SON - Cypher VRS - Sources Sought Notice.docx

STATEMENT OF NEED (SON)

1.0 TITLE

Atomic Force Microscope Upgrade to VRS1250 Package

2.0 BACKGROUND

The CSEM/LRGBE/CCR/NCI’s core mission focuses on understanding chromosome fragility, specifically with how the nucleoprotein complex called chromatin in vivo is mis-regulated. We are also currently investigation whether histone complexes can adopt alternate structural conformations in cancer cells, and the functional consequences of such alterations upon the cancer epigenome.

Understanding these mechanisms will rely heavily on our ability to visualize chromatin and nucleosomal dynamics at almost near real time with an AFM that is capable of scanning at high speeds and yield high frame rates to see changes as they occur.

3.0 TYPE OF ORDER

This shall be a Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order.

4.0 SPECIAL ORDER REQUIREMENTS

4.1 PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

VRS scanner (scans at 45 frames/second at Ångstrom resolution) VRS gas chamber (needed to scan with) VRS ambient chamber (needed to scan with) VRS probes (needed to scan with) VRS1250 Sample Stage (to mount sample) 10X USC-F1.2-k0.15 high-speed AFM probes (needed to scan with)

4.2 DELIVERY / INSTALLATION

Item shall be delivered within 30 days of purchase order award.

The address for delivery is:

National Institutes of Health

Note that access to the NIH campus is restricted. As such, all Contractor personnel will be required to access campus via designated entrances where they are subject to security screening. Also, due to the current COVID-19 Pandemic there maybe additional access restrictions. Please refer to the NIH Security and Access site for more details: (www.nih.gov/about-nih/visitor-information/campus-access-security).

responsible in the event charges are not included in the quote.

• Installation charges must be included in the quote.

4.3 TRAINING

Half-day training will commence after completed purchase.

4.4 WARRANTY

The Contractor shall warrant that any instruments, equipment, components, or other supplies (“Supplies”) procured by this purchase are free of defects in design, material, or manufacture for a period of 12-months from date of installation.

The Contractor shall warrant that all consumables or expendable parts are free of defects in design, material, or manufacture for a period of at least 90 calendar days from date of acceptance by the Government.

Supplies which are repaired or replaced shall be warranted for the remainder of the initial warranty period or for 90-days – whichever is greater. 2-months of Technical Support shall be included in the warranty.

4.5 INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE

Pursuant to FAR clause 52.212-4, all work described in the SOW to be delivered under this purchase order is subject to final inspection and acceptance by an authorized representative of the Government. The authorized representative of the Government is the NCI Technical Point of Contact (TPOC):

TBD:

The TPOC is responsible for inspection and acceptance of all services, materials, or supplies to be provided by the Contractor.

Regardless of format, all digital content or communications materials produced as a deliverable under this purchase order, shall conform to applicable Section 508 Standards to allow Federal employees and members of the public with disabilities to have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access to and use of information and data by Federal employees or by members of the public who are not individuals with disabilities. Remediation of any materials that do not comply with the applicable Section 508 requirements as set forth below, shall be the responsibility of the Contractor.

HHS guidance regarding accessibility of documents can be found at:

https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/accessibility-checklists/index.html

Federal Government-wide guidance regarding accessibility of documents can be found at https://www.section508.gov/, including the documents describing the preferred method of authoring and testing documents produced in Microsoft Word 2013 or later, Microsoft Excel, and files formatted as PDF.

5.0 PAYMENT

Payment shall be made in its entirety upon completion and acceptance of all deliverables. The following clause is applicable to all Purchase Orders, Task or Delivery Orders, and Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Calls: Prompt Payment (Jan 2017) FAR 52.232-25. Highlights of this clause and NIH implementation requirements follow:

I. Invoice Requirements

A. An invoice is the Contractor's bill or written request for payment under the contract for supplies delivered or services performed. A proper invoice is an "Original" which must include the items listed in subdivisions 1 through 12, below, in addition to the requirements of FAR 32.9. If the invoice does not comply with these requirements, the Contractor will be notified of the defect within 7 days after the date the designated billing office received the invoice (3 days for meat, meat food products, or fish, and 5 days for perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, edible fats, or oils) with a statement of the reasons why it is not a proper invoice. (See exceptions under II., below.) Untimely notification will be considered in the computation of any interest penalty owed the Contractor.

1. Vendor/Contractor: Name, Address, Point of Contact for the invoice (Name, title, telephone number, e-mail and mailing address of point of contact).

2. Remit-to address (Name and complete mailing address to send payment).

3. Remittance name must match exactly with name on original order/contract. If the Remittance name differs from the Legal Business Name, then both names must appear on the invoice.

4. Invoice date.

5. Unique invoice #s for all invoices per vendor regardless of site.

6. NBS document number formats must be included for awards created in the NBS: Contract Number; Purchase Order Number; Task or Delivery Order Number and Source Award Number (e.g., Indefinite Delivery Contract number; General Services Administration number); or, BPA Call Number and BPA Parent Award Number.

7. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) which is in the System for Award Management (SAM) and replaces the Dun & Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System (DUNS) number.

8. Federal Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN). In those rare cases where a contractor does not have a UEI number or TIN, a Vendor Identification Number (VIN) must be referenced on the invoice. The VIN is the number that appears after the contractor’s name on the face page of the award document.

9. Identify that payment is to be made using a three-way match.

10. Description of supplies/services that match the description on the award, by line billed.*

11. Freight or delivery charge must be billed as shown on the award. If it is included in the item price do not bill it separately. If identified in the award as a separate line item, it must be billed separately.

12. Quantity, Unit of Measure, Unit Price, Extended Price of supplies delivered or services performed, as applicable, and that match the line items specified in the award.*

NOTE: If your invoice must differ from the line items on the award, please contact the Contracting Officer before submitting the invoice. A modification to the order or contract may be needed before the invoice can be submitted and paid.

Shipping costs will be reimbursed only if authorized by the Contract/Purchase Order. If authorized, shipping costs must be itemized. Where shipping costs exceed $100, the invoice must be supported by a bill of lading or a paid carrier's receipt.

B. The Contractor shall submit invoices to the Department of Treasury’s Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) at https://www.ipp.gov with a copy to the approving official as directed below.

The Contractor shall submit a copy of the electronic invoice to the following Approving Official (Purchasing Agent) and Technical Point of Contact:

Approving Official: Purchasing Agent

TBD: Name Email

Technical Point of Contact

B. The due date for making invoice payments for meat and meat food products, perishable agricultural commodities, dairy products, and edible fats or oils, shall be in accordance with the Prompt Payment Act, as amended.

B. Determination of interest and penalties due will be made in accordance with the provisions of the Prompt Payment Act, as amended, the Contract Disputes Act, and regulations issued by the Office of Management and Budget.

IV. PROVIDING ACCELERATED PAYMENT TO SMALL BUSINESS SUBCONTRACTORS, FAR 52.232-40 (November 2021)

(a) Upon receipt of accelerated payments from the Government, the Contractor shall make accelerated payments to its small business subcontractors under this contract, to the maximum extent practicable and prior to when such payment is otherwise required under the applicable contract or subcontract, after receipt of a proper invoice and all other required documentation from the small business subcontractor.

(b) The acceleration of payments under this clause does not provide any new rights under the Prompt Payment Act.

(c) Include the substance of this clause, including this paragraph (c), in all subcontracts with small business concerns, including subcontracts with small business concerns for the acquisition of commercial products or commercial services.

(End of Clause)

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

(a) Definitions. As used in this clause— Payment request means a bill, voucher, invoice, or request for contract financing payment with associated supporting documentation. The payment request must comply with the requirements identified in FAR 32.905(b), ‘‘Content of Invoices’’ and the applicable Payment clause included in this contract.

(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this clause, the Contractor shall submit payment requests electronically using the Department of Treasury Invoice Processing Platform (IPP) or successor system. Information regarding IPP, including IPP Customer Support contact information, is available at www.ipp.gov or any successor site.

(c) The Contractor may submit payment requests using other than IPP only when the Contracting Officer authorizes alternate procedures in writing in accordance with HHS procedures.

(d) If alternate payment procedures are authorized, the Contractor shall include a copy of the Contracting Officer’s written authorization with each payment request.

(End of Clause)