Sources Sought_75N95020Q00133.pdf

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95020Q00133

2. Title: Acquisition of fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) system.

3. Classification Code: 66 - Instruments & laboratory equipment

4. NAICS Code: 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Introduction:

This is a Sources Sought notice.This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Background:

The FACS system is required primarily for the Behavioral Neuroscience Research Branch (BNRB), but can be shared as needed with other NIDA IRP branches. It will be used to determine neural mechanisms in the brain that mediate different animal behavioral models used in drug addiction research. More specifically, this FACS system will be used to isolate fluorescently labeled cells and nuclei obtained from brain and assess various molecular and cellular alterations within them that were altered by drug experience.

NIDA IRP requires one FACS Melody system or equal to interface with existing uses lasers and optics similar to our current FACS CANTO II from BD Biosciences.

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of this acquisition is to procure one (1) low maintenance fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) system to examine how neuronal ensembles in brain encode memories underlying food and drug seeking in rat and mouse addiction research models.

Project requirements:

The requested FACS system must satisfy all of the following requirements:

1. The required system needs to be easy of use and require minimal maintenance to avoid the usual required daily maintenance by an expert technician. We need a FACS system designed for non-expert users, including automated setup, cleaning and shutdown, as well as software for step by step guidance when using it. Thus we do not need an expert for daily use and maintenance. To this end, the system requires that:

• The system must be completely alignment free. Laser and optical alignments must be fixed alignments (no stepper motors) and require no user alignment.

• The cell sorter must have gel coupled quartz cuvette where the laser beams interrogates the cells.

• The cell sorter must have a removable nozzle which can be sonicated. This nozzle must be keyed and require no optical/laser system alignment when replaced.

• The cell sorter must automate system startup including de-bubbling the sheath fluid, automate optimization of the drop-drive frequency, sheath pressure and amplitude.

2. The requested FACS system should have at least three lasers and the ability to detect 8 colors simultaneously across the UV-visible spectrum. The three laser/8-color detection system allows cells to be labeled by many different markers simultaneously, which allows sorting of cells for different combinations of 8 different markers. This allows to sort cells using up to 8 different cell-type markers and to quantify many different proteins and post-translational modifications in Fos-and CaMPARI-labeled neurons using minimal tissue from single animals, which is important because most of our behavioral models require weeks to months of daily training and any way of minimizing the required number of animals will use less animals overall, and expedite our experiments and reduce labor. For our scientific needs, we require that:

• The cell sorter has Blue 488nm, Red 640nm and Yellow-Green 561nm lasers with 11 parameters FSC, SSC and 8 colors. The 561 nm laser is absolutely critical because this laser can detect CaMPARI label that we will be using in at least half of our studies for the next 5 years.

• The cell sorter must have spatially separated beams each with its own unique optical channel.

• The cell sorter optical filters must have an electronic identifier chip. This identifier chip communicates with computer updating system configuration after a filter has been changed.

3. It is particularly important that the new FACS system uses lasers and optics similar to our current FACS CANTO II from BD Biosciences. This allows us to use all of the same fluorescent labels and protocols that took years for us to optimize in our previous flow cytometry experiments. Changing to another set of lasers and optics from other companies would require extensive re-optimization of our procedures requiring a great deal of unnecessary labor and downtime as well as training.

4. The FACS system needs to be able to sort single cells into individual wells in to 96-and 384-well plates. This permits subsequent single cell/nuclei RNAseq that has recently become the current state of the art for gene expression analyses because of its high resolution and distinction of different sets of alterations in different cell types. This system can be combined with the DNA/RNA sequencing system recently purchased by the GEVVC core for in-house single cell/nuclei RNAseq. This possibility provides a far less expensive way for all labs to perform high-resolution state of the art analyses of their systems that is fast becoming the expected standard in high-level journals. Thus its important that:

• The cell sorter has the ability to sort into 6-, 24-, 48-, 96- and 384-well plates.

5. The biocontainment hood option is included to isolate genetically modified human and rodent cells for continued growth and testing. It is essential that we have the unit located in a sterile environment (i.e. biosafety cabinet). We will use the sterile isolated cells in our tissue culture facility to study how substances of abuse influence intracellular calcium homoeostasis and proteostasis in different human cell types (neuron, liver and muscle cells). NIDA IRP does not have this capability or even access to a core facility that can perform this work. The GEVVC also needs the FACS with biocontainment option. The genetic engineering component of GEVVC’s mission involves creating genetically modified cell lines for researchers in the NIDA IRP and NIH at large. This also equires the isolation of single cells into a 96 well plate. To do this, GEVVC requires the system to provide multichannel sorting (at least green and red channels), to sort into standard 96/386 well plate formats, and to maintain cell viability and sterility (temperature control and biocontainment/aseptic environment).

• The cell sorter must have temperature control of the sample and the sort tube holder.

• The cell sorter must have the ability to sort into a temperature controlled holder which supports 6-, 24-, 48-, 96- and 384-well plates.

• The cell sorter must come fit in a Class II Type A2 biological safety cabinet and have a built in aerosol management system with a separate motor so the hood and aerosol management system can be tested individually.

6. The FACS system must be supported by the company for regular maintenance, repair, and software upgrades.

• The cell sorter must have guaranteed on-site emergency service with in 48 hours of initial request.

• Must have the capability to support software that logs instrument and software diagnostic data that can be accessed remotely by service.

Anticipated Period of Performance: The contractor shall deliver and install the required equipment within three (3) months after receipt of order. On-site training must take place at the customer site within two (2) weeks of equipment installation.

Place of Performance:

Baltimore, MD.

Capability statement /information sought: Contractors that believe that they possess the ability to provide the required equipment, should submit documentation on their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contract Specialist.

The Contractor should directly and specifically state in the, capabilities statement, which project requirements can be meet and/or supplied. The Contractor must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

The information submitted must be must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to two (2) page limit. The 2-page limit does not include the cover page or executive summary.

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone number, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist at polina.klimenkova@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before June 1, 2020 at 4 pm, Eastern Time.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published on beta.sam.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

mailto:polina.klimenkova@nih.gov