Attachment No. 1 Technical Specifications .pdf

Attachment No. 1

Technical Specifications

“Benchtop Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorter”

9/8/2025

BACKGROUND

The procurement of a fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) instrument is critical to advancing the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s (NREL) molecular and synthetic biology research, as it enables high-throughput, high-resolution analysis and isolation of specific cell populations based on fluorescent, colorimetric, or morphological markers.

NREL's ongoing work in areas such as gene editing, synthetic circuit design, and microbial engineering requires precise control over cell heterogeneity and the ability to rapidly screen and enrich for desired phenotypes. A FACS system would significantly accelerate NREL's experimental workflows by allowing real-time assessment of microbial phenotypes as a function of genomic modification, thereby reducing reliance on labor-intensive and less precise manual methods. Furthermore, in-house access to FACS technology enhances reproducibility, supports biosafety compliance, and provides a strategic advantage in collaborative and time-sensitive research initiatives. Finally, this instrumentation will directly support new AOP initiatives and has been directly funded by BETO to support this work.

OBJECTIVE

NREL aims to accelerate the development of next-generation synthetic biology tools and biocatalysts by enabling the precise selection and characterization of engineered cell populations. A primary objective is to address the challenge of variability and inefficiency in cellular engineering workflows, particularly in identifying cells that exhibit optimal performance following genetic modification. FACS will allow NREL to rapidly isolate high-performing variants from large libraries based on multiple phenotypic markers, dramatically increasing the speed and accuracy of NREL’s design-build-test cycles. This capability is essential for creating robust, scalable biological systems with applications in biomanufacturing and environmental biotechnology. Ultimately, the FACS system will empower NREL to generate more reliable and reproducible data, reduce experimental bottlenecks, and deliver impactful solutions to pressing challenges in the bioeconomy.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• Required capabilities & specifications o Instrument size: Maximum allowed size is 7 feet x 4 feet x 5 feet.

o Laser Options: Must have 405nm, 488nm, 561nm, and 637nm lasers, or roughly equivalent (±20 nm) wavelengths. Lasers must have a power >40 milli watts.

o Must have spectral optics capabilities, with spectral unmixing as opposed to convention compensation.

o Detection: forward and side scatter o Fluorescent detection capacity o Must be able to produce real-time images of cells flowing through the cell sorter with indexing.

o Must be capable of analyzing up to 10,000 events/s o Through various nozzle options, must be capable of sorting cells that are 1-

25 um in size.

o Cell deposition rate: Assuming sufficient target cell density, must be able to deposit 1 cell into each well of a 96 well plate in under 3 minutes.

o Sample recovery: Sorting discrete cell populations into at least 3 different tubes and capability to sort into multi well plates and onto agar plates.

o Must provide service contract pricing at a fixed rate for 1 year beyond warranty period o Must provide instrument training

TECHNICAL OR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS

• Technical and safety requirements o Must be NRTL compliant

TIMELINE

• Delivery within 4 weeks of purchase order. Lead time is an evaluation factor.