NIHLM2015620_Custom-built_NMR.pdf

NOTICE NUMBER: NIHLM2015620

Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, National institutes of Health, National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), NIDDK Acquisitions Branch, 6707 Democracy Boulevard, II Democracy Plaza, Suite 700W, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.

Description: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) intends to procure on a sole source basis with Dr. Peter Gor’kov of 3251 Shamrock Street, E. Tallahassee, Florida 32309.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Library of Medicine (NLM), Solid State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Biomolecular Physics (SSNMRBP) Section of the Laboratory of Chemical Physics, NIDDK, requires a solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) probe device that inserts into a 750 MHz (17.6 Tesla) NMR magnet, and contains the radio-frequency (RF) circuitry for NMR measurements, the protein sample of interest, and a pneumatic module for rapid “magic angle spinning” (MAS) of the sample. A custom-built solid state NMR probe is required because standard, commercially available probes do not have adequate specifications for experiments in SSNM RBP. Detailed specifications are given in section 3.0 below.

Background: SSNMRBP uses solid state NMR measurements to investigate the molecular structures of disease-related protein assemblies, including assemblies formed by HIV-1 proteins and amyloid fibrils formed by peptides and proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease and type 2 diabetes. Solid state NMR measurements require highly specialized equipment, including solid state NMR probes that have high signal detection sensitivity, high RF field homogeneity, capabilities for high-speed MAS, and capabilities for high-power RF irradiation of hydrated protein assemblies without significant sample heating. The performance characteristics of the solid state NMR probes are crucial for the success of research in SSNMRBP. Currently, members of SSNMRBP use a 17.6 Tesla NMR magnet in NIH building 5 for solid state NMR experiments on protein assemblies. Although two solid state NMR probes for the 17.6 Tesla NMR magnet currently exist in SSNMRBP, these existing probes do not have adequate performance characteristics for ongoing research. For this reason, a custom-built solid state NMR probe with specifications described below is required.

Objective: The objective of this order is to procure a custom-built solid state NMR probe for use with an existing 17.6 Tesla NMR magnet. The probe will be used in structural studies of protein assemblies. The probe must meet the following requirements:

1. The probe must contain RF circuitry for triple-resonance solid state NMR experiments at NMR frequencies of 1H, 13C, and 15N nuclei in a 17.6 Tesla field. The RF circuitry must be optimized for RF efficiency and signal detection sensitivity. In particular, RF fields of 100 kHz must be achievable with <350 W input power in the 1H channel and <240 W input power in the 13C channel. RF fields of 55 kHz must be achievable with <400 W input power in the 15N channel. The RF circuitry design must also allow operation at other combinations of NMR frequencies, by swapping tuning cards.

2. The RF coil design must be optimized for both signal detection sensitivity on 13C and 15N channels and low sample heating from RF irradiation on the 1H channel.

The RF coil design must also produce homogeneous RF fields, as characterized by nutation experiments on full sample rotors (36 microliter volume). On the 1H channel, the signal amplitude ratio for 810 degree and 90 degree nutations must be greater than 0.90. On the 13C channel, the signal amplitude ratio for 810 degree and 90 degree nutations must be greater than 0.80. Specifically, the probe must contain an outer 1H resonator and inner 13C/15N solenoid as described in the following publication: Journal of Magnetic Resonance, volume 197, pages 135-144, year 2009. (Experiments at the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory by members of SSNMRBP have shown that this RF coil design is optimal for their research.)

3. The probe must be capable of spinning 3.2 mm outer diameter sample rotors with a “pencil rotor” design at frequencies up to 24 kHz for rotors with 22 microliter sample volumes, and up to 18 kHz for rotors with 36 microliter sample volumes.

(This “pencil rotor” specification is needed for compatibility with solid state NMR probes used by SSNMRBP in other NMR magnets in NIH buildings 5 and 8.)

4. The dimensions of the probe must be compatible with an existing 17.6 Tesla NMR magnet (54 mm bore) containing Bruker room-temperature shims, located in NIH building 5. The MAS tachometer signal from the probe must be compatible with an existing Bruker MAS controller. The temperature sensor and heater for temperature control within the probe must be compatible with an existing Bruker temperature controller.

Description of Tasks: The solid state NMR probe will be designed and constructed by Dr. Peter Gor’kov. Dr. Gor’kov will ship the probe to SSNMRBP. The probe will be installed in the existing 17.6 Tesla NMR magnet and connected to other existing equipment for solid state NMR measurements by SSNMRBP personnel. Any necessary information regarding the dimensions of the existing magnet or connections to other existing equipment (to ensure compatibility) will be furnished to Dr. Gor’kov by SSNMRBP personnel.

Period of Performance: Date of award thru anticipated delivery date of December 1, 2016 or earlier.

Inspection and Acceptance: The Contracting Officer Representative (COR) will perform inspection and acceptance of materials to be provided. Receiving will be completed no later than 7 days following date of Delivery, and DOES NOT constitute acceptance and Delivery. Acceptance and Delivery will be complete once the signed packing slip is provided to the Vendor.

Inspection and acceptance will be performed at the place of installation - National Institutes of Health, NIDDK, 9000 Rockville Pike, Maryland 20892.

Type of Acquisition: This acquisition will be processed in accordance with Simplified Acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b) (1).

North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS): 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services); the business size standard is $7 Million.

Award Type: Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm-fixed price type contract. The period of performance shall be from date of award thru anticipated delivery date of December 1, 2016 or earlier.

Disclaimer: This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believed they can meet the above requirement, they may submit a statement of capabilities. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NIDDK to determine if it can meet the above unique specifications described herein.

Common Cut-off Date: One original and two copies of the capability statement must be received in the NIDDK Acquisitions Branch on or before 11:00 AM EST by August 20, 2015. Electronic submissions in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) will be accepted or they can be mailed to the NIDDK Acquisitions Branch to the address stated above. All questions pertaining to this notice must be emailed to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer as follows:

Alex Navas Contract Specialist NIDDK Acquisitions Branch, OA, NLM National Institutes of Health anavas@mail.nlm.nih.gov

Valerie Whipple Contracting Officer Acting Branch Chief, NIDDK Acquisitions Branch, OA, NLM National Institutes of Health valerie.whipple@nih.gov

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractor must be registered and have valid certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) [formerly CCR] http://www.sam.gov . No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference solicitation number NIHLM2015620 on all correspondences.

Confidentiality - No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).