Notice to Sole Source - Asylum Research.docx

GENERAL INFORMATION/CLASSIFICATION

ISSUED BY: National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA)

DESCRIPTION:

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression (LRBGE), plans to procure, on a sole source basis, plans to upgrade its Oxford/Asylum microscope through procuring a Cypher S to Cypher VRS Upgrade package from:

Asylum Research, an Oxford Instruments Company 7416 Hollister Ave Santa Barbara, CA 93117

The response close date of the notice for this requirement is in accordance with FAR 5.203(b). This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 – Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR Part 13.106-1 (b)(1) and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing and the business size standard is 1,000 employees.

The Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression (LRBGE), NCI plans to upgrade its Oxford/Asylum microscope through procuring a Cypher S to Cypher VRS Upgrade package which includes system upgrade from existing Backpack electronics, VRS1250 Sample Stage, and 10X USC-F1.2-k0.15 high-speed AFM probes.

The LRBGE research program concerns the elucidation of mechanisms involved in the regulation of receptor biology and gene expression during oncogenesis. For these studies, very small amounts of nucleic acids and proteins from cancer cells and patient tumor samples will be used. LRBGE has an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) for nano-particle analyses such as nano-indentation, chromatin and nucleosomal structure studies, however, currently cannot examine dynamics which requires a high speed VRS setup that can scan and capture at high rates. The VRS upgrade will allow LRBGE to visualize and analyze nucleosome/DNA/chromatin changes at near real time. Therefore, Asylum Research is the only known source that meet NCI’s needs at this time.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party, especially a small business, believes it can meet the Government’s needs, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quote for the Government to consider. The response and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient details to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to Contract Specialist, David Romley, at David.Romley@nih.gov no later than 12:00 P.M. EST on Thursday, August 15, 2024 (8/15/24). A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. The Government reserves the right to use the information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. To receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid certification through SAM.GOV. Please reference the notice number 75N91024Q00165 on all correspondence.

***Please reference attached Statement of Need for more details pertaining to the nature of the work to be performed.*** Notice of Intent to Sole Source