A-2 SoR 1333ND20QNB640565 v13 FINAL.doc

STATEMENT OF REQUIREMENTS

Automated Flow Cell Sorter

I. BACKGROUND

The Biomaterials Group of the Biosystems and Biomaterials Div. (BBD) of the Material Measurement Laboratory (MML) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) contributes to the NIST Microbial Metrology program to address challenges in microbial cell measurements via development of new methodologies, protocols, and reference materials, and to investigate fundamental biological processes pertinent to engineering biology, microbiome, and other microbial applications. To expand the scope of our work, the Biomaterials Group needs to acquire a flow cell sorter to purify subpopulations of cells based on the presence or absence of specific cell properties or markers, such as DNA and RNA content, membrane integrity, membrane proteins, and metabolic activity and viability.

The Biomaterials Group requires a flow cell sorter that: a) is designed for small particles (as bacterial cells are too small for conventional cell sorters); and, b) simultaneously sorts small and large particles (0.2 (m to 10 (m – or even larger), such as sorting mixtures of bacteria from microbiome and biofilms.

Moreover, other Groups within BBD also will benefit by having such instrument to support research efforts in the development of synthetic microbial communities, measuring cell properties pertinent to viability, monitoring antibiotic resistance, supporting synthetic biology workflows, and sorting liposomes.

II. SCOPE OF REQUIREMENT [DISPLAYED AS LINE ITEM 0001 IN THE SOLICATION]

The Contractor shall deliver an automated flow cell sorter that shall meet all salient characteristics defined below:

a. The instrument must include 355 nm, 488 nm, 561 nm and 640 nm excitation lasers. Based on this configuration, the instrument shall have at least 15 fluorescent color-channels

b. The instrument shall include two scattering channels, a side scattering channel, a forward scattering channel, and a second forward scatter channel to allow sorting of small and large particles simultaneously

c. The instrument shall permit the detection and sorting of particles ranging in diameter from 0.2 (m to 30 (m simultaneously

d. The laser beam shall have a flat-top shape to ensure the fluorescence signal from a cell excited by the beam is uniform in any spot within the beam, resulting in the stabilization of the signal

e. The fluidics shall be composed of jet-in-air nozzle technology with a 70 (m and 100 (m tip

f. The speed rate for data analysis shall be up to 100,000 events/second, and the sorting speed rate shall be up to 70,000 events/second with 99 % collection purity

g. The instrument shall be capable of sorting into at least 6 collection vessels and in a 96-well plate

h. The instrument shall be amenable to automation and to expansion features, shown as OPTIONS under Section III (below)

i. Parameters including laser alignment, stability of the droplets, and control of the sheath pressure shall be automated with minimal input from the operator

j. The instrument shall include a complete compensation matrix that will allow the end user to compensate the signal from every channel out of every other channel

k. The instrument shall provide 6-7 decades of fluorescence signal resolution to enable high accuracy

l. The instrument shall not require a dedicated expert to operate it daily but be user-friendly enough to allow multiple users to routinely operate it after hands-on training

m. The instrument shall operate with 110 V

n. The instrument shall include acquisition software supporting data acquisition, data analysis, data exporting, and functional control of the instrument making the overall operation of the instrument simple and convenient

o. The instrument shall be equipped with a computer running the Windows 10 Professional operating system and at least one regular desktop sized monitor allowing visualization of data acquisition and data analysis modules. The computer shall have TPM 2.0 and secure boot

p. The instrument shall be amenable to residing in a biosafety cabinet, shown as an OPTION under Section III (below), to minimize potential aerosolized microbes during sorting

q. The instrument shall include a license to all installed software at no cost that is designed to collect and analyze the generated data

r. The instrument shall include a 1-yr. warranty covering parts, labor and travel

s. Telephone Technical Support and Field Applications/Sales/Service Support shall be available during the 1-yr. warranty period to answer technical questions, help review data, and make recommendations on how to troubleshoot results encountered with flow cell sorter experiments

III. OPTION ITEMS (NOT ASSOCIATED WITH THE BASIC INSTRUMENT PROCUREMENT) [DISPLAYED AS LINE ITEM NOS. 0004-0008 IN THE SOLICIATION]

a. 405 nm laser with (2) corresponding emission filters

b. 532 nm laser with (5) corresponding emission filters

c. 592 nm laser with (4) corresponding emission filters

d. Biosafety cabinet II

e. Biosafety cabinet accessory kit

IV. INSTALLATION [DISPLAYED AS LINE ITEM NO. 0002 IN THE SOLICITATION]

The Contractor shall install the Automated Flow Cell Sorter at the NIST site in Gaithersburg, MD. Installation must be scheduled, in advance, with the Contracting Officer’s Representative (COR) or the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPoC) identified in the purchase order award document under “General Award Information”.

Installation shall include, at a minimum, uncrating/unpackaging of the Automated Flow Cell Sorter, set-up and assembly, start-up of the Automated Flow Cell Sorter, demonstration of all required minimum salient characteristics, and removal of trash.

Contractor authorized personnel shall install the Automated Cell Sorter and perform all activities necessary to ensure the instrument is fully functional and meets all required minimum salient characteristics.

V. TRAINING [DISPLAYED AS LINE ITEM NO. 0003 IN THE SOLICITATION]

The Contractor shall schedule and facilitate training for up to three (3) NIST personnel for two (2) days. Training shall commence no more than fifteen (15) days after installation and demonstration of all salient characteristics.

*If campus restrictions exist, or are imposed after installation has concluded, training shall be re-scheduled to a mutually agreeable date/time.

The training shall provide, at a minimum, a demonstration of all instrument functions and instrument operation which will allow NIST personnel to operate the instrument to its full capabilities, calibration, basic troubleshooting, and routine maintenance procedures.

Training must be scheduled, in advance, with the NIST COR or NIST TPoC identified in the purchase order award document under “General Award Information”

VI. (3) OPTIONAL 1-YEAR SERVICE CONTRACTS [DISPLAYED AS LINE ITEM NOS. 0009-0011 IN THE SOLICITATION] The Contractor shall provide a service contract for maintenance and repair service upon expiration of the 1-yr. instrument warranty. The annual service contract shall include one scheduled preventive maintenance (PM) visit per year, all necessary labor to perform unlimited emergency visits with 72-hour response time, repair and replacement of defective parts, software updates, telephone/email support within 72 hours of notice of request to answer technical questions, help review data, and make recommendations on how to troubleshoot results encountered with flow cell sorter experiments, and associated travel-related expenses. The instrument must operate to manufacturers specifications upon completion of any warranty/maintenance service incident.

VII. SERVICE REPORT

During the warranty period and any exercised options for the service contract, the Contractor shall submit a service report to the NIST Technical Point of Contact (TPoC) prior to departure from NIST on any given service call for maintenance and repairs. The service report shall include the following:

a. Model number.

b. Serial number.

c. Date and time of arrival to NIST.

d. Description of service performed.

e. Name and quantity of any parts that were repaired.

f. Name and quantity of any parts that were replaced.

g. Date and time of departure from NIST.

h. Diagnostic test results or narrative summary demonstrating that the instrument is meeting the performance standards.

i. Any additional comments or recommendations.

j. Printed name and signature of service technician. Signature block for NIST personnel accepting the services rendered.

The Contractor shall submit copies of the service report performed within a billing cycle with the accompanying invoice.

VIII. CONTRACTOR MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall dispatch engineers or technicians that are fluent in the operation of the instrument throughout the period of performance.

Contractor’s personnel shall have at least two (2) years of experience on the instrument or third-party accessories for which the service is being rendered. Due to timelines associated with clearance of non-US citizens, personnel performing repairs must be US citizens.

IX. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

All work shall be accomplished at the Contractor’s facility except installation, training, warranty service and maintenance service.

Prior to commencement of installation, training, warranty service and maintenance service, the Contractor must ensure NIST’s campus is accessible and performance can occur.

X. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE / DELIVERY

Delivery, installation and training for the instrument shall be completed within 60* days after award.

*The Contractor shall coordinate delivery with the COR or TPoC prior to release of the instrument from the manufacturer’s site.

Prior to delivery, the Contractor must ensure NIST’s campus is accessible and deliveries are permitted. If campus restrictions impact the delivery schedule, a modification to the Purchase Order may be executed by the Contracting Officer to establish an extended delivery timeframe.

The COR and/or TPoC must be present on campus at the time of delivery to escort Contractor personnel.

XI. ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA

Final acceptance by the Government shall be granted after confirmation that the instrument meets all minimum salient characteristics defined in the Statement of Requirements, including successful installation and completion of training. The warranty shall not commence until final acceptance has been granted by the Government. Should any deficiencies be noted prior to final acceptance, the Contractor will be notified and provided the opportunity to correct all deficiencies, at their expense, in accordance with the commercial terms and conditions articulated in FAR 52.212-4 of the purchase order

XII. GENERAL INFORMATION

Safety: The Contractor shall be responsible for knowing and complying with all installation safety prevention regulations including NIST COVID-19 mitigation protocol. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Access to Facilities: To support social distancing efforts, the Contractor shall contact the COR and/or TPoC and the Contract Specialist by e-mail no less than 72 hours prior to schedule access to the campus. The Contractor shall review current site access requirements found at: https://www.nist.gov/campus-status.

The COR and/or TPoC will work with their supervisor for any mission-essential visitors, deliveries, or shipments, which must be approved by senior Commerce or Bureau leadership prior to allowing access. The COR and/or TPoC shall include the Contract Specialist on all correspondence so the award file is properly documented.

Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and is to be shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

Identification Badges: The Contractor shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. The Contractor shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office. The badge must show the full name, title, and if required by NIST, the words “Contractor” in front. The Contractor shall surrender the NIST identification badge to the TPoC upon conclusion of any services rendered.