3D Bioprinting Station

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.

For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include: (1) the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture), as well as (2) the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule).

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 3D Tissue Bioprinting Laboratory (3DTBL) at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is producing and using engineered tissues as physiological relevant assay platforms for predictive drugs screening. There is a need to purchase a new bioprinter which will be used to increase the capabilities of the group to develop biofabricated tissue models, including neuronal circuits of addiction and pain (HEAL program), neuromuscular junction (NMJ) tissue for muscular dystrophy-related diseases (potential application for gene therapy, like congenital myasthenic syndrome (CMS) for PaVe-GT program), and pain (HEAL program), vascularized lung models for the Antiviral Pandemic Program (APP), and tissue for the two programs funded by the RFA-TR-21-015.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to acquire one (1) of Regenhu’s 3D Bioprinting Station model R-GEN 200 or Equal that meet all salient characteristics.  

The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that “equal” products must meet are specified in the purchase description below.

Purchase Description: Regenhu’s 3D Bioprinting Station model R-GEN 200 or Equal

Salient characteristics: The following salient characteristics are necessary for the requested equipment:

• Multiple slots to enable five or more printheads to enable the dispensation cells and cell/hydrogel mixtures in different modes (e.g. pneumatic extrusion, piston based extrusion, droplet based printing) in the same run;
• Separate temperature control of the stage and each print head syringe, allowing for the selection of different temperatures for each print head based on the biomaterial used for printing;
• Laser-based needle-length measurements for better calibration and precise xyz dispensation on both electrospinned scaffolds and membranes;
• Plunger-based dispensation with 10 ml glass syringes for precise and reproducible dispensation of cell/hydrogels in wells of multi-well plate format in one syringe load;
• UV-curation capability;
• Electrospinning and electrowriting capabilities; and
• Class II Biosafety Cabinet with a germicidal UV light. 

Delivery Date: Within 90 days after receipt of order

Capability statement /information sought:  Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the equipment specified in this notice.

The respondent must also provide their UEI 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 using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the service requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. 

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

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Sarah Adan, at e-mail address sarah.adan@nih.gov with the subject line NCATS-22-004991SS.

The response must be received on or beforeJune 17, 2022, 12:00pm, Eastern Time.