Notice of Intent to Sole Source Vitrocell.docx

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), on behalf of the United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (SAUMRIID) is issuing this notice of intent to award a new contract on a sole source basis. This is not a request for proposals. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to pay for costs incurred from the preparation and/or submission of data in response to this notice.

The Government intends to award a sole source contract to Vitrocell Systems. This is requirement is for a contract to provide one (1) Vitrocell Cloud Alpha 12 system and its accompanying accessories to support an ongoing project funded by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). This system will be used for building a capability at the USAMRIID to allow aerosol exposure of a pathogen to a 24 well transwell insert of an OTE. USAMRIID has not previously acquired a system capable of aerosol exposure of a transwell. The Virology and Bacteriology Divisoins’ ability to evaluate aerosol exposures, and consequently compare microphysiological systems to animal studies, will be severely hampered without this equipment.

The Technical Requirements are as follows:

1. The system shall have dimensions of approximately 17cm x 23cm x 36cm.

2. The system shall have a supply voltage of approximately 85-264 VAC, 47-63 Hz and a power consumption of approximately 150 W.

3. The system shall be compatible for 24-well inserts.

4. The system shall expose 24-well inserts to liquid aerosols.

5. The system shall be able to nebulize volume ranges 15 to 300uL.

6. The system shall include a Quartz Crystal Microbalances (sQCM) 12 microbalance sensor set that can measure deposited mass down to ng/cm2.

7. The system shall include one (1) controller for the microbalance sensor including applicable software.

8. The system shall include two (2) cloud aerosol generator heads.

9. The cloud aerosol generator heads shall have a range up to 6.0 micron with an option of mesh nebulizers for a droplet Mass Median Aerodynamic Diameter (MMAD) ranges: 2.5 – 6.0uM and 2.5-4.0uM.

10. The system shall include one (1) power vent high performance system for virus aerosols.

11. The system shall include a one (1) year warranty commencing on the date of delivery and a one (1) year support package.

12. The Contractor shall provide remote installation and training for a minimum of 2 people.

13. Shipping shall be included.

This contract will be issued on a sole source basis as the Government’s market research indicates that Oak Hills Genetics is the only source capable of providing the requested Research and Development services. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 334516 (Analytical Lab Instrument Manufacturing) and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees. Any sources that believe they are eligible and capable of providing these services must respond in writing. Responses must be supported with clear and convincing evidence articulating the ability to provide the items outlined above. A request for documentation will not be considered an affirmative response. Information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government. If no written responses are received by the date listed below, which reflects fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice, the contract will be awarded without further remark.

This notice is provided solely as information to the marketplace.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Questions may be submitted to Mr. Eric Zampelli at eric.m.zampelli.civ@health.mil no later than 12:00PM EST on Tuesday June 20, 2025.