RFQ for Mass Specrometer (Sept 12th).pdf

Request for Quotation (RFQ)

Solicitation ID: RFQ-NIAID-SS-24-2220777

VPP Mass Spectrometer Replacement – Brand Name or Equal

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 12.6 “Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items”, as applicable, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; (a written solicitation will not be issued) and quotations (quotes) are being requested. The solicitation number is RFQ-NIAID-SS-24-2220777 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ).

This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures, FAR

Subpart 13.5 – Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items. The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular

FAC 2024-06 Effective August 29, 2024.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516 –

Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1,000 in employees. This requirement is not set-aside for small business. The Government anticipates making a single award Firm Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order. By submission of a quote, the

Offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered and viewable in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment resulting from this solicitation (www.sam.gov).

STATEMENT OF NEED

The proposed purchase is for Brand Name or Equal products/services.

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) conducts and supports basic and applied research to better understand, treat, and ultimately prevent infectious, immunologic, and allergic diseases. For more than 50 years, NIAID research has led to new therapies, vaccines, diagnostic tests, and other technologies that have improved the health of millions of people in the

United States and around the world. In the last decade, with increased emphasis in the last three years due to a world-wide pandemic, it has become a priority of NIAID to utilize new vaccine modalities, such as mRNA-LNP based vaccines, to combat emerging infectious diseases. The

Vaccine Production Program (VPP) is the development arm of the Vaccine Research Center

(VRC). The mission of the VRC is to create and develop potentially lifesaving vaccines for HIV, Ebola, Zika, and other known pathogens and get these potentially lifesaving products into the clinic. The Mass Spectrometry group within Analytical Development provides critical support for the Cell Culture, Cell Line, Downstream, and Formulations groups within the VPP. Due the nature of their expertise, the Mass Spectrometry group also provides support for collaborators outside the VPP and outside NIH. In Quarter one (1) of Fiscal Year 2024, one of the VPP mass spectrometers reached its end of life and was decommissioned. In order to maintain and improve current mass spectrometry capabilities and provide redundancy for high demand mass spectrometry workflows, a replacement mass spectrometer is needed. Specifically, NIAID, VRC, VPP is seeking one (1) Brand Name or Equal Bruker Daltonics Mass Spectrometer Model timsTOF flex.

The acquisition of a new mass spectrometer ensures continued support for all programs such as

Ebola, Zika, and HIV, Flu, Covid vaccine development in VPP/ VRC, and external collaborators.

The acquisition of a replacement mass spectrometer will also provide redundancy for high-demand mass spectrometry workflows so that failure of one mass spectrometer does not result in significant analytical downtime.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Delivery of equipment is preferred as soon as possible and required within 30 days after receipt of award – estimated October 30, 2024. Installation and all services must be completed by

October 30, 2024.

SHIPPING/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

Delivery location is FOB Destination: Vaccine Production Program, VRC/NIAID/NIH, 9 West

Watkins Mill Road, Suite 200, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. All equipment delivered shall contain a

Packing Slip.

INSTRUCTIONS

All interested vendors shall provide a quote for the requirement as outlined in this solicitation.

All quotes shall include:

1. Price(s) (unit price, extended price, total price)

2. Shipping fees

3. Manufacturing country of origin of the products, including components

4. Documentation demonstrating vendor is either the manufacturer or authorized distributor/reseller of the product(s)

5. Estimated date of delivery

6. Point of contact: name, phone number & email

7. Unique Entity ID (UEI) and cage code from active SAM.gov registration

8. Business size under NAICS 334516

9. Payment terms

Each response must clearly indicate the capability of the vendor to meet all specifications and requirements. The Government will evaluate only those quotes that fully meet the requirements as outlined above and respond to the solicitation instructions and requirements. Failure to furnish a full and complete quote as instructed will result in the Quoter’s response being considered non-responsive and will therefore be eliminated from further consideration and award.

If providing an equal product(s)/services(s), please supply descriptive data for evaluation purposes to determine the validity of how it is an EQUAL. The following FAR provision applies to this a solicitation FAR 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999):

(a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as "brand name or equal," the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government’s needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that

"equal" products must meet are specified in the solicitation.

(b) To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must-

(1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation;

(2) Clearly identify the item by-

(i) Brand name, if any; and

(ii) Make or model number;

(3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and

(4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications.

(c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate "equal" products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting

Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.

(d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an

"equal" product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation.

(End of provision)

Quotes are due by 3:00 PM EST on September 19, 2024. Quotes must be emailed to Linda

Smith, Contracting Officer at linda.smith2@nih.gov and Uju Obii-Obioha, Contract Specialist at uju.obii-obioha@nih.gov. Late quotes will not be considered. All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by this Agency. Any questions or concerns regarding this combined synopsis/solicitation should be emailed by September 17, 2024 at 12:00 PM EST to uju.obii-obioha@nih.gov and linda.smith2@nih.gov.

mailto:linda.smith2@nih.gov mailto:uju.obii-obioha@nih.gov mailto:uju.obii-obioha@nih.gov mailto:linda.smith2@nih.gov

EVALUATION

NIAID will evaluate quotes to determine the best value to the government. NIAID will make that determination based on technical acceptability, past performance, and price. NIAID will evaluate past performance and price only for those quotes which are rated as technically acceptable. In the event quotes are evaluated as technically equal, past performance, and price will become major considerations in selecting the successful Quoter.

SPECIAL NOTICE TO QUOTERS

Quoters are advised that the Government may share your information with non-government personnel who are assisting with the evaluation of quotes. The exclusive responsibility for source selection will reside with the Government. By submitting your quote, you will be consenting to disclosure of your quote to non-government personnel for purposes of evaluation.

ELECTRONIC INVOICING

The successful vendor may submit an invoice once a shipment is delivered. NIAID will only accept invoices for completed services and units that have been delivered to NIAID.

NIH is using a phased transition approach from the NIH Office of Financial Management

(OFM) Electronic Invoice Submission instructions to the Department of Treasury’s

Invoice Processing Platform (IPP). For contractors that have transitioned to IPP, the

Contractor must submit invoices to the Department of Treasury's Invoice Processing

Platform (IPP) at https://www.ipp.gov. For contractors that have not transitioned to IPP, the Contractor shall submit invoices to the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/Office of

Financial Management (OFM) via email at invoicing@nih.gov with a copy to the approving official until the Contractor has been notified of its transition to IPP.

PROVISIONS AND CLAUSES

FAR 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998)

This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

https://www.acquisition.gov/

FAR 52.203-18 – Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal

Confidentiality Agreements or Statements – Representations (Jan 2017) https://www.ipp.gov/ https://ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Home.aspx https://ofm.od.nih.gov/Pages/Home.aspx mailto:invoicing@nih.gov https://www.acquisition.gov/

FAR 52.204-7 – System for Award Management (Oct 2018)

FAR 52.204-16 – Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Aug 2020)

FAR 52.204-24 – Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video

Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021)

FAR 52.204-26 – Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation. (Oct

2020)

FAR 52.209-7 – Information Regarding Responsibility Matters (Oct 2018)

FAR 52.211-6 – Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999)

FAR 52.212-1 – Instructions to Offerors – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (Sep

2023)

FAR 52.212-3 – Offeror Representations and Certification – Commercial Products and

Commercial Services (May 2024)

The following HHSAR provision is applicable and provided in full text below:

HHSAR 352.239-78 INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

ACCESSIBILITY NOTICE (FEB 2024) (DEVIATION)

(a) Any offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS Information and Communication Technology (ICT) accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/index.html.

(b) The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this solicitation are stated in the clause at 352.239-79 Information and Communication Technology Accessibility. In order to facilitate the Government’s determination whether proposed ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, and documentation meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an appropriate HHS Section 508 Accessibility Conformance Checklist (see https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html) or an Accessibility

Conformance Report (ACR) (based on the Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT) see https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat), in accordance with the completion instructions. The purpose of the checklists and conformance reports are to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed ICT supplies, products, platforms, information, and documentation conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards.

Checklists and ACRs evaluate—in detail—whether the ICT conforms to specific Section 508 accessibility standards and identifies remediation efforts needed to address conformance issues.

(c) If an offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support delivered do not conform to the described accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies, products, platforms, information, documentation, or services support to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(d) In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed ICT supplies meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an Accessibility https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/index.html https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html https://www.itic.org/policy/accessibility/vpat

Conformance Report, in accordance with its completion instructions and tailored to the requirements in the solicitation. The purpose of the Report is to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed ICT supplies conform to applicable Section

508 accessibility standards. The template allows offerors or developers to self-evaluate their supplies and document, in detail, whether they conform to a specific Section 508 accessibility standard, and any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues. Instructions for preparing the HHS Section 508 Evaluation Template are available at https://Section508.gov/.

(e) In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed ICT services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must provide enough information to assist the Government in determining that the ICT services conform to Section 508 accessibility standards, including any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues.

(f) Respondents to this solicitation must identify any inability to conform to Section 508 requirements. If an offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies or services delivered do not conform to the described accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(g) Items delivered as electronic content must be accessible to HHS acceptance criteria.

Checklist for various formats are available at http://508.hhs.gov/. Materials, other than items incidental to contract management, that are final items for delivery should be accompanied by the appropriate checklist, except upon approval of the Contracting Officer or Contracting

Officer’s Representative.

(End of provision)

FAR 52.252-2 – Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998)

This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this/these address(es):

https://www.acquistion.gov/

FAR 52.204-13 – System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)

FAR 52.204-18 – Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020)

FAR 52.212-4 – Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Products and Commercial

Services (Nov 2023)

By reference the Department of Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR) provisions and clauses that are applicable to this requirement. Copies are available from http://www.hhs.gov/policies/hhsar/:

https://section508.gov/ https://www.acquistion.gov/ http://www.hhs.gov/policies/hhsar/

Clauses

HHSAR 352.222-70 – Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations

(December 18, 2015)

By full text the Department of Health and Human Services Acquisition Regulation (HHSAR):

HHSAR 352.232-71 – Electronic Submission of Payment Requests (February 2, 2022)

HHSAR 352.239-79 – Information and Communication Technology Accessibility (Feb 2024)

(DEVIATION)

The following additional clauses are applicable to this requirement and provided in full text as

Attachments:

FAR 52.212-5 – Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Status or Executive

Orders – Commercial Products and Commercial Services (May 2024)

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – Salient Characteristics

Attachment 2 – Full Text Clauses