NIH-NINDS-CSS-21-009403.pdf

STREAMLINED SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION

COMPETITIVE

Title: Brand Name or Equal: Epifluorescence Microscope

Introductory Statement

(i) 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; quotations are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

Solicitation Number and Authority

(ii) The solicitation number is NIH-NINDS-CSS-21-009403 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ).

This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplif ied Acquisition Procedures and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items and is not expected to exceed the simplif ied acquisition threshold. This acquisition is being conducted using full and open competition with no set-aside restrictions. As a result, all interested, qualified, and responsible entities may submit a quotation.

It is the Government’s intent to award a purchase order using these procedures. Any quotations submitted MUST conform to the specifications contained in the RFQ and Attachment 1 - Purchase Description.

The Government intends to award a single, Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) purchase order without discussions. Therefore, it is important that your initial quotation include your most favorable terms from both a price and technical standpoint. All quotations MUST conform to the instructions and specifications contained in the solicitation and Purchase Description to be considered for award.

The Government reserves the right to conduct discussions at any point and with any Quoter(s) if it determines it to be in its best interest. The Government also reserves the right to award no purchase order depending on the quality of the quotations, the availability of funding, and the continued existence of the requirement.

Applicable Federal Acquisition Circular

(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-07, dated August 11, 2021.

NAICS Code and Small Business Standard

(iv) The associated NAICS code is 333314 – Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing and the small business size standard is 500 employees.

Description of Requirement

(v) The National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s (NINDS) Laboratory of

Circuits, Synapses, and Molecular Signaling (LCSMS) has a requirement for an

Epifluorescence Microscope that is brand name or equal to Nikon’s TI2-E Inverted

Microscope. The Equipment will be used to capture high-quality images of fixed tissue or dispersed cells for ongoing studies investigating learning and memory, peripheral pain disorders, and neurodegenerative disease.

Please see Attachment 1 - Purchase Description for more information.

Essential Characteristics

(vi) To satisfy the program office’s requirements, the Equipment must meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics outlined in Attachment 1 - Purchase Description.

Responses to this solicitation must include enough information to establish that the Quoter is capable of providing the required Equipment. Accordingly, the quotation shall include: descriptions and product/catalog numbers for all line items; all unit prices, list prices, and shipping and handling prices; all delivery terms (including delivery date and F.O.B. Point); each item’s place of manufacture; any prompt payment discount terms;

and all other information or factors that may be relevant to the award determination.

Additionally, the total price of the quotation, including all items, options, costs, and any applicable taxes, MUST be clearly indicated.

Required Information

(vii) Responses to this RFQ must include enough information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities of providing the required supplies and services. Quoters shall provide the following for each line item in their response, as applicable: (a) part and serial number; (b) part description; (c) period of warranty; (d) place of manufacture; (e) total price; (f) any applicable discounts; and (g) any other information that is relevant to the award decision.

Additionally, the following information shall be included on the first page of Quoter’s response:

1. Company’s Full Name and Address

2. Company’s DUNS Number and CAGE Code

3. Name, Telephone Number, and Email Address of Person Authorized to Provide

Quote

Delivery Requirements

(vii) The contractor shall deliver and install the Equipment within 60 days after receipt of order. The equipment shall be delivered and installed at 35 Convent Drive, Building 35, Room 3B1010, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, between the hours of 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, local prevailing time, Monday through Friday. The Contractor shall deliver and install the required equipment in coordination with Government officials. Delivery must be FOB destination and include inside delivery. Delivery must include inside installation. On-site training must take place within two (2) weeks of equipment installation. The contractor shall provide an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certified service technician to perform setup, installation, and an on-site 1-day training session for 10 staff members.

Quotation Format

(ix) It is recommended that all Quoters structure their quotations using the following approximate format:

Nikon TI2-E Inverted Microscope (includes delivery, setup and installation, training on Equipment, and warranty for a period of at least twelve (12) months from the date of acceptance)

Total Price : $____

Applicability of FAR clause 52.212-1

(x) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Applicability of FAR clause 52.212-2

(xi) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following evaluation factor information is provided as an addendum:

(a) The Government will evaluate your quotation and conformance to the RFQ’s requirements. This evaluation will include all stated terms, conditions, and other information required in this RFQ, and a determination that the Quoter is responsible.

(b) Comparative Evaluation. The Government may perform a comparative evaluation (comparing offers to each other) in accordance with FAR 13.106-2(b)(3) to select the contractor that is best suited and provides the best value, considering the evaluation factors in this solicitation. The Government will award a contract resulting from th is 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:

• Offeror has provided brand-name or equal items as described in Attachment 1 - Purchase Description.

(c) If the Quoter (1) fails or refuses to assent to any term, (2) proposes additional terms, or (3) fails to submit or omits material information required by this RFQ, then the Government may consider your quotation UNACCEPTABLE.

(d) The Government will evaluate quotations 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).

The Government must then determine that the total price is fair and reasonable, taking into consideration any price reductions offered by the Quoter.

Applicability of FAR clause 52.212-3

(xii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certif ications – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Applicability of FAR clause 52.212-4

(xiii) The FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

Applicability of FAR clause 52.212-5

(xiv) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders–Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The specific clauses of FAR clause 52.212-5 that apply to this acquisition are listed in Attachment 2 - Additional Terms and Conditions.

Applicability of FAR clause 52.212-6

(xiv) FAR clause at 52.212-6, Brand Name or Equal, applies to this acquisition. Please see Attachment 1 - Purchase Description for more information.

Additional Contract Requirements

(xv) Contractor shall warrant that the Equipment will be free from material defects for a period of at least twelve (12) months from the date of acceptance. All service performed on this equipment shall be provided by certified and factory trained technicians.

Technicians shall have the ability to diagnose the systems on site via remote access.

Contractor shall provide any required replacement components due to malfunctions on-site. The Quoter shall provide repairs as necessary during the warranty period and will be responsible for all parts, labor, and associated travel costs. Warranty shall not include routine or periodic maintenance services.

The Quoter shall provide an OEM-certified service technician to perform setup and installation. An OEM technician must also provide on-site training within two (2) weeks of equipment installation.

The Quoter shall include its Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), Taxpayer Identif ication Number (TIN), and certif ication of business size in its response, and have an active SAM registration, which can be accessed at www.sam.gov.

The Quoter shall complete and sign the Offeror Representations and Certifications in Attachment 3 and submit same with its quote.

Finally, the successful Quoter shall submit all invoices in accordance with Attachment 4

– Standard Invoice Instructions. Payment of invoices will be made in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act (31 U.S.C. 3903).

Applicability of Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS)

(xvi) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement.

http://www.sam.gov/ https://uscode.house.gov/browse.xhtml;jsessionid=114A3287C7B3359E597506A31FC855B3

Response Deadline

(xvii) All responses must be received by September 10, 2021 at 02:30 pm EDT and reference solicitation number NIH-NINDS-CSS-21-009403. Responses shall be submitted electronically to Jeremy Tran at jeremy.tran@nih.gov.

Fax responses will NOT be accepted.

Solicitation Point of Contact

(xviii) Jeremy Tran, Contract Specialist

Phone: 301-827-5161 Email: jeremy.tran@nih.gov

Any questions regarding this RFQ must be submitted electronically to the listed point of contact. Fax submissions will NOT be accepted.

Commercial Provisions/Clauses

(xix) Please be advised that the National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a Federal agency. Your mass-market commercial sales and/or license agreement terms and conditions may include provisions that are customarily found in the commercial sector, but which are not appropriate for a contract with a Federal agency. Specifically, NIH considers any provision in your mass-market commercial sales and/or license agreement terms and conditions to be inappropriate and unenforceable that:

(1) Contravenes a right granted NIH under U.S. copyright law (e.g., fair use, right to archive, copying for interlibrary loan),

(2) Violated the Federal Acquisition Regulation or other Federal law (e.g., Antideficiency Act, Principles of Federal Appropriations Law),

(3) Departs from reasonable consumer expectations, or

(4) Violates fundamental public policy.

NIH shall assume that you agree with the statements herein if you submit a quotation and accept NIH's purchase order.

IMPORTANT

(xx) This RFQ does not commit the Government to pay any costs incurred in the preparation of the submission of a quotation or to contract for supplies or services.

Attachments

(xxi) Attachment 1 – Purchase Description

Attachment 2 – Additional Terms and Conditions

Attachment 3 – Offeror Representations and Certif ications

Attachment 4 – Standard Invoice Instructions mailto:jeremy.tran@nih.gov