Specifications for Liquid HandlersUpdate 03April2024.docx

SPECIFICATIONS FOR AUTOMATED LIQUID HANDLERS

COMBINED SYNOPSIS SOLICITATION: N00173-24-Q-TL12

NRL REQUIREMENTS FOR TWO AUTOMATED LIQUID HANDLERS

I. INTRODUCTION:

The Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering, Code 6900, of the Naval Research Laboratory performs research and develops systems. The Center for Rapid Bioprototyping and Evaluation (CRBE) facility has a requirement for two automated liquid handling and laboratory processing instruments; specifically an Automated Molecular Biology System and an Automated Microbial Culturing Platform, in order to support the previously mentioned research. The Automated Molecular Biology System and the Automated Microbial Culturing Platform will be utilized for setting up enzymatic reactions and bacterial culturing.

II. INSTALLATION SITE:

Each system will be installed in the Center for Rapid Bioprototyping and Evaluation, within the Center for Biomolecular Science and Engineering at the Naval Research Laboratory, Washington DC 20375. Limited space is available, so the two systems need to fit within the footprint and height requirements listed.

III. DESCRIPTION:

Two independent liquid handling platforms will be delivered to Code 6900 and installed by manufacturer trained personnel with initial training, applications support and warrantied for one year. These systems will have the features and specifications listed below.

IV. SYSTEM FEATURES

1) Both instruments shall be flexible and adaptable, with the capacity to be upgraded by either the user or field service, and will fit within a designated footprint in the lab.

2) The Automated Molecular Biology System will have liquid handling capabilities with microliter precision for setting up PCR, next generation sequencing library preps, and other enzymatic reactions, as well as an onboard thermal cycler and magnetic bead based purification capabilities.

3) The Automated Microbial Culturing Platform will have liquid handling capabilities for culturing bacteria and other microorganisms, spreading cultures onto agar plates, and picking colonies from these plates using a machine vision system.

4) These systems are described as individual platforms, but deck plates, gripper fingers, thermal cyclers, incubation positions, vacuum manifold, and magnetic bead processing station shall be interchangeable.

5) Components shall be mounted on deck or below deck in both systems.

V. SPECIFICATIONS

A. AUTOMATED MOLECULAR BIOLOGY SYSTEM

The system shall consist of the following components, feature and functions and shall meet or exceed the following minimum physical, functional, and salient specifications.

1) System cabinet with automation control system allowing walkaway operations

a) Touchscreen user interface with control software and API

b) Control software to design and build protocols and assays, 3-D editing tool for deck layout, 3-D simulation of protocols to preview and troubleshoot

c) Computer control system with mounting

d) Network adapter to connect system

e) Software can input and export files to laboratory information management system

f) Drivers for main instrument and peripherals

g) Compatible with Inheco ODTC thermal cyclers

h) Capacity for at least 52 deck positions

i) Overall dimensions less than 68”w x 40”d x 91”h

2) Two multichannel liquid handling arms that can aspirate and dispense 0.5 microliter to 1 mL volumes

a) 8 channel fluid pipetting arm with flexible spacing between tips up to >35 mm, volumes from 0.5 µL to 1 mL, accepts disposable tips

b) Multichannel arm with interchangeable adapters for 96- and 384-well plates, accepts disposable tips

3) Robotic arm to move plates and tubes between positions, thermal cycler, and plate reader

a) Camera based system for verifying positions and orientations of necessary components or consumables prior to starting a run

b) 1- and 2-D barcode scanning to track and verify samples and reagents

c) Interchangeable gripper fingers

4) Onboard thermal cycler for PCR and other reactions

a) Accepts 96-well PCR plates

b) SiLA-compliant interface

c) Max heating rate of >4°C/sec

5) Onboard multichannel plate reader below deck

a) Able to measure absorbance from 230 nm to at least 800 nm

b) Top and bottom fluorescence measurements

6) 96-well magnet plate for magnetic bead based processing

7) Temperature controlled incubation positions

a) At least two positions with 96-well PCR plate adapters

b) At least one position with flat adapter

c) At least one shaking incubation position with cooling to 4°C and heating to at least 70°C

8) Through-hole and cart for waste

9) Plate hotel to store plates and consumables

10) User reconfigurable deck segments

11) Shall allow integration with external automation platform systems by allowing external robotic arm access to the deck to:

a) Add or remove samples,

b) Receive additional consumables or reagents in microtiter plates

c) Allow communication with scheduling and control software

12) Field upgradable with compatibility for up to 1536-well plates

B. AUTOMATED MICROBIAL CULTURING PLATFORM

The system shall consist of the following components, feature and functions and shall meet or exceed the following minimum physical, functional, and salient specifications.

1) System cabinet with automation control system allowing walkaway operations

a) with locking door/s

b) HEPA filter

c) Computer with touchscreen monitor

d) Mounting bracket for monitor, keyboard and mouse

e) Control software and license

f) Overall dimensions less than 87” w x 40” d x 91”h

2) Multichannel liquid handling with 0.5 µL to 1 mL increments

a) 8 channel fluid pipetting with flexible spacing between tips up to >35 mm

b) Uses tips from 10 µL to 1mL

c) Liquid level detection

3) Robotic arm to move plates or tip racks

a) Interchangeable fingers for SBS plates, Petri plates, or individual tubes

b) 1-D and 2-D Barcode reading

4) Camera based system for verifying positions and orientations of necessary components or consumables prior to starting a run

5) Vacuum or positive pressure separation system for solid phase extraction in multiple formats

a) At least a vacuum block and adapters for bottom skirted cartridges or positive pressure manifold

b) Compatible with 96-well plate based plasmid extraction kits and His-tagged protein purification kits

6) Colony picking module

a) Vision system to identify bacterial colonies based upon size, shape, and other physical attributes. Can run custom plugins to extend analysis capabilities.

b) Fluorescence lighting and filter system to identify colonies based upon fluorescence

c) Software control to allow option of either automated or manual colony picking

d) Plate to liquid inoculation

e) Works with multiple plate types: Round petri plates, SBS format single or multi-well plates

f) Multiple colony picking options, including scooping, scratching, with or without agar height detection, and on semi-solid media

7) Culture plating module

a) Inoculates petri plates in spiral pattern

b) Multi-segment dispensing to put more than one sample on a single plate

c) Petri dish stacker 25 plate minimum capacity (can be on main deck)

8) Temperature controlled incubation positions

a) At least one position with flat adapter

b) At least one shaking incubation position with cooling to 4°C and heating to at least 70°C

9) Through-hole and cart for consumables waste

10) Plate hotel to store additional plates and consumables

11) Runners for tubes

a) 50 mL tubes – min capacity 10

b) 15 mL tubes – min capacity 16

c) 1.5/2 ml tubes – min capacity 24

12) User reconfigurable deck segments to hold troughs for reagent dispensing, tips for pipetting arm, and microplates

a) 72 grid minimum capacity

13) Touchscreen user interface with control software and API

a) Control software to design and build protocols and assays, 3-D editing tool for deck layout, 3-D simulation of protocols to preview and troubleshoot

b) Computer control system with mounting

c) Network adapter to connect system

d) Software can input and export files to laboratory information management system

e) Drivers for main instrument and peripherals

VI. DELIVERY, INSTALLATION AND TRAINING:

The contractor will provide delivery to NRL, perform installation and in the CRBE, and provide training to at least two CRBE personnel.

VII. APPLICATION SUPPORT

The contractor shall provide a minimum of 1-year applications support, assisting with developing workflows and scripts.

VIII. MAINTENANCE & WARRANTY:

1) The contractor shall be provided with a minimum 1-year factory warranty that covers all parts, labor and travel expenses for on-site support/repair of the equipment.

2) The contractor shall provide standard phone technical support during normal business hours upon government acceptance of the system.

3) The contractor shall provide support for both service and troubleshooting.

4) The warranty period begins after the system has been installed, training has been completed and the system has been accepted by NRL.