Centrifuges

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: CENTRIFUGES



1. DESCRIPTION: THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT. This is a sources sought; your response will be used for information only. The Government does not intend to make any awards on the basis of this announcement or to otherwise pay for the information requested.



The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Strategic Acquisition Center (SAC), Fredericksburg, VA, intends to establish a VA enterprise wide, Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) to supply CENTRIFUGES. Participation in the MSPV Program is required for issuance of the resulting BPA; however, participation in the MSPV Program is not required for VA FSS Vendors that are registered and verified in Vendor Information Pages (VIP) database (http://www.VetBiz.gov) as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOB). The anticipated period of performance is April 2015 through April 2020. The NAICS code for the required item is 333999, All Other Miscellaneous General Purpose Machinery Manufacturing.



This sources sought is to determine the availability of VA FSS Schedule holders of 66, "Scientific Equipment and Services", Category 603 3, "Laboratory Centrifuges" that are small business manufacturers of the required items (OR small business distributors of these items manufactured by small businesses). Responses will be considered to determine the potential for small business set-aside opportunities. Responses will also assist the Government in determining how many multiple-award BPAs to establish or that a single-award BPA is appropriate. Questions should be submitted by email to debbie.frankovich@va.gov. All questions must be received by 4:00 pm EDT on MONDAY, 24 Nov, 2014.

SPECIFIED REQUIREMENT: These CENTRIFUGES are used to separate blood cells from serum/plasma; to separate sediment from urine; to measure the volume fraction of erythrocytes in blood (the hematocrit); and to separate bound from free components in protein binding and immune procedures. Less routinely, centrifugation is used for separation of lipoproteins in reference procedures for their measurement, separation of cellular components and separation of DNA fragments.

2. The Government has an anticipated need for CENTRIFUGES that meet the following MINIMUM TECHNIAL REQUIREMENTS (MTRs):



The MTRs are listed below in Table 1 are for all Centrifuges. They were derived by Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) based on past experience and future needs.



Table 1 - All Centrifuges



MTR

Number Minimum Technical Requirement (MTR) Method of Evaluation

MTR1 Timer Range of 1 - 99 minutes Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR2 Capable of accommodating tubes from 1.5 ml to 10 ml. Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR3 RPM Speed of 3500 RCF x g or greater Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR4 Noise level (dB(A)) less than 60 Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR5 Safety lock (Remains engaged until rotor speed reaches zero) Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR6 Off-balance rotor detection shuts unit off (Protect samples) Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR7 Power of 60 (Hz) Physical Inspection and literature review





The MTRs are listed below in Table 2 are for Clinical Centrifuges.



Table 2 - Clinical Centrifuges



MTR

Number Minimum Technical Requirement (MTR) Method of Evaluation

MTR1 Full Metal Housings Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR2 Stainless tell chamber Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR3 Controllable Microprocessor Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR4 Designated Rotors (Fixed Angles, Swinging Buckets, Continuous Flow or Zonal Physical Inspection and literature review



The MTRs are listed below in Table 3 are for Micro Centrifuges.



Table 3 - Micro Centrifuges



MTR

Number Minimum Technical Requirement (MTR) Method of Evaluation

MTR1 Capable of sample sizes from 0.2 - 2.0 ml (minimum) Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR2 Minimum G-forces of 15,000 x g Physical Inspection and literature review



The MTRs are listed below in Table 4 are for Multipurpose Bench Top Centrifuges.



Table 4 - Multipurpose Bench Top Centrifuges



MTR

Number Minimum Technical Requirement (MTR) Method of Evaluation

MTR1 Compatible with 8 or more different rotors (Standard 30-place rotor, aerosol-tight, PTFE coated; Fixed-angle rotor for 15/50 mL conical tubes; Swing-bucket for MTP and PCR plates; High-speed rotor, aerosol-tight, PTFE coated; Kit rotor, aerosol-tight; PCR-strip rotor; Cryo rotor; Basic 30-place, PTFE coated. Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR2 Automatic rotor detection with speed limitation Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR3 Temperature ran from -11 C to 40 C (12.2 F to 104 F) Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR4 Pre-cooling capability Physical Inspection and literature review

















The MTRs are listed below in Table 5 are for Stand-Alone Centrifuges.



Table 5 - Stand-Alone Centrifuges



MTR

Number Minimum Technical Requirement (MTR) Method of Evaluation

MTR1 Refrigeration capability Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR2 Equipped with Swing out head Centrifuge rotors Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR3 Equipped with fixed angular rotors for 8 x 100ml tubes or; Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR3a Equipped with fixed angular rotors for 10 x 50ml tubes or; Physical Inspection and literature review

MTR3b Equipped with fixed angular rotors for 20 x 15ml tubes Physical Inspection and literature review







3. THE ESTIMATED ANNUAL VOLUME IS APPROXIMATELY 205 CENTRIFUGES EACH YEAR. Aggregate purchases may result in less than or more than the estimated annual volume of purchases. The quantity provided reflects an estimate for planning purposes. These quantities are derived from recent purchases; however, VA makes no guarantee regarding the actual quantities that may be purchased.



4. REQUESTED INFORMATION (1) CAPABILITY: Indicate if your firm can provide the required items, in the estimated quantities. (2) STATEMENT OF INTENT: Interested parties are requested to respond to this Sources Sought by expressing their intent to submit a quote if an RFQ is issued. (3) BUSINESS SIZE AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF THE OFFEROR AND MANUFACTURER (IF DIFFERENT) AS RELATED TO THE REQUIRED ITEMS: (a) Indicate the socioeconomic status of your firm. (b) Indicate if you are a small business distributor of items manufactured by a small business manufacturer. NOTE: To receive award based on VOSB or SDVOSB status you must be registered in the VetBiz Registry.



Interested parties shall return the attached questionnaire, via email, to Debbie Frankovich (Debbie.frankovich@va.gov). TELEPHONE REQUESTS WILL NOT BE HONORED. All responses must be received NO LATER THAN 4:00 pm EDT on FRIDAY, 28 Nov, 2014.