Cryogenic Storage System

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 334519-Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing with size standard 500 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. The Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation (DPI) at NCATS plans, conducts and uses both internal and contract resources to advance collaborative research projects across the pre-clinical phases of the translational science spectrum. To establish and move stem cell technologies forward through a more centralized effort, NCATS has launched the Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL) within the DPI.

SCTL studies cultured pluripotent stem cells that self-renew extensively and become differentiated into all cell types of the human body. The SCTL uses a multi-pronged scientific and technological strategy to better understand pluripotent stem cell biology with the ultimate goal to develop novel medicines and regenerative medicine applications for patients. The mission of SCTL is to generate standards and differentiation protocols in order to produce large numbers of relevant human cell types (e.g. dopamine neurons lost in Parkinson's disease). Increasing robustness and reproducibility of human stem cell protocols and implementing standard operating procedures (SOPs) is of major importance to the entire field. To this end, the SCTL scientists routinely cryogenically preserve stem cells. Acquiring the instrument described in this potential requirement will allow SCTL scientists to work with cells with higher vitality, recovery and proliferation from an automated storage system that ensures ultimate sample protection and full inventory control, thus saving NCATS time and resources while also contributing to a more efficient workflow.

Purpose and Objectives
The purpose of this potential acquisition is to obtain one (1) Cryogenic Storage system on a Brand-Name-or-Equal basis to the BioStore III Cryo System and accessories as described and identified herein manufactured by Brooks Automation, Inc., located at 15 Elizabeth Drive, Chelmsford, MA 01824-4111, for the SCTL.

The BioStore III System will provide SCTL scientists with a storage solution that combines the sample protection, safety, and accessibility of a high-efficiency Liquid Nitrogen (LN2) freezer with advanced automation features such as inventory control, cold-chain management and an ergonomic user experience. The BioStore III Software Controller enables order management and execution and friendly graphical user interface. This system protects samples for a longer period compared to other systems in cases where LN2 supply in unavailable, instead of having to make drastic modifications to the underlying LN2 freezer, which reduces the amount of time the freezer can maintain cryogenic temperatures in the absence of LN2 supply.

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 items identified in this notice that are manufactured by Olympus America, Inc. and deemed essential in meeting the government's needs.
Specifically, the following are considered essential characteristics of this potential requirement, or its equal:
1. 21 Day hold time in case of interrupted LN2 supply
Other solutions on the market make drastic modifications to the underlying LN2 freezer, reducing the amount of time the freezer can maintain cryogenic temperatures in the absence of LN2 supply. The BioStore III Cryo allows samples to be protected for a longer period than any other system in cases where LN2 supply in unavailable.
2. Portability in case of emergency
LO2 - Equipment should be on wheels and able to be moved in case of impending danger like storms or fire.
3. Batch loading of cryoboxes or sbs plates
LO3 - System should be capable of loading 10 cryoboxes or 10 sbs racks into final storage location in.