FluoPulse Fluorescence Lifetime Photometry System

PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS

INTRODUCTION

THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION.  The National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of the National Institute of Digestive and Diabetes and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) intends to award to Doric Lenses Inc. for the procurement of a FluoPulse Fluorescence Lifetime Photometry System.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE

The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 with a Size Standard of 1000.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Circular (FAC) 2025-01 effective 11/12/2024.  This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000) and FAR Subpart 12- Acquisition of Commercial Items.         

STATUTORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold.  Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements.

PlaceofPerformance

National Institutes of Health

9000 Rockville Pike

Bethesda MD 20892

United States

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

As part of the NIH, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Intramural Research Program (IRP) conducts biomedical research and training related to diabetes mellitus; endocrine, bone, and metabolic diseases; digestive diseases, including liver diseases and nutritional disorders; and kidney, urologic, and hematologic diseases. 

This purchase is to obtain the ability to quantitatively measure fluorescence biosensors signals using fluorescence lifetime photometry which will allow us to understand the neural and network dynamics of brain cells modulating feeding behavior. This is an imperative objective in the mission of NIDDK to combat obesity and diabetes. A major obstacle in our overall comprehension of these neural circuits is the inability to monitor neuromodulation and intracellular molecular signals in real time in a live animal. The purpose of this requirement is to acquire reliable fluorescence lifetime measurement equipment that is turn-key and ready to use.

REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

The following product features/characteristics are required for this requirement:  FluoPulse Console capable of controlling laser and detectors and acquire fluorescence signal from detectors; FluoPulse cube with optical components for 1 Excitation 488 nm, 1 Detector 500; 540 nm; 1 Opto FC port 628-642 nm Software for instrument control and data acquisition and data processing and Low autofluorescence fiber optic patch cord.

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-  NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10—Market Research.  Only one source is available: Per FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) the Contracting Officer has determined that Doric Lenses Inc is the only vendor with unique, proprietary technical capabilities to design and assemble such advanced optical systems that are also user-friendly and completely turn-key. The Vendor is also the only vendor that can provide such a system with a 30 day trial period to ensure that system fully meets our needs. Without this approval we will not be able to conduct reliable fluorescence lifetime photometry measurements and therefore completely unable to conduct our research experiments.

CLOSING STATEMENT

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provided feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.  Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement, unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Vendor/Contractor’s (UEI) the Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov is now the authoritative identifier for those doing business with the federal government. The DUNS Number is no longer valid for federal award identification, the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.”

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.  All responses to this notice 75N94025Q00022shall be submitted electronically by 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time, on December 11, 2024.