Sources Sought_FEI ThermoFisher Microscope Maintenance NIDDK _12202022_v2.pdf

SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Title: NIDDK FEI Thermo Fisher Glacios Microscope Maintenance

NAICS Code: 339112 (Surgical and Medical Instrument Manufacturing)

This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This notice is intended strictly for Market Research.

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. The Government will not pay for information solicited on this notice.

Requirement:

The mission of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is to conduct and support medical research and research training and to disseminate science-based information on diabetes and other endocrine and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, nutritional disorders, and obesity; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases, to improve people’s health and quality of life.

The NIDDK supports a wide range of medical research through grants to universities and other medical research institutions across the country. The Institute also supports government scientists who conduct basic, translational, and clinical research across a broad spectrum of research topics and serious, chronic diseases and conditions related to the Institute's mission. In addition, the NIDDK supports research training for students and scientists at various stages of their careers and a range of education and outreach programs to bring science-based information to patients and their families, health care professionals, and the public.

NIDDK’s Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility is serving many NIDDK structural biology labs that use Cryo-EM single particle analysis to study the structures of proteins & macromolecules. The facility currently houses a Glacios microscope equipped with a K3 camera.

NIDDK’s Cryo-Electron Microscopy Facility offers support in planning EM experiments, sample preparation and imaging, using equipment, and analyzing data. With the Glacios electron microscope, users can screen the samples: by cryo to check cryo grids quality; and collect data to get preliminary structures. This sample screening is the key step of Cryo-EM sample preparation that eventually leads to high resolution structures. As such, the Thermo Fisher Glacios electron microscope is essential for its optimized and continuous performance, and thus, the quality and productivity of the ongoing research at NIDDK. In order to continue this support, the Glacios microscope requires a preventative maintenance plan to keep the instrument functioning properly and providing accurate results. The Titan Glacios electron microscope is located in Building 8, Room B2A18-24 on the NIH Bethesda Main Campus.

The objective of this request is to purchase a preventative maintenance plan for the Glacios Electron Microscope (including the phase plate), which requires optimized and continuous performance for the quality and productivity of the ongoing research at NIDDK. As the Glacios Microscope is very complex and delicate, NIDDK requires an experienced and manufacturer trained service engineer(s) to perform preventive maintenance, troubleshooting and prompt repairs when there are any issues. The purchase of the service contract will ensure the high standard operation status of the microscope and its service to all Cryo-EM research projects at NIDDK.

The contractor’s requirements are as follows:

Services to include: 4-hour targeted telephone support, 48-hour targeted onsite labor response, unlimited labor hours

(Including travel time and expenses), all necessary spare parts (including all accessories listed on the contract), replacement FEG tip (for applicable products), one preventive maintenance visit (per year), which includes undertaking ordinary repairs and adjustments arising from normal usage of the microscope, and software updates. Support for troubleshooting, and if on-site service is needed, the Contractor’s qualified service engineer will repair the microscope. The Contractor will cover all costs of labor, travel, living expenses and parts (except system consumables).

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses;

service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses;

woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Interested parties are expected to review this Notice to familiarize themselves with the requirements of this project; failure to do so will be at your firm’s own risk.

INFORMATION & SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS :

1. Page Limitations:

Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed fifteen (15) single-sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (12-point font minimum) that clearly details the firm’s ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above. Tailored capability statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address) as well as the eligible small business concern’s name, point of contact, address and UEI number.

2. Response & Submission:

All Capability Statements sent in response to this SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE must be submitted electronically (via e-mail) in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) to the Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer as follows:

Maxwell J. Kimpson Contract Specialist/Contracting Officer Office of Acquisitions ASB Branch, NICHD National Institutes of Health max.kimpson@nih.gov Note: The e-mail subject line must specify the Notice Number specified above.

3. Due Date:

All Capability Statements sent in response to this SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE are due no later than 12:00 PM Noon (EST), December 28, 2022. Responses and/or submissions via Facsimile will not be accepted. All questions pertaining to this notice must include the Notice Number specified above.

CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER SPECIFIED DATE AND TIME WILL NOT

BE CONSIDERED.

PLEASE NOTE: In order to receive an award, Contractor must be registered and have a valid certification in the System for Award Management (SAM), formerly known as Central Contractor Registration (CCR).

DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in this 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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published on 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).