Chemical modeling software license

(i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii) The solicitation number is 75N95019Q00072 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) on a Full and Open competitive basis. This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5- Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12-Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is NOT expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold (SAT) of $250,000.00. A Fixed-Price type of Purchase Order contract is contemplated for any resulting contract entered into as a result of this solicitation.

(iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number / Effective Date: 2019-01 / 01-22-2019.

(iv) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541519 Information Technology Value Added Resellers with associated small business size standard of 150 employees.

(v) Background
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation's leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability. The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is a translational science center whose mission is to catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions.

The NCATS Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) is tasked with identifying and developing novel small molecule leads against a wide spectrum of human disease targets, which it accomplishes by screening thousands of small molecules in collaboration with both intra-and extramural researchers. In pursuit of this goal, the Center has a strong internal transdisciplinary team of scientists who continually discover novel small molecules for application against a wide range of human diseases.

NCATS has a requirement for an annual license for 5 users to help them with 3D SAR analysis, generate novel and diverse structures using bioisoteres, and help them in understanding SAR design by relating molecules by biological activity and comparing molecules from the same or different series. This software is needed to aid NCATS' chemists with comparing their synthesized small molecules using NCATS generated biological data for their effectiveness and suggest novel SAR design based on the information obtained. The requirement is solicited on a Brand-Name-or-Equal basis to the software license described in this solicitation.

Purpose and Objective:
Purpose and Objective: The purpose of this requirement is to obtain to an annual software license for 5 users for chemical modeling software containing the following products, quantity one (1) each: Torch with Activity Miner GUI; ForgeGUI GUI; SparkGUI GUI (Includes Database Generator); Engine Broker GUI on a BRAND-NAME-OR-EQUAL basis to the software manufactured by Cresset Biomolecular Discovery Ltd, located at New Cambridge House; Bassingbourn Road; Litlington SG8 0SS, UK.

Product Description: Products offered must include those salient physical, functional, or other characteristics that are deemed essential in meeting the government's needs. Specifically, the following are considered the salient characteristics for this requirement the software must possess:

3D SAR capability by comparing the molecule's fields.

Relates molecules by biological activity.

Compares molecules from the same or different series and use the comparison to allow for new designs or even a structural series.

Generates novel and diverse structures by finding biologically equivalent replacements for key moieties.

Creates qualitative and quantitative 3D models of activity using the shape and electrostatic character of NCATS molecules.

Contains activity models are calculated through a proprietary ligand comparison method.

Provides an intuitive and clear rationale for the change in activity and provide insights for future design iterations.

Service calls must be performed by a manufacturer-authorized, OEM-certified service engineers possessing the requisite training to ensure the proper manufacturer's proprietary software functioning. During service calls, NCATS will provide access to the facility system. The Contractor will perform the necessary service requests at no additional cost beyond the cost of the annual service contract and access to OEM hardware engineers for advice, help and assistance during core hours. The service engineer will provide documentation outlining the performance attributes of the components being serviced. Any necessary parts and accessory items must be compatible with the subject equipment. NCATS operates the subject equipment at 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850 that provides high quality optimization of measures in many labs across the Center.

Period of Performance
The period of performance will be effective for 12 months including the option to exercise two (2) additional one-year performance periods as option items, per the following:
Base Year: March 1, 2019 through February 29, 2020
Option Year 1: March 1, 2020 through February 28, 2021
Option Year 2: March 1, 2021 through February 28, 2022

Inspection and Acceptance
Inspection and acceptance will be performed at NCATS, located at 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850.

(vi) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following is provided as an addendum to FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors: Offerors should indicate an estimated delivery time in full after receipt of material to be tested.

(vii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following is an addendum to 52.212-2: Responses received to this RFQ will be evaluated on a Trade-Off basis. The award will be made on a competitive best value basis, using "tradeoff" among price-cost and non-price-cost factors. The Government may elect to award to other than the lowest priced offeror, or other than the offeror with the highest rated non-price-cost proposal. In either case, a tradeoff will be conducted. The government reserves such right of flexibility in conducting the evaluation as necessary to assure an award with the contractor providing the best value to the government. Although technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award, cost or price is also important to the overall award decision. All evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than cost or price. However, cost or price may become a critical factor in source selection in the event two or more offerors are determined to be essentially equal following the evaluation of all factors other than cost or price.

Offeror's submitting a response must provide a completed Price Quote to be evaluated and considered for award. Price quotes must indicate fixed unit pricing and total cost, including shipping cost and estimated time of delivery after receipt of order if applicable. Prices shall be quoted on an itemized basis with fixed-price pricing structure included for all work to be performed in accomplishing this requirement.

(viii) The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition.

(ix) The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. An addendum to FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The addendum includes the following FAR Clauses, provisions, terms and conditions: (a) 52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999).

(x) The provision of FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items applies to this acquisition as follows:
52.222-3 Convict Labor (June 2003)
52.222-19 Child Labor-Cooperation With Authorities and Remedies (Jan 2018)
52.222-21 Prohibition of Segregated Facilities (Apr 2015)
52.222-26 Equal Opportunity (Sep 2016)
52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities (Jul 2014)
52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons (Jan 2019)
52.223-18 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving (Aug 2011)
52.225-13 Restriction on Certain Foreign Purchases (Jun 2008)
52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-- System for Award Management (Oct 2018)
52.222-51 Exemption from Application of the Service Contract Labor Standards to Contracts for Maintenance, Calibration, or Repair of Certain Equipment-Requirements (May 2014)

In addition, the following FAR provisions are applicable to this solicitation and incorporated by reference: 52.204-7 System for Award Management (Oct 2018), 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018), 52.204-16 Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Jul 2016), 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Jul 2016).

(xi) There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition.

(xii) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement.

(xiii) Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. The PRICE QUOTE shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s); product description; and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria and a price proposal.

Offerors must include a completed copy of the provision at 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items, with their offer, or provide a copy of the valid certifications registrations and Representation and Certifications from the System of Award Management (SAM) applications at www.SAM.gov, which may be indicated on the Offeror's cover sheet.

In addition the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All Offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov."

All responses must be received no later than the date specified in this announcement. Late responses will not be accepted. All responses must reference the subject solicitation number. Responses must be submitted electronically to hunter.tjugum@nih.gov. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. For information regarding this solicitation, contact Mr. Hunter Tjugum by email at hunter.tjugum@nih.gov or by phone at 301-827-5304.

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