1835383_BrandName.pdf

Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition:

Brand-Name at or Below the Simplified Acquisition Threshold

Project Title: Brand Name – Perkin Elmer Zephyr Workstations

I . Identification of the agency and contracting activity DHHS, NIH, NIAID/Vaccine Research Center (VRC) Requestors name: Alexandra Mullen Requestors phone number: 301 443 6082 Requestors email address: byersam@niaid.nih.gov Address of the requesting lab/office: 40 Convent Drive, Bethesda MD, Loading Dock Area

II. Description of the project, and supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs (including the estimated value)

A. Type of action: (check the appropriate box)

☒ New requirement

☐ Follow-on

• Name of the previous contractor(s): Government Scientific Source / PerkinElmer Health Sciences Inc.

• Sequence number, if available: 1792936 and 1676396

• Was the initial and any subsequent awards competed? ☒ Yes ☐ No

B. AMBIS Sequence number for this requirement: 1835383

C. Total estimated dollar value of the requirement (including options, if applicable): $96,807.38

D. Period of performance, inclusive of options: NA

E. Project Background

Mission of VRC is to determine the immune correlates of protection against emerging infectious diseases. One of the specific aims of the Virus Persistence and Dynamics lab is to understand processes that determine the course of human diseases in which the immune system plays a central role in their pathogenesis and outcome. Our work in HIV infection in part involves analysis of the clonal composition of CD8 T cells that respond to HIV and the interaction with HIV quasi species. Escape from adaptive T cell immunity through viral epitope mutation is considered to be a major obstacle to the development of vaccines that aim to elicit cellular immunity. This laboratory is thus investigating the molecular determinants of this phenomenon at the level of the T cell receptor–epitope contact interface, and defining structural motifs that govern the pace and pattern of epitope escape. The practical consequences of our findings suggest that vaccine strategies should elicit responding T cells that are qualitatively superior, in terms of clonotypic composition, to those elicited in natural infection. With that being said, VRC requires an additional Zephyr workstation to keep up with the ever growing research. This additional system will handle high throughput, multi-platform capabilities that allow for the purification, set up, and enzymatic reactions, necessary for ongoing research.

F. Description of the supplies/services to be purchased

• Complete common generic identification of the item required.

Purification system

• Applicable model, make, or catalog number for each brand name product referenced and identity of the commercial catalog in which it appears.

ZEPHYR GS NGS workstation. Catalog Number: CLS145300 and Compress. Catalog Number:

41122.

• Name of manufacturer, producer, or distributor of each brand name product referenced (and address if not well known).

PerkinElmer Health Sciences.

III. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition (SELECT ONE)

☒ 41 USC 3304(a)(1) a n d F A R P a r t 6 . 3 0 2 - 1 : Only one responsible source / Brand Name

☐ F A R P a r t 8 . 4 0 5 - 6 : Federal Supply Schedule (FSS), limited competition / Brand Name

Important Note: The statutory authority listed below will rarely ever be used in NIH. Before selecting this authority, please ensure that you have read and understood the citation and discussed it with the cognizant Contracting Officer.

☐ 41 USC 3304(a)(5) a n d F A R P a r t 6 . 3 0 2 - 5 : Authorized or required by statute / Brand Name

IV. Demonstration that the proposed brand name product’s salient charictoristics (specific features, qualities and/or the nature of the acquisition) requires use of the authority cited.

An additional ZEPHYR Workstation is required to analyze the clonal composition of CD8 T cells that respond to HIV infection. Escape from adaptive T cell immunity through viral epitope mutation is considered to be a major obstacle to the development of vaccines that aim to elicit cellular immunity. With that being said, this technology is currently being utilized in other parts of VCR and in order to maintain continuity and data integrity the same system must be utilized. To change systems and variables at this time would be disastrous to current research projects. Any alternatives/changes at this time would compromise numerous, critical research projects and would be detrimental NIAID research efforts. Basically, to introduce new system/processes would produce errors and render ongoing research data useless. Salient requirements of these research projects must be maintained. The project officer and the Contracting Officer have determined that only one brand-name source and no other brands or services will satisfy agency requirements.

V . Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable

Price reasonableness determination will be included in the acquisition file.

VI. Certification

This is to certify that the justification for the proposed acquisition has been reviewed and that to the best of my knowledge and belief the information and/or data provided to support my request and CO approval is accurate and complete.

Official Name & Title Signature Date

Requestor Certification

VIRGILIO G.

BUNDOC

05/10/2016

Contracting Officer Approval

JOHN FOLEY

CONTRACTING

OFFICER

05/10/2016