SOW_Solicitation_Draft.docx

Statement of Work Liquid Handling System The National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) requires a liquid handling laboratory instrument to conduct research and experiments. The instrument will be used to transfer small volumes of liquid (2.5 nL) from multi-well source plates (96-, 384-, or 1536-well) to multi-well destination plates or to solid agar surfaces.

1. Scope of Work The contractor shall deliver the instrument to NIST located in Palo Alto, CA and provide installation and training. Four (4) one-year options for maintenance services are also included.

2. Specifications

1. For well-to-well transfers, the instrument shall array liquid from any well in the source plate to any well in the destination plate; in amounts as small as 2.5nL.

2. For well-to-agar transfers, the instrument shall array liquid from any well in the source plate to a defined location on the agar plate with enough accuracy to create an array of droplets at a pitch of 500nm (500nm between the center of each droplet).

3. The instrument shall not require tips, nozzles, or pin tools to transfer liquids which eliminates the possibility of samples adhering to the tips, tip carryover, or tip leachates entering the sample.

4. The instrument shall transfer samples from a source plate to a destination plate. The instrument shall be able to transfer reagents in the following ways:

a. One well to one well for plate replication in 96, 384 and 1536 well patterns.

b. One well to many wells to distribute solutions to destination plates containing 1-1536 wells or target locations.

c. Any well to any well which enables cherry picking, hit picking, and reformatting of solutions to destination plates containing 1-1536 wells or target locations.

5. The instrument can transfer 2.5 nL - 10 μL of fluid into each well.

6. The instrument can transfer 2.5 nL volume increments with a drop transfer volume accuracy <10% and a CV <8%.

7. The instrument has a hydration accuracy of <8% deviation from target and hydration precision of <5% CV.

8. The instrument shall perform analysis to determine the height and fluid composition of the fluid in each well. This analysis calculates the power required to successfully transfer the fluid from each well during the fluid transfer operation.

9. The instrument shall measure hydration of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) and reports the hydration level as a DMSO percentage in each well of the microplate. This enables the end user to monitor the quality of the compound library.

10. The instrument shall report the fluid height, detected volume, and the list of any wells that the system was unable to transfer during the transfer operation.

11. The instrument shall perform rapid transfer of compounds, samples, and reagents used in drug discovery, high content imaging studies, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion – Toxicity (ADMET) studies, gene expression, genotyping, synthetic biology, biochemical assays, cell based assays, sequencing applications, and protein crystallography screens. Example of fluids that the instrument transfers include 70-100% DMSO, salts, proteins, small molecules, compounds, nucleic acids, simple buffers, viscous fluids, 0-50% glycerol, genomics reagents, biochemical reagents, oligonucleotides, and surfactants. Transfer of 2.5nL from 384 wells in less than one minute shall be required.

12. The instrument shall transfer solutions to locations on a surface with or without material present including slides, agar surfaces, microfluidics devices, dry destination wells, or wells that already contain fluids/samples.

13. The instrument shall perform rapid cherry picking for uses in applications such as pooling of samples, libraries, and barcodes for next-generation sequencing preparations and hit picking in drug discovery. Transfer of 2.5nL from 384 wells in less than one minute shall be required.

14. The instrument shall transfer multiple fluid types and volumes from one plate into another plate enabling rapid assay creation from one source plate.

15. The instrument shall perform direct dilutions which enables the elimination of steps when creating standard curves required in some assays including dose response curves, gene expression assays, and biochemical reactions.

16. The instrument shall transfer an array onto Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization (MALDI) chips and glass slides.

17. The instrument shall allow the installation of a barcode reader inside the instrument to scan microplate barcodes.

18. The instrument shall integrate with the Access Laboratory Workstation with the capability to add the following items in the future: Plate Sealer, Plate Peeler, Plate Dispenser, Centrifuge and Microplate Storage Rack. Configurations include plate handling devices, microplate storage racks, plate handling robots, accessory hotels, and modular workstation tables.

19. The instrument shall integrate with 3rd party robotics platforms through its application software, specifically the BioTek MultiFlo Dispenser. Capability to add the following items in the future: Plate Sealer; Plate Peeler; Centerifuge; and Microplate Storage Rack.

20. Instrument software shall contain applications that allow for plate replication, plate reformatting, custom assay creation, creation of multipoint curves with controls or references and replicate curves, transfer of fluids from any well to any well, anchor screening, synergistic screening, grid screening, ability to compare characteristics of samples within or across plates, ability to graphically design custom patterns for bottom of microplate wells, slides, or agar plates.

3. Installation and Training The contractor shall install the instrument at NIST in Palo Alto, CA and provide a training session for NIST personnel by qualified engineers and scientists. A user manual shall also be provided prior to departure.

4. Warranty The contractor shall provide a one-year warranty for the instrument that includes all parts, labor, software, one preventative maintenance visit, and travel costs associated with all visits. The contractor shall contact the NIST Technical Point of Contact to schedule the preventive maintenance visit at least 10 days prior to the visit.

5. Options for Maintenance Services The contractor shall provide maintenance services for the liquid handling instrument and associated software. The services include all parts, labor, software, one preventative maintenance visit, and travel costs associated with all visits. The contractor shall contact the NIST Technical Point of Contact to schedule the preventive maintenance visit at least 10 days prior to the visit.

The contractor shall respond to an unlimited number of requests for service calls in the event of instrument failure which requires immediate repair. The contractor shall provide travel, labor, and any factory-certified parts that require replacement.

A service technician shall provide on-site service at NIST Stanford location within three business days after a service call is placed. In the event that the Contractor is unable to resolve the problem during the service call, the Contractor shall provide telephone support and on-site support as needed to expedite a solution for NIST. The Contractor is responsible for obtaining all parts required for all repairs and maintenance. The Contractor shall make a reasonable effort to secure parts within 24 hours after identifying the need for a replacement part for the covered equipment.

All repairs must result in the instruments meeting manufacturer’s specifications detailed in Section 2.

Any parts or components removed for replacement shall become the property of the Contractor unless otherwise agreed to by the parties. The Contractor shall remove the parts from the NIST site at the time of the service call, or provide shipping instructions and return shipping information that NIST may return the parts to the Contractor within 3 days after the service visit is completed. The Contractor shall assume all charges and liability for all shipments.

6. Period of Performance

Instrument: Delivery of instrument, installation and training completed within 60 days after award

Option Year 1: Begins after exercise of option for a period of one year. Option must be exercised concurrent with expiration of warranty period but not later than 30 days after expiration of warranty period.

Option Year 2: Begins after exercise of option for a period of one year.

Option Year 3: Begins after exercise of option for a period of one year.

Option Year 4: Begins after exercise of option for a period of one year.

7. Submission of Service Report

The Contractor shall submit a service report to the designated TPOC prior to departure from NIST on any given service call for maintenance and repairs. The service report shall include the following for all instrument repairs and maintenance:

1. Model number.

2. Serial number.

3. Date and time of arrival to NIST.

4. Description of service performed.

5. Name and quantity of any parts that were repaired.

6. Name and quantity of any parts that were replaced.

7. Date and time of departure from NIST.

8. Diagnostic test results or narrative summary demonstrating that the instrument is meeting the performance standards.

9. Any additional comments or recommendations.

10. Printed name and signature of service technician 11. Signature block for NIST personnel accepting the services rendered.

8. Acceptance Criteria and Payment Formal acceptance of the system will be given at the time that NIST determines all performance standards in this statement of work have been met. NIST will have 60 days following completed delivery, installation, and training to make this evaluation. During this time, the system will be evaluated to determine if it meets the minimum requirements of technical capability outlined in the “Evaluation Criteria and Basis for Award” document in conjunction with the information in the Contractor-provided quotation on how the system can be used to meet these requirements.

Advance payment is not authorized. The contractor may invoice after receipt and acceptance of the required deliverables. Partial payments are authorized, provided the deliverables being invoices have been accepted by NIST. For the optional maintenance periods, the contractor may bill monthly or quarterly in arrears.

9. General Information Safety: The Contractor employee shall be responsible for knowing and complying with NIST installation safety prevention regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal.

Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and also is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus.

Identification Badges: Contractor employees shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. Each Contractor employee shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office.

Vehicle Registration: All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver’s license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass shall be displayed on the vehicle’s rear view mirror in accordance with instructions.