Combined_syn_sol 75N98026Q01234-05005.docx

Hospital and Laboratory Support Division Office of Logistics and Operations (OLAO) Office of Acquisition and Logistics Management (OALM)

Title: Quantom Tx Microbial Cell Counter Basic Package with consumables

Combined Synopsis Solicitation

Synopsis No. 75N98026Q01234-05005

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION WORKFORM

Action Code: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Date: September 17 Year: 2026 Contracting Office Zip Code: 20892 Classification Code: 6640 Contracting Office Address:

6701 Rockledge Drive Bethesda, MD 20817 Subject/Title: Quantom Tx Microbial Cell Counter Basic Package with consumables Solicitation Number: 75N98026Q01234-05005 Closing Response Date: September 24, 2026 at 9:00 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) Questions Due Date: September 19, 2026 at 10:00 A.M Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) Contact Point(s): Luz Casey, Program Specialist/Contract Specialist Contract Award Type: Firm Fixed Price Contract Award: TBD Contract Award Dollar Amount: TBD Contract Line Item Number(s): TBD Contractor Award Date: TBD Contractor Name: TBD Brand Name or Equal Acquisition (FAR 52.211-6): Yes Place of Contract Performance: Research Triangle Park, NC 27709 Set-aside Status: N/A

Description of Requirement: The NIEHS requires the acquisition of a QUANTOM Tx™ Microbial Cell Counter to improve the speed, accuracy, reproducibility, and efficiency of bacterial cell quantification workflows supporting ongoing research activities.

Accurate microbial enumeration is an important component of multiple laboratory workflows. Current methods, including colony-forming unit (CFU) plating, optical density measurements, and manual hemocytometer counting, have significant limitations in terms of processing time, labor requirements, measurement consistency, and reproducibility. These limitations can negatively affect experimental timelines and increase the use of personnel, consumables, and laboratory resources.

Traditional CFU plating requires substantial preparation and use of growth media, followed by extended incubation periods that may require 24–72 hours or longer before results can be obtained. This turnaround time can delay downstream experimental activities and reduce overall laboratory efficiency. Optical density measurements provide an indirect estimate of microbial concentration and may be affected by factors such as cell morphology, aggregation, and sample characteristics. Manual counting methods are labor-intensive and dependent on individual operator technique, which can introduce variability between users and experiments.

The requested QUANTOM Tx system will provide a rapid, automated approach to microbial enumeration using fluorescence-based imaging. The system's bacteria-specific imaging and automated analysis capabilities will allow bacterial samples to be quantified within minutes, substantially reducing the turnaround time associated with conventional enumeration methods.

The system's imaging and declustering capabilities are particularly beneficial for samples containing aggregated or high-density bacterial populations. Such samples can be difficult to quantify accurately using conventional approaches because cell clusters may be counted as individual cells or otherwise produce inconsistent measurements. Automated image-based analysis will improve consistency and reduce operator-dependent variability.

Acquisition of the QUANTOM Tx Microbial Cell Counter will provide the laboratory with the ability to:

· Rapidly quantify bacterial populations and obtain results within minutes.

· Reduce the turnaround time associated with conventional microbial enumeration.

· Minimize labor associated with manual cell counting.

· Reduce reliance on large quantities of growth media and lengthy incubation periods associated with CFU plating.

· Improve consistency and reproducibility across users and experiments.

· Improve enumeration of aggregated or high-density microbial samples through automated imaging and declustering analysis.

· Standardize microbial quantification workflows and reduce operator-dependent variability.

· Improve utilization of personnel, laboratory space, consumables, and other research resources.

· Support more efficient progression of experiments and downstream research activities.

The automated nature of the system will also improve workflow standardization and data integrity by reducing manual intervention and providing a consistent analytical process. Reliable and reproducible microbial enumeration is essential for ensuring the quality and comparability of experimental results across studies and laboratory personnel.

Acquisition of the QUANTOM Tx Microbial Cell Counter is therefore necessary to modernize the laboratory's bacterial quantification capabilities and address the limitations of existing enumeration methods. The system will significantly improve analytical turnaround time, measurement consistency, and laboratory productivity while supporting efficient and reliable execution of ongoing research activities.

The Contractor shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the tasks and deliverables described in this Statement of Work (SOW). Subject to prior approval of the Contracting Officer (CO), the Contractor may acquire the services of a subcontractor and/or consultants to provide specialized services if deemed appropriate and within scope by the COR.

The Contractor shall employ a technical approach, utilize organizational resources, and implement management controls to achieve the cost, schedule, and performance requirements throughout the execution of the Contract Requirements. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing, managing, and overseeing its personnel, as well as any subcontractor/consultant efforts used in the performance of the Contract Requirements.

This is intended to be a firm-fixed price contract.

Period of Performance: This is a one-time supply acquisition with associated training and warranty support.

Delivery Location:

NIH/NIEHS

105 TW Alexander Drive Bldg. 110, NIEHS Warehouse Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

The solicitation number is 75N98026Q01234-05005 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quote (RFQ). The solicitation document, the incorporated provisions, and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-07, effective August 29, 2024. This solicitation is being released unrestricted. The NAICS code is 334516. This requirement is not set aside for small business. This acquisition is being conducted in accordance with the procedures of FAR Part 12 and FAR Part 13. The Statement of Need and any terms and conditions relevant to the requirement are included as attachments. The provisions at FAR Clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following addendum related to the Instructions to Offerors is included:

Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items. Please refer to this addendum for additional attachments, including the Statement of Work and other relevant information.

Evaluations will be conducted in accordance with the provision at FAR Clause 52.212-2. Offerors will be evaluated as follows: EVALUATION-COMMERCIAL ITEMS (OCT 2014) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers:

· Technical Proposal/Equipment Capability

· Equipment Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

· Delivery

· Price The Government will make award to the responsible vendor whose quote represents the lowest price technically acceptable, considering equipment capability, equipment warranty and maintenance coverage, delivery and price. The Government may select a higher-priced quote if it is determined that the additional technical merit or lower performance risk warrants the price premium.

Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. Please refer to the addendum for additional evaluation information. Each Offeror must include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Items, with its offer.

Please note, each Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically via the System for Award Management (SAM) website located at https://www.sam.gov/portal.

· FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The terms and conditions outlined in the following addendum also apply:

· Addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items. Please refer to this addendum for additional terms and conditions related to the requirement.

· FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The full text version of FAR 52.212-5 included in the addenda as Attachment 5 indicate which FAR clauses and provisions are applicable to this acquisition.

Evaluation of Options Provision, The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic award. This solicitation notified offerors that the award will include the Government's unilateral option to extend performance for an additional period up to six months under FAR 52.217-8, during which the pricing and terms of the period in which the option was exercised would apply. The Government cannot predict if or when the option may be exercised. Because any exercise of the Government's option extends the pricing and terms of the period in which the option was exercised, the Government expressly and affirmatively evaluates pricing for the option to extend under 52.217-8 co-extensive with the Government's price evaluation for each of the base and option periods of this award. Because pricing for each period subject to possible extension under the 52.217-8 has been evaluated, pricing for any possible future use of that option to extend has, likewise, been evaluated and would apply in strict accordance with this evaluation in the event of the Government’s exercise of the option to extend services. (End of Provision)

Submission Requirements: Responses must include sufficient information to demonstrate the respondent’s capability to provide the required product or service. Price quotations shall include, at a minimum: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery timeframe after award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. point (destination or origin), product or catalog numbers, product descriptions, and any other relevant information.

Evaluation factors may include, but are not limited to: equipment capability, equipment warranty and maintenance coverage, delivery, past performance, technical capability, special features, trade-in considerations, expected lifecycle, warranty, maintenance availability, and environmental or energy efficiency considerations.

Respondents claiming to be manufacturers or authorized resellers of a specified brand-name product must provide:

(a) Product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s);

(b) Product description;

(c) Documentation demonstrating that the offered item meets all required salient characteristics;

(d) Quantity;

(e) Estimated price or cost;

(f) Shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and

(g) Delivery timeframe after receipt of order.

Responses must also include the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and business size certification. All offerors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov.

All responses must be received by September 24, 2026 and must reference solicitation number 75N98026Q01234-05005. Responses may be submitted electronically to Luz.Casey@nih.gov.

Contact Information:

Contract Specialist/Program Specialist: Luz Casey Email: Luz.Casey@nih.gov image1.png