Brand Name Determination 26-523 Signed_Redacted.pdf

Version 2.0 19Aug2020

BRAND NAME DETERMINATION USING

SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES (SAP)

FOR AN ACTION NOT EXCEEDING THE SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION THRESHOLD

(AUTHORITY: FAR 13.106-1(b)(1))

143041-26-0171

1. Agency and contracting activity. Department of Commerce, Fisheries OMB Field Delegates and

Fisheries OMB Field Delegates and Department of Commerce, and Northwest Fisheries Science Center Seattle, WA

2. Description of supplies or services required to meet agency needs (including the estimated value). We require the purchase of one SptTech BioMicrolab VC100 no-contact no-contact, standalone instrument for detecting and quantifying micro-scale liquid volumes in 96 well plate and microtubes (incl. extended 1year service warranty) to support mission-critical genomics research specifically aimed at elucidating population dynamics of marine and anadromous species (including protected and endangered populations).

Required Technical Specifications:

Technology: Patented, non-contact ultrasonic distance-to-meniscus sensor.

Primary Application: Automated sample volume verification and quality control (QC) for microplates and tube racks (replaces manual/visual inspection).

Labware Compatibility: Uncapped or unsealed standard ANSI/SLAS 96, 48, and 24-format well plates and tube racks (including shallow, deep-well, and PCR plates).

Liquid/Solution Compatibility: Water, alcohols, buffers, DMSO, and other common laboratory solvents.

Throughput Speed: Scans and detects sample volumes across a full 96-well plate in 1 minute.

Sensitivity/Accuracy: Liquid level sensors detect volume changes down to the sub-10 $\mu$L range

(tested on 96-well formats).

Consumables Required: None (operates directly on existing compatible labware without specialized adapters).

Dimensions (W × D × H): 11.5" × 26.5" × 12.5" / 29.5 cm × 68 cm × 32 cm (depth specification includes required cable clearance and full tray extension).

Weight: 33.25 lbs / 15.0 kg.

Operating Temperature: 10°C to 40°C.

Operating Humidity: 10% to 90% RH (Non-condensing).

Placement Requirement: Level, vibration-free laboratory benchtop space.

Input Voltage: 100–240 VAC universal power supply.

Frequency: 50/60 Hz.

Connectivity: Powered/controlled via a single dedicated USB port connection to a host PC.

Operating System Compatibility: Windows 10 or Windows 11 (supports both 32-bit and 64-bit systems).

Hardware Prerequisites: Minimum 2 GB RAM; customer-supplied PC, monitor, keyboard, and mouse.

Data Output Format: Automatically generates comma-separated values (.csv) file outputs mapping volume metrics on a well-by-well basis; native utility for printing or generating PDF plate reports.

Automation Integration: ActiveX toolkit available to support integration with downstream liquid handlers and robotic platforms.

3. Identification of the single source or the brand name to be solicited.

Vendor Name: SPT LabTech Website: https://www.sptlabtech.com/products/biomicrolab/biomicrolab-vc100 Phone: (626) 966-3299 POC: Abbey Porter Email: abbey.porter@sptlabtech.com

4. Supporting rationale. Only one source or brand name is reasonably available as detailed below:

Brand Name – This particular brand name is essential to the requirement and market research indicates similar products do not meet or cannot be modified to meet agency needs.

Market research conducted (see attached) indicated that only one instrument currently on the open market is capable of meeting our very specific needs for a no-contact instrument capable of measuring liquid volumes with high precision.

The SPT Tech BioMicrolab VC100 meets our very specific requirements (see above).

Other - Only one source is capable -

The vendor SptTech is the sole manufacturer and supplier of the BioMicrolab VC100 and the only vendor capable of servicing and repairing the instrument using required OEM parts. While there are other liquid measuring instruments, none have been found that meet our technical specifications required to support robust, reproducible molecular genetic data generation other than the BioMicroLab

VC100.

5. Market Research.

We searched online resources, using the Google Gemini AI engine on 17 June 2026, for a standalone, non-contact liquid volume detection instrument, similar to the BioMicroLab VC100.

Based on market research into automated laboratory instrumentation, the BioMicroLab VC100 (manufactured by SPT Labtech) occupies a specific niche: standalone, non-contact liquid volume detection.

Looking for an exact functional equivalent to the BioMicroLab VC100 (a device you can set next to your robot to rapidly verify the volume of live sample plates without touching them), the Meniscense VolumeSense is the most direct market alternative. Research on the specifications of the Meniscense VolumeSense indicated that it is only capable of measuring the volume of samples/liquids within a microplate configuration and this will not meet our laboratory requirements.

Therefore, the BioMicroLab VC100 is the only available solution on the market currently.

6. Technical/Requirements Representative Certification

I certify that this requirement constitutes the Government’s minimum needs and the supporting data provided herein is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Kim Parsons

Date

Supervisory Research Biologist, NWFSC

Jeremy Rusin

Date

Acting Science Director

7. Determination I hereby determine that the circumstances of this action deem only one source is reasonably available. This determination is accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Date

Contracting Officer

PARSONS.KIM.MICHEL

LE.1456831288

Digitally signed by

PARSONS.KIM.MICHELLE.1456831288

Date: 2026.08.14 08:40:23 -07'00'

RUSIN.JEREMY.DEWITT.

1380624407

Digitally signed by

RUSIN.JEREMY.DEWITT.1380624407

Date: 2026.08.14 09:47:15 -07'00'

GILLILAND.AMY.ADAMS.1006073316 Digitally signed by GILLILAND.AMY.ADAMS.1006073316 Date: 2026.08.21 09:54:54 -05'00'