Acquisition of an Aquilos 2 Microscope Maintenance Agreement

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
(Acquisition of an Aquilos 2 Microscope Maintenance Agreement)
AGENCY:  The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)

TITLE: Acquisition of an Aquilos 2 Microscope Maintenance Agreement
PROPOSED SOLICITATION NUMBER: NICHD-22-073
PROJECT SERVICE CODE: J066 - MAINT/REPAIR/REBUILD
OF EQUIPMENT- INSTRUMENTS AND LABORATORY EQUIPMENT

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. There is no solicitation available at this time.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of all 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 according 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.

BACKGROUND:
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. 

The Multi Institute Cryo-EM Facility (MICEF) is a collaborative facility maintained by the NIDDK. It serves the scientific communities of National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), NIDDK, National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). MICEF currently houses an Aquilos 2 microscope that is used for preparing frozen cells and tissue samples for cryo electron tomography, a highly specialized and sensitive process that creates thin layers into the cells that can be used to transfer to a high-resolution transmission electron microscope (like the Krios or Glacios microscope) for cryo tomography. This will lead to detailed 3D characterization of these biological samples.  

MICEF offers support in planning cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) experiments, sample preparation and imaging, using equipment, and analyzing data. A properly functioning Aquilos 2 microscope is vital to continuing this support. The Aquilos 2 microscope requires a maintenance plan (to include Cryo Lift-out) to keep the microscope functioning properly and providing accurate results.  

The Aquilos 2 microscope is located in on the NIH Bethesda Main Campus in Building 50.

The objective of this request is to purchase a preventative maintenance plan for the Aquilos 2 microscope.

SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS:

The Contractor shall provide:

•    Customer Success Manager
•    Quarterly Reviews to discuss system trends and status
•    Customer Enablement Plan
•    Connected Care Portal
•    Annual preventative maintenance service
•    Certified Manufacturer spare parts
•    Ongoing Access to Scientific Workflows app, including automatic updates and upgrades. 
•    Technical support via telephone 

TASKS AREAS
Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall perform all of the detailed Task Areas listed below:

Task Area 1 – Service Engineer – The Contractor shall provide a qualified service engineer to perform maintenance on the microscope with equipment and parts. Service will be on the units themselves in their current location by qualified service engineer in the presence of MICEF staff.

Task Area 2 – Response Time – Upon Government submission of a service request, the Contractor shall respond within 48 hours and send in a service engineer to service/repair the microscope.

Task Area 3 – Remote Application Support – The Contractor shall provide remote applications support when needed to tune the instrument to specific samples and solve applications problems when they appear in real time.

Task Area 4 – Remote Monitoring – The Contractor shall provide regular remote monitoring of the instrument to provide an overview of the instrument health and use statistics and to provide predictions of imminent instrument failures before they happen.

This Sources Sought is for an organization or institution to provide the NIDDK with an Aquilos 2 Microscope Maintenance Agreement.  The maintenance of this instrument is necessary to maintain the high quality of our research.  

All qualified small businesses, 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; interested in submitting a corporate capability statement should demonstrate their capability to provide equipment that meets the characteristics above.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:
This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

This is a noncompetitive requirement conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302- FAR 6.302-1—Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1).  This is a requirement for a FEI CO Aquilos 2 Microscope Maintenance Agreement.
The vendor will be evaluated on their quoted product meeting the specifications under section SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS.

If you or your firm/business has an interest and possess the required expertise we invite you to submit a corporate capability statement to assist the Government in determining in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b) whether or not this procurement will be set-aside for any of the programs described above. The associated NAICS code is 811219, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the small business size standard is $22.0.  All respondents are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business.

Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice should adhere to the following:
(a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities. The capability statement should not exceed 15 pages using a font size 10 or larger.

(b) Small business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake the efforts should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. This capability statement should include: 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of scientists, medical experts, and technical personnel as they relate to the requirements, 3) a description of general and specific facilities and equipment available, including computer equipment and software, and 4) any other specific and relevant information that would improve the Government's consideration and evaluation of the information presented.

Further, Past Performance documentation, which should include, but not be limited to, a minimum of two (2) contracts performed for either Government or commercial organizations shall be provided. References shall include for each contract: names, titles, contract number, total price or cost, telephone numbers of government Contracting Officer Representative and Contracting Officers.

(c) All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to the Point of Contact below in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The subject line must specify NICHD-22-073. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. 

Electronically submitted capability statements are due no later than 5:00 PM (Eastern Prevailing Time) on March 28, 2022.

CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED

This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.