B Sources Sought Notice - AutoMate.docx

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95023Q00405

2. Title: 2 (two)Patch clamp amplifiers

3. Classification Code: DA10 - IT AND TELECOM - BUSINESS APPLICATION/APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE AS A SERVICE

4. NAICS Code: 541512- Computer Systems Design Services

5. Size Standard: $34 M

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.

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 National Institutes of Health (NIH) is an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal focal point for health research. Its mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and apply that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), The Laboratory of Circuits, Synapses, and Molecular Signaling (LCSMS) studies fundamental issues of synaptic transmission, neuronal excitability, neuromodulation, and neural circuit activity using animal models (principally, the mouse). A major line of research employs patch clamp electrophysiology, fluorescence imaging, and optogenetic stimulation in brain slices. For this research, the LCSMS requires two (2) low-noise patch clamp amplifiers, suitable for single channel recording and whole cell patch recording from neurons in brain slices. The amplifiers must also be compatible with extracellular recording.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to acquire, two new 1550B patch clamp amplifiers for electrophysiology and pharmacological experiments. The Digidata 1550B and pClamp 11 software suite are used extensively by NINDS in many experiments. The software and equipment were damaged in the flood at NIH Building 35 in December 2022

Project requirements:

The LCSMS requires two (2) patch clamp amplifiers for single channel, whole cell patch, and extracellular recordings.

· The detailed specifications are as follows.

· Compatible with the Government’s existing Digidata 1550B data acquisition system and pClamp 11 software (manufactured by Molecular Devices).

· Actively cooled headstage for low noise recording: 0.06 pA rms (5 kHz), 0.13 pA rms (10 kHz).

· Current clamp and voltage clamp recording modes.

· Holding current range ±200 nA.

· Holding potential range ±1000 mV.

· Output gain (mV/pA) 0.5 to 500 pA.

· Capacitance compensation.

· Seal test functionality.

· Telegraph outputs for gain, filter, and capacitance.

· Must be suitable for single channel recordings which have strict noise requirements (<0.15 pA RMS at 10 kHz sample in voltage clamp).

· Must be suitable for whole cell patch recording (both current clamp and voltage clamp) from neurons in brain slices.

Anticipated period of performance: 30 days ARO

Other important considerations: N/A

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 product 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 Shivani Patel, Contracts Specialist at e-mail address Shivani.patel@nih.gov

The response must be received on or before 8/18/2023, 9:00 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).”