RFQ-NIAID-25-2266790.pdf

Request for Quotation (RFQ) Solicitation ID: RFQ-NIAID-25-2266790 AMBR 250 System Laboratory Supplies

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition will be made 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-25-2266790 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation

(RFQ).

This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP).

The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 2025-05 Effective August 7, 2025.

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.

STATEMENT OF NEED

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC), Vaccine Immunology Program (VIP) is an intramural research component that is dedicated to translating the latest concepts in disease pathogenesis and immunology into new vaccine strategies by conducting basic, translational, and clinical research dedicated to improving public health through discovery, design, and development of vaccines of public health importance. The VRC has full bench-to-bedside capabilities that enable rapid clinical evaluation of VRC discoveries. The VRC’s Vaccine Production Program Laboratory has process, formulation, and analytical development groups and oversees cGMP manufacturing at the VRC’s pilot plant.

Within the VRC, the Vaccine Production Program (VPP) group is responsible for developing a scale able GMP process. The items requested need to be standardized with what will be utilized in the VRC’s pilot plant and applicable to a GMP process and analytical standards that are used to characterize and release Cell Line Development and Cell Culture Development supplies in support of the VPP’s therapeutic and vaccine candidates for the period of August 2025 to August 2026. The supplies are replacements for the existing AMBR 250 system. VPP requests receiving these supplies in 4 shipments. The products must be compatible with the Ambr®250 automated bioreactor system for process development with 12 or 24 fully features single use 100 – 250 mL mini bioreactors. Ambr®250 High Throughput is an enhanced parallel microbial or cell culture system using 100 – 250 mL single use bioreactors with a fully automated liquid handling platform. The system provides a high precision environment that supports the demands of microbial fermentation and mammalian cultures. Ambr®250 High Throughput provides an efficient and rapid scale down system to explore a wide range of conditions and strains with scalability to both bench top and larger stirred tank bioreactors.

Specifically, NIAID, VRC, VPP is seeking supplies detailed in the Bill of Materials (BOM) below. These consumables will be used with the Sartorius AMBR 250 Automated Mammalian Bio Reactor System:

# Description Part Quantity

Ambr 250 High Throughput 24 way Bioreactor Tube Kit

001-2G48

Ambr 250 High Throughput, 12 Reagent Bottles, 175mL

001-2G50

3 Ambr250 Reagent Bottle, 1L, 12/pk 001-2G51 10

Ambr250 High Throughput, Disposable Tips, 5 racks of 24 tips, 10mL, irradiated

001-2G78

Ambr250 Mammalian Vessels, pack of

001-5G21

6 PES- AMBR - 10kda 3MA1463910 10

7 PES- AMBR - 30kda 3MA1465910 10

8 PES- AMBR - 100kda 3MA1466810 10

9 RC - AMBR - 10kda 3MA1443910 10

10 RC - AMBR - 30kda 3MA1445910 10

11 RC - AMBR - 100kda 3MA1446810 10

12 RC - AMBR - 300kda 3MA1447910 6

13 Ambr Disposable Bioreactors 001-7B01 4

14 1 mL Disposable Tips A-0040 10

15 5 mL Disposable Tips A-0039 10

16 24-Well - Deep Well Plates A-0038 6

17 4-row plates A-0067 6

18 1-well Plates A-0068 6

19 Reagent Kit, pH 001-4B60 6

20 pH and Reference Electrodes 001-4B80 6

21 Shipping N/a

22 Tariffs & Surcharges N/a

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Delivery of supplies is preferred as soon as possible and required within 30 days after receipt of award.

SHIPPING/DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS

Delivery location is FOB Destination: The VPP, 9 West Watkins Mill Road, Suite 200/250, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. All equipment delivered shall contain a Packing Slip.

INSTRUCTIONS

All interested vendors shall provide a quote valid for at least 60 days for the requirement as outlined in this solicitation and in the listed Bill of Materials. All quotes shall include:

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

2. Shipping fees and tariff 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

10. Response to all requirements outlined in the BOM and instructions for the quote to be accepted as responsive.

11. All manufacturers and serial number must be listed for each piece of equipment quoted per line.

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.

Quotes are due by 3:30 PM EST on September 5, 2025. All quotations and required documents must be submitted via the NIAID electronic Simplified Acquisition Submission System (eSASS) website at https://esass.nih.gov. All vendors must register in the eSASS system to submit a quotation. Instructions on how to register / submit a quote are included on the website. Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 25.212-1(f). 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 2, 2025 at 3:30 PM EST to zachary.fetters@nih.gov.

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).

EVALUATION

NIAID will evaluate quotes to determine the best value to the government. NIAID will make that determination based on technical acceptability, price, and delivery schedule. NIAID will evaluate price and delivery schedule only for those quotes which are rated as technically acceptable. In the event quotes are evaluated as technically equal, price and delivery schedule 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) FAR 52.204-7 – System for Award Management (Nov 2024) 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)

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 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)

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/:

Clauses HHSAR 352.203-70 – Anti-lobbying (December 18, 2015) HHSAR 352.208-70 – Printing and Duplication (December 18, 2015) 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)

LIST OF ATTACHMENTS

Attachment 1 – FAR 52.212-5 FEB 2025 DEVIATION Terms and Conditions