cryoEM

3. Classification Code: 6640

4. NAICS Code: 334516

5. Size Standard: 1000 Employees

6. 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 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, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. 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. Small businesses are encouraged to respond and should also provide in its response information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of 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; (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition; and (4) availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality.

For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule).

Background: The Vitrification Robot is a fully PC-controlled device for vitrification (= rapid cooling) of aqueous samples. Minimal, yet essential, training is required when operating the instrument for research purposes in a laboratory environment. The process of plunging, blotting and vitrification is fully automated upon placing a vial in the chamber and setting up the ethane holder. Operation is strictly controlled by dedicated hardware and software, implying that parameters and the results are reproducible. This enables a high throughput of vitrified samples, with an easy and straightforward control of the vitrification process. The parameters to be influenced are temperature, humidity, the number of blots, and a number of critical time settings. The instrument will consistently produce specimens for cryo-electron microscopy. Research can now rely on specimen preparation allowing the investigator to concentrate on structural studies of the specimen.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to solve the protein structure by single particle cryoEM. This requires a cryo-plunger to freeze the protein sample onto the cryo-grid with vitrified ice containing our desired protein sample.

Project requirements:

Purchase Description:

Vendor shall provide a cryo-plunger that will produce a controllable and reproducible ice condition on EM grid.

Salient Characteristics:

The cryo-plunger requires a specific condition with controllable humidity, temperature, blotting force and blotting time.

Instrument Control:

The Vitrification Robot control software runs under the Linux operating system.

Specific instrument control and operational parameters setup are done through a Graphical User Interface which is controlled through a touch screen and/or with a mechanical foot-pedal switch.

Sample Application:

Small sample volumes can be applied manually through a small side port on either side of the climate chamber allowing access to a pipette. Both application time and wait time (time between application and blotting) are software controlled and can be set through the Graphical User Interface.

Blotting Device:

Excess fluid is removed from the grid by (repeatedly) blotting with filter paper on rotating foam pads. Both the number of blotting actions (max. 16 times for one grid) and the duration of blotting (blot time) are software controlled and can be set through the Graphical User Interface. Longitudinal grid positioning (“blot offset”) as well as the wait time between blotting and vitrification (“drain time”) is user definable.

Vitrification Process:

Automated shutter control allows for an instant and smooth injection of the sample grid into the container with liquid ethane and/or propane. A lift for the container brings the coolant as close as possible to the shutter to ensure optimal vitrification.

There is parallel coupling between lowering of the coolant container and the position of the frozen grid remaining inside the coolant. This minimizes any possible contamination prior to the sample transfer into a storage box or cryo holder. An anti-contamination ring that floats on top of the liquid nitrogen further prevents grid contamination during the semi-automated grid transfer from the liquid ethane towards the liquid nitrogen.

Additional Accessories:

The Vitrification Robot is standard delivered with a foot-pedal switch, two pairs of tweezers, filter paper, an ethane container, a circular grid box and touch screen pen.

Technical specifications:

Weight 31 kg Dimensions (L x W x H) 413 x 260 x 890 mm Power supply (voltage) 110 - 230 V @ 50 - 60 Hz Fuse 4 AT (110 V USA) 2 AT (230 V Europe) Power cable 90 - 250 V Operating parameters Working Temperature 4 - 60 °C (at an ambient temperature range between 18 - 25 °C) Peltier controlled heating/cooling Relative Humidity Optimized for operation at 90% - 100% RH (no condensation at RH < 85%)

Ultrasonically controlled humidification

Quantity:

1 Cryo-plunger Verification Robot System

Delivery, Installation, and Training Requirements:

The Contractor shall deliver the equipment to Building 10 at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland within 180 days after receipt of order.

The equipment shall be delivered and installed between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm EST, Monday through Friday. Delivery must be Freight on Board (FOB) Destination and include inside delivery. The equipment shall be delivered and installed in coordination with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) at the time the equipment is ready to be shipped.

The Contractor shall provide on-site training within 30 days after equipment installation. In total, the Contractor shall deliver, install, and provide training on the system within 120 days after receipt of order.

Other important considerations:

The Contractor shall provide an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified technician to perform the setup and installation of the equipment.

Warranty - The Contractor shall warrant that all computer equipment (computer, monitor) will be free from defects for a period of at least one (1) year from the date of installation, inspection by the Government, and acceptance. The Contractor shall further warrant that all optical and mechanical components will be free from defects for a period of at least five (5) years from the date of installation, inspection and acceptance by the government. Warranty service shall include trouble-shooting capabilities based on complete knowledge of the entire system. Warranty shall not include routine or periodic maintenance services.

In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.

Capability statement /information sought.

Companies 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, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

Interested companies 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 a 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 reference the solicitation notice number.

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 is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Arun Mathur at e-mail address arun.mathur@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before 11/10/2022 by 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 www.sam.gov. 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 technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).”