Sources Sought PCA-NIEHS-04997.docx

Constant Systems CF1 Cell Disruptor and associated components Sources Sought Notice # PCA-NIEHS-04997 Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions, OA Office of the Director, OD 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 537-S, Bethesda, MD, 20892.

Introduction This is a notice issued on behalf of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Acquisitions, OA Office of the Director, OD, DHHS, UNITED STATES. This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this Sources Sought is to seek the availability and capability of small business concerns, including 8(a) small business and/or small qualified small business concerns [including Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB] that are interested in and capable of performing the work described in the statement of work. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) is seeking small businesses with the ability to provide Constant Systems CF1 Cell Disruptor and associated components.

STATEMENT OF NEED:

The NIEHS requires the acquisition of a Constant Systems CF1 Cell Disruptor and associated components. The Nucleolar Integrity Group at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) investigates molecular machines involved in critical RNA processing pathways through a multidisciplinary approach combining structural, molecular, and cellular biology. The Group's current research focuses on three major areas: ribosome assembly, tRNA processing, and viral RNA processing. Because the primary focus of the Group is structural biology, investigators routinely express target proteins using recombinant bacterial systems. These studies require the processing of very large volumes of bacterial cultures, often on the scale of multiple gallons, to obtain sufficient quantities of purified protein for structural and biochemical analyses. Efficient and reproducible disruption of bacterial cells is therefore an essential step in the Group's protein production and purification workflow.

The Group has relied on a Constant Systems Cell Disruptor for this purpose since the instrument was acquired by NIEHS in 2010. Over approximately sixteen years of operation, the instrument has provided reliable and efficient bacterial cell disruption and has become an essential component of the laboratory's protein production workflow. However, after many years of continuous use, the existing instrument is approaching the end of its expected service life and requires replacement to ensure continued reliability and uninterrupted research operations.

The Nucleolar Integrity Group requires a replacement Constant Systems CF1 Cell Disruptor. Replacement with the same system is important because the laboratory already possesses accessories and associated components that are compatible with the existing Constant Systems platform. Continuing with the same system will allow these existing resources to remain in use and will minimize disruption to established laboratory procedures.

The existing laboratory infrastructure also supports the requested system. The electrical outlet and voltage requirements for the Constant Systems equipment are already installed and available in the room designated to house the replacement instrument. Acquisition of a different cell disruption system could require electrical or other facility modifications, resulting in additional cost, installation requirements, and potential delays.

The CF1 Cell Disruptor is particularly well suited to the Group's research requirements because it provides rapid and efficient processing of large volumes of bacterial samples while maintaining controlled processing conditions. Key capabilities include:

· Processing capacity of up to approximately 6 liters per hour of fluid or resuspended samples.

· Digitally displayed disruption pressure that can be readily and accurately adjusted up to approximately 40 ksi.

· An integrated sample cooling jacket designed to maintain samples at appropriate temperatures throughout processing.

· Simple and efficient operation without the need to prime or purge the system before use.

· Operation without the need for compressed air or bottled gas.

· Compatibility with existing laboratory accessories and established protein production workflows.

· CF1-1.5 CF1 40KPSI 1.5KW

· CF1-200 CF1 200-240V 50-60HZ 1PH 1.5KW

· PL052062 CF SERIES TROLLEY

· PL012504 K1000 - CHILLER ASSEMBLY - 115V 60Hz 1PH 10A

· MAINTENANCE_PLAN_ ANNUAL VISITS

· DTI TRAINING AND INSTALLATION

These characteristics are particularly important when processing large volumes of bacterial cultures containing proteins that may be sensitive to temperature or mechanical processing conditions. Rapid processing and integrated cooling help minimize processing time and maintain sample quality prior to downstream protein purification.

Period of Performance: This is a one-time supply acquisition with associated training and warranty support.

The Contractor shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the tasks and deliverables described in this Statement of Work (SOW). Subject to prior approval of the Contracting Officer (CO), the Contractor may acquire the services of a subcontractor and/or consultants to provide specialized services if deemed appropriate and within scope by the COR.

The Contractor shall employ a technical approach, utilize organizational resources, and implement management controls to achieve the cost, schedule, and performance requirements throughout the execution of the Contract Requirements. The Contractor shall be responsible for providing, managing, and overseeing its personnel, as well as any subcontractor/consultant efforts used in the performance of the Contract Requirements.

This is intended to be a firm-fixed price contract.

Capability Statement Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this work should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement should include 1)Name and address of the vendor, 2) Size and type of business, 3) Point of contact with the name, title, phone, fax, and email, 4) UEI number. 5) the professional qualifications of experts, and technical personnel as it relates to the above outlined requirements, any other information considered relevant to this service. The capability statement must not exceed 7 pages. Interested small business organizations are required to identify their size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone numbers of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number.

Point of Contact:

Luz Casey, Program Specialist, Office of the Director, OD, Luz.Casey@nih.gov.

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisition, Office of the Director, 6701 Rockledge Dr., Rm 537-S, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA Submission Instructions:

Interested parties shall submit capability statements via email to Luz Casey at Luz.Casey@nih.gov. Due Wednesday, September 16, 2026 @ 9:00 am EST.

All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered.

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your 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 provide the item. 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 review of the responses received, pre-solicitation and solicitation notices will be published in GSA eBuy or SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.