Notice_of_Intent_1.pdf

Notice of Intent to Sole Source

Solicitation Number: 75N94025Q00019 Solicitation Type: Sole Source (Non‐Competitive) Title: NICHD: Service: ImageXpress Pico Maintenance NAICS / Size Standard: 811210 / 34 Million

Introduction

THIS IS A PRE‐SOLICITATION NON‐COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Molecular Devices LLC to provide a ImageXpress Pico maintenance service agreement.

Background Information

The goal of the Section on Molecular Dysmorphology/Porter Lab is to advance therapeutic options for rare diseases. Approximately half of the Porter lab’s time and personnel are dedicated to screening potential therapeutic compounds in vitro as well as performing initial studies in culture models prior to more costly and in‐depth studies in mouse models. The most common and reliable readout measure for cell culture studies in NPC1 disease is determining whether cholesterol accumulation has been reduced.

An integral part of this workflow to assess cholesterol accumulation is the ImageXpress PICO machine. It was purchased and has functioned exceedingly well to accomplish rapid, reproducible quantification of immunofluorescent staining in cell culture experiments. This equipment is used extensively for quantification of fluorescent signals in cells in culture and the Porter lab relies on the PICO machine to carry out the aforementioned assessments.

Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of this contract is to obtain a preventative maintenance and service agreement for the ImageXpress Pico.

Period of Performance

The Period of Performance will be December 2, 2024 through December 1, 2025 with the potential for three option years as follows:

Option Year 1: December 2, 2025 through December 1, 2026 Option Year 2: December 2, 2026 through December 1, 2027 Option Year 3: December 2, 2027 through December 1, 2028

Contractor Requirements

The contractor needs to provide the following in their service maintenance agreement:

Unlimited service by Molecular Devices trained and qualified field service engineers

Molecular Devices factory‐approved parts

Parts, labor and travel for on‐site service

Priority response

Annual preventive maintenance

Loaner unit

Sole Source Justification

The PICO machine is a highly specialized instrument capable of accurate, reproducible quantification of immunofluorescent staining. Molecular Devices, LLC has the most indepth knowledge of the machine as well as the parts and expertise on hand to address and repair any malfunctions or issues that arise.

Molecular Devices provides immediate online support, priority response, and tracks the necessary maintenance for their fleet of devices, including the Porter lab’s PICO machine. Additionally, they have a global network of factory trained engineers that will provide on the ground assistance with any mechanical issues that impact functionality of the PICO machine. This equipment is used extensively in the lab, and its operation is critical in achieving the lab’s mission.

Regulatory Authority

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106‐1(b) Soliciting from a single source. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization).

FAR Clauses

The provision at FAR clause 52.212‐1, Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

The provision at FAR clause 52.212‐2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, is applicable. The Government will award a contract resulting from this notice to the offeror listed above. The following factors shall be used to evaluate the offer: The contractor shall demonstrate its ability to provide the detector listed that meets the specifications provided above.

FAR clause 52.212‐3, Offeror Representations and Certifications – Commercial Products and Commercial Services, is applicable. The Offeror shall complete only paragraph (b) of this provision if the Offeror has completed the annual representations and certification electronically in the System for Award Management (SAM) accessed through https://www.sam.gov. If the Offeror has not completed the annual representations and certifications electronically, the Offeror shall complete only paragraphs (c) through

(v) of this provision.

FAR clause at 52.212‐4, Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Products and Commercial Services applies to this acquisition.

FAR clause at 52.212‐5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders – Commercial Products and Commercial Services applies to this acquisition.

FAR 52.217‐9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract, is applicable to this award as follows:

(a) The Government may extend the term of this contract by written notice to the Contractor within the term of this contract; provided that the Government gives the Contractor a preliminary written notice of its intent to extend at least 10 days prior to contract expiration. The preliminary notice does not commit the Government to an extension.

(b) If the Government exercises this option, the extended contract shall be considered to include this option clause.

(c) The total duration of this contract, including the exercise of any options under this clause, shall not exceed four (4) years.

Additional Information

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 811210 and the Small Business Size Standard is 34 Million. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2024‐07 effective September 30, 2024.

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona‐fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.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. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non‐competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by November 25, 2024 5:00 PM ET and must reference solicitation number 75N94025Q00019. Responses shall be submitted electronically to nicole.freid@nih.gov. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.