BD FAC Symphony A5 SE Analyzers

Introduction

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice for informational and planning purposes only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding:

1. 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. 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.

Project Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC), and Flow Cytometry Core Facility (FCC) is seeking small business sources to acquire on a brand name only basis eight (8) BD FAC Symphony A5 SE Analyzers for its facility at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on the Bethesda, Maryland campus. The FCC requires eight (8) BD Symphony A5 SE analyzers to increase analysis capabilities (50 parameters) of the FCC facility and to comply with developed panels currently run on production analyzers and cell sorters at this same facility. Also, these analyzers are needed to maintain continuity of science, data integrity, experimental compatibility between existing equipment and critical protocols, and to prevent variability in data.  

Specifically, NIAID, VRC, FCC is seeking eight (8) BD FAC Symphony A5 SE Analyzers that includes all the components per the attached Bill of Materials and meet all the salient characteristics below:

• Must include 5 lasers in the standard configuration with the potential of adding 4 additional lasers.
  • This feature allows the advancement to more parameters, if necessary, without the purchase of new instrumentation, therefore providing a built-in future expansion as experiments expand.  At the VRC, this allows for multidimensional cell sorting for cells involved in protective immunity.

• Must contain simultaneous 50 parameter detection of 48 fluorescence markers plus forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC) signals.  Upgradable to at least 60 parameters with increased laser capability.
  • This provides the ability to sort complex cell clusters in 50 parameter space and to match panels currently measured on existing 30 parameter cell analyzers and cell sorters that will be required to sort the same number of parameters (i.e., 48 fluorescence colors plus two physical parameters).  At the VRC, this allows for multidimensional cluster cell sorting for cells involved in protective immunity.

• Must include a LED pulser technology or equivalent measurements for Quality Control (QC) by measuring relative background using automated voltage ranging.
  • This feature allows for rapid instrument setup and inter and intra instrument comparison, which are required for large research or clinical experiments.  This improves more accurate quality control for increased precision and reproducibility of data.

• Must include a high throughput sampler (HTS) robotics.
  • This device will allow 96 well plates (and other plate formats) to be used and sampled directly into the BD FACSymphony A5 SE to allow for faster data collection speeds.
  • Plates used in processing can be directly used on the HTS and therefore can reduce potential transfer errors.

• Must use high quality photomultiplier tubes (PMT) known as the GaASP and GaA.  These detectors are a proven technology and are compatible with our existing instruments and are currently used research cell panels developed in prototype instrument used at the VRC.  Therefore, these detectors are compatible with our existing instruments and previous panel development, requiring minimal impact on existing panels and future panels.

• Requires the use of standard FACS-DIVA software, which is compatible with existing instruments, including the BD-S6 cell sorter.  This workflow pipeline is required for continuity of cellular and genetic experiments.

• Can process Flow Cytometry Standard files in version.3.1 or higher for use in the BD-FlowJo data analysis software for standard and multidimensional data analysis.

• Must include a twelve (12) month warranty that will begin upon installation or thirty days after the date of shipment, whichever occurs first.

The Government anticipates making a single award, Firm-Fixed Price (FFP) purchase order.

Place of Performance

NIH/NIAID/VRC/FCC

40 Convent Drive, Rm. 5606

Bethesda, MD 20814

Anticipated Period of Performance

It is anticipated that an award will be made on or about September 27, 2024. Delivery of the BD FAC Symphony A5 SE Analyzers is preferred as soon as possible and required within 90 – 120 days.

Capability Statement/Information Sought

If your organization has the potential capacity to provide the FAC Symphony A5 SE Analyzers which meets the technical requirements and performance capabilities listed above, please provide the following information:

1. Organization name, address, point of contact, email address, website address, telephone number, and UEI number.
2. Type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, Other than Small, etc.)  pursuant to the applicable NAICS code.
3. Identification of any Best-In-Class contract vehicles including Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWAC) (e.g., GSA schedule) they may possess or are aware of that would support this possible requirement. If your organization does not provide the products/services under a GWAC, please identify availability as OPEN MARKET ONLY.
4. Tailored capability statement addressing NIAID’s technical requirements. Capability document shall be no more than six pages.
5. Place of manufacture for the BD FAC Symphony A5 SE Analyzers and components.
6. Evidence that the organization is an authorized reseller or manufacturer of the BD FAC Symphony A5 SE Analyzer.  Authorized resellers shall identify the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) of the equipment proposed in their capability statement.  Only OEM products are acceptable.
7. Any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

Submission Instructions

Interested businesses who consider themselves qualified to provide the above listed products and services are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by July 31, 2024, at 3:00 PM EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice shall be emailed to Daveta H. Brown at daveta.brown@nih.gov. No large businesses should respond to this announcement.

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 Federal Business Opportunities. 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 non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).