Chromatography Mass Spectrometer system

INTRODUCTION
This is a Small Business Sources Sought (SBSS) notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the 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) their 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.
This notice is issued to help determine the availability and type of qualified Small Business companies technically capable of meeting this potential government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. The notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

The information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method including small business socio-economic set-aside possibilities and to determine the availability of qualified Small Business companies technically capable of meeting the Government's potential requirement. All Small Business companies with the capability and availability to perform the requirement under the applicable NAICS code are invited to submit a response to this notice.

NORTH AMERICAN CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The NAICS code applicable to this requirement is 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with size standard 1000 employees.

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.

Purpose and Objectives
This Small Business Sources Sought notice seeks to determine eligible sources capable of achieving the essential features of this potential requirement, which is to obtain two (2) Chromatography System Mass Spectrometer systems on a BRAND-NAME-OR-EQUAL basis to the Teledyne ISCO CombiFlash EZ Prep systems and accessories manufactured by Teledyne ISCO, Inc located at 4700 Superior Street, Lincoln, NE 68504. Each CombiFlash EZ Prep Chromatography System Mass Spectrometer includes an autosampler module for EZPrep, Mass Spec "L" with Fluid Interface to upgrade CombiFlash RF Plus and Lumen, EZPrep and AccqPrep, and ESI Ion Source for Base, S and L Mass Spec options.

At the NCATS Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC), there is a significant effort towards automation in chemistry to minimize repetitive manual steps, particularly in preparative purification. Chemists currently utilize flash silica gel chromatography systems. However, medicinal chemists at NCATS do not have access to mass directed purification in either normal or reverse phase purification systems; this forces a tedious manual LCMS analysis of fractions. Bench chemists also do not have access to automated sequential reverse phase purification of multiple samples. In order to prepare for the ramp up in automation, NCATS has a potential requirement for two (2) Chromatography System Mass Spectrometer systems on a Brand-Name-or-Equal basis, meeting or exceeding the performance characteristics, of the subject Mass Spec system described in this notice. Enabling the automated purification of samples with a wide range of polarity and analytical properties will significantly impact the work flow of all chemists within the NCGC chemistry labs at NCATS.

Project Requirements
Offerors submitting a response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice shall possess the ability to achieve the essential government features specified herein. Products offered must include those salient physical, functional, or other characteristics of the CombiFlash EZ Prep Chromatography System Mass Spectrometer, and accessories, that are manufactured by Teledyne ISCO, deemed essential in meeting the government's needs. The CombiFlash EZ Prep System is a combination Flash/ Preparative HPLC system designed for use by researchers for the purification of organic compounds and peptides and will serve as the end point for researchers to combine both normal and reverse phase purification capabilities within the same foot print. This potential requirement will enable the sequential purification of multiple samples with complete automation and the ability for remote monitoring of operations.

Specifically, the following are considered essential features of this potential requirement:
1. Purification with active solvent monitoring system that monitors solvent quantity and quality; with an automated detection system that turns off automatically after a solvent spill.
2. Remote software with ability to monitor and control gradients and solvents during purification remotely from their office desks.
3. Purification that detects columns automatically when loaded and automatically load the flow rate, pressure limits and gradient for the run.
4. Purification system with capability to go up to 200psi for Flash separations and 3500psi for HPLC separations and automatically switch between Flash and HPLC runs with automatic purge and switch when going from normal to reverse phase or reverse to normal phase.
5. Internal ELSD, a Mass Spec, for fraction collections via PDA, ELSD and MS simultaneously; ability to collect up four masses between 50 - 1200 Daltons at 1 Dalton resolution.

Products offered must be essentially equal to the specified supply described in this solicitation, which specifically includes the following quantity, product code, and product description:
2 685230028 CombiFlash EZ Prep Chromatography System Mass Spec Ready with integrated ELSD, 200-800nm UV-Vis variable wavelength detector. A standard system includes one set of two Rf collection racks for (140) 18 150mm test tubes; 234V Rf system ships with Rf collection racks for (150) 16 x 150 mm test tubes.
2 685237092 AutoSampler Module for EZPrep. Automatically purify several different samples with multiple injections while using different chromatographic conditions. Includes one sample load rack (default is for 13mm test tubes) and one set of collection racks (Default is for 18 x
150mm tubes (117V units) or 16 x 150mm tubes (234V units). Other racks can be substituted at time of order specified.
2 685237084 Mass Spectrometer ''L'' with Fluid Interface to upgrade CombiFlash Rf Plus & Lumen, EZ Prep & AccqPrep. Probe must be ordered separately. If being added to Rf Plus, Lumen or EZ Prep manufactured in 2016 or before, review part #605234310 for upgrade requirements.
2 250000129 ESI Ion Source for Base, S and L Mass Spec options
8 CHROMINSTALSALES Onsite Installation and Training per segment
In accordance with FAR Clause 52.217-9 OPTION TO EXTEND THE TERM OF THE CONTRACT, the following option years, as extended warranty maintenance coverage subsequent to any warranty in accordance with commercial standard practices, are applicable to this potential requirement: Full Service Coverage on EZ Prep with Autosampler and Mass Spectrometer, Part Numbers: 685239928, 685237084, 685237092. Coverage shall include parts, travel and labor costs for service calls to repair a unit, and one service call to install the preventative maintenance parts kit. Damages determined to be caused by repeated clogs, misuse or neglect are not covered. Consumable parts not included. Service plans must be performed by a manufacturer-authorized, OEM-certified field service engineer possessing the requisite manufacturer-authorized training to ensure proper manufacturer's proprietary software and hardware functioning.

CAPABILITY STATEMENTS/INFORMATION SOUGHT
Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize itself with the requirements of this project. Failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk.

Respondents must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in this announcement; (d) quantity; (e) shipping, handling, and/or installation instructions, and/or any special delivery conditions after receipt of an order.

Respondents that believe that they are manufacturers or authorized re-sellers of the equipment specified in this announcement must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in the purchase description; (d) quantity; (e) estimated price or cost; (f) shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and delivery date after receipt of order.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

The information submitted must be in outline format that addresses each of the elements of this requirement. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.
The response is limited to ten (10) pages. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The response must include the respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.
Respondents must reference the subject announcement number on all correspondence related to this Small Business Sources Sought notice. The response must be submitted to Hunter Tjugum electronically, at hunter.tjugum@nih.gov, and be received prior to the closing date specified in this announcement.

CONCLUDING STATEMENTS
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).

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