Benchtop biocontainment enclosure

POSTING NOTICE

NOI-NIAID-25-2252185

This is a Notice of Intent, not a request for proposal. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competition basis with bioBubble 1411 E Magnolia St Fort Collins, CO 80524

The Viral Persistence and Dynamics Section of the NIH/Vaccine Research Center is a biological science lab. Single-cell studies are critical for understanding the dynamics of HIV infection, latency, and reactivation within cellular populations. The microfluidics platform allows for precise manipulation and observation of individual cells but requires containment to meet biosafety standards for working with HIV. 

The benchtop biocontainment enclosure provides the necessary physical barrier to ensure compliance with biosafety level BSL2 requirements. It will safeguard personnel, the laboratory environment, and sensitive equipment from potential exposure to infectious materials.

VRC seeks to procure (1) one Benchtop Biocontainment Enclosure manufactured by BioBubble.

Sole Source Justification: The bioBubble enclosure meets or exceeds stringent biosafety level (BSL-2 and BSL-3) requirements necessary for HIV research. Its unique sealing mechanism and filtration system are specifically designed to prevent contamination and ensure user and environmental safety, capabilities unmatched by alternative suppliers in this product category. This equipment is a key component in our Shared Equipment Inventory to have available to all our Researchers and to provide uninterrupted support in their research. To maintain the highest standard performance, accurate and space-saving scientific equipment is required. This equipment/part are required based on intended experimental design, compatibility with current lab equipment, and the proven ability of the product to produce consistent and reliable data. More specifically, equipment/parts need to be identical to laboratory equipment already in-place. Use of alternate products could negatively impact the manner in which samples are processed and analyzed. Additionally, use of a different product from the one requested would require testing by lab personnel and would introduce unacceptable variables during research trials. This brand name equipment/products are embedded into the several research programs, protocols, and laboratory processes of the lab. To have successful research results, methods and parameters must be consistent. Any changes during the study are unacceptable and may render years of existing data invalid. NIH Safety has approved this model. NO OTHER BRAND IS ACCEPTABLE.

The statutory authority for this sole source requirement is 41 U.S.C.1901 (e) (2) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1 only one responsible source and no other supply of service will satisfy agency requirements. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL.

All responsible sources that could provide comparable services may submit a capability statement that will be considered by email (subject line shall be referenced, NOI-NIAID-25-2252185) to Kelly Lowe at kelly.lowe@nih.gov by January 02, 2025 10:00 A.m. EST.  

All responses received by the closing date of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.