Sources Sought Notice.pdf

Document Type: Source Sought Notice

Solicitation No.: 75N95022Q00220

Project Title: The Human Emulation Organ-on-a-Chip Instruments and Accessories

Classification Code: A – Research & Development

NAICS Code: 541714 - Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology)

Contracting Office Address

NIDA Office of Acquisitions

NIDA Section, Contracts Management Branch Red c/o 3WFN MSC 6012

301 N Stonestreet Ave

Bethesda, MD 20892

Description

This is a Small Business Sources Sought (SBSS) notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. 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.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability and type of qualified Small Business companies technically capable of meeting this potential 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. The notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

The information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method including small business socioeconomic set aside possibilities and to determine the availability of qualified Small Business companies technically capable of meeting the Government's potential requirement. All Small Business companies with the capability and availability to perform the requirement under the applicable NAICS code are invited to submit a response to this notice.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541714 - Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) Manufacturing with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees.

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

Background:

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Neural Differentiation Unit NTDU/Translational Neuroscience Center (NDU) requires a purchase of Human Emulation (brand name or equal) Organ-on-a-Chip instruments and accessories, which is a platform utilizing organ chips to recreate the natural physiology and mechanical forces that cells experience in the human body and the software applications, to work with various Organ-Chips for integration and analysis. The instrument will expend NDU lab capability to use Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSCs) to make brain organoids on a chip to study neurological disorders.

The mission of the NDU lab is to develop in vitro 3D organoid models to study neural development and degeneration and pathology infectious diseases in the human brain. The 3D brain organoids consists of a varieties of neurons and the other brain cells including endothelial, microglial and oligodendrocytes. The lab previously established multiple 3D brain organoids to research the role of HERV-K on human neural development and tumorigenicity, pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS, pathogenesis of Zika virus on human brain development.

This purchase of a Human Emulation System (brand name or equal) Organs-on-Chips platform requires a system with greater precision and control than cell culture or animal-based testing methods. The Organ- Chip must have the ability to be configured to emulate many organs, including brain by culturing different types of cells in two adjacent chambers, creating the body’s dynamic cellular microenvironment, including tissue-to-tissue interfaces, media flow, and mechanical forces, such as flow and stretch. It must have the ability to be used as a platform to study a variety of neurological conditions, including the function of Blood-Brain barrier (BBB) or neuroinflammation involving interactions from multiple cell types or tissues.

A capable vendors must demonstrate its ability to provide the following brand name or equal items:

Items:

Orb Hub Module 1 (Orb-HM1); cat# Orb-HM1; quantity of 1 Zoë Culture Module 1 (Zoë-CM1); cat# Zoë-CM1; quantity of 1 Fixed Chip Imaging Adapter Kit; cat# CHIP-IMG; quantity of 1 Basic Research Chip Kit- 12 PK; cat# BRK-WER-12, quantity of 4

The brand name or equal items should possess the following salient characteristics:

General:

Overall Size 330 x 330 x 298 mm (13” x 13” x 11.75”)

Weight 7.3 kg (16 lbs) Power Consumption 105 W

Operating Requirements:

Electrical Power 100-240 VAC 50-60 Hz Gas Input Pressure 10-20 psig, fixed source / 3000 psi, 68 gm canister Gas Input Composition 100% CO2

Environmental:

Operating Temperature 10-35 ºC Relative Humidity 30-80% RH Max Altitude 2000 meters Storage Temperature -5-60 ºC Storage Humidity 30-90% RH, non-condensing IP Rating IP12B

Technical:

Gas Output Composition 5% CO2, balance air Gas Output Pressure 275 + / - 35 kPa (40 + / - 5 psig) Mixed Gas Flowrate 130 mL / min maximum Vacuum Output 73 kPa (10.6 psi), minimum Electrical Output 4 x 12 VDC, powers up to four Zoës

CAPABILITY STATEMENT

Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize itself with the requirements of this product or service. Failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk.

The established NAICS code is 541714. Respondents must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) best estimated delivery date after receipt of order; (d) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in this announcement.

Any other specific and relevant information about this particular area of procurement that would improve our consideration and evaluation of the information presented is desirable. Documentation may include, but not be limited to, contracts both Government and commercial the organization performed, references, i.e., names, titles, telephone numbers and any other information serving to document the organizations capability, e.g., awards, commendations, etc.

The respondent must also provide their Unique Entity ID 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.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the product requirement. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response must include the respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and email addresses.

Respondents must reference announcement number 75N95022Q00220 on all correspondence related to this Small Business Sources Sought notice. The response must be submitted electronically to alexander.beraud@nih.gov and be received prior to the closing date specified in this announcement.

The response must be received on or before May 23, 2022, 05:00 pm, Eastern Time.

CONCLUDING STATEMENTS

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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in 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 nonproprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).