gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NIOSH/HELD/ACIB, 1095 Willowdale Road, Mail Stop: 4020, Morgantown, WV 26505, hereby announces its intent to issue a sole source contract in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1),to Miltenyi Biotec, Inc., 1201 Clopper Rd, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, for a gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters. The gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters is a benchtop instrument for the automated dissociation or homogenization of up to eight samples.

The gentleMACS Dissociators are designed for automated dissociation of tissues to obtain single-cell suspensions. This gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters unit is an isolation system that is required to provide flexibility to researchers for multitasking and allow consistent and higher productivity to keep up with increasing studies and workload. The gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with heaters offers full automation for tissue dissociation and is enabling the dissociation up to eight samples at a time, without cross contamination and meeting the labs requirements by providing the required performance in standardization of sample processing from tissue to single cell suspension with high yield and viability. It also integrates user-friendly connectivity features for maximum operator convenience and traceability, which significantly increases the efficiency and productivity of experimental tasks in the lab. This gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters is also required to dissociate cells from various organs such as spleen, lymph nodes, brain, kidney etc. and make a single cells suspension and purification for studying the function of specific immune cells population during inflammation, autoimmune disease or after cellular activation with various stimuli. The unique required specifications for this instrument are tubes that bear a unique rotor/stator system for the gentle and efficient tissue dissociation or homogenization and the gentleMACS Dissociators are the only known devices that in combination with the gentleMACS Tubes can be used to dissociate or homogenize various tissues in a closed system, and process multiple samples at once without cross contamination. Moreover, the gentleMACS Perfusion Technology using the gentleMACS Perfusers allows automated perfusion of tissue samples. In addition, the devices can be equipped with further accessories such as the gentleMACS Octo Cooler. The gentleMACS Dissociators and the compatible accessories mentioned above are unique in their characteristics and performance; specifically, the gentleMACS Tubes bear a unique rotor/stator system for the gentle and efficient tissue dissociation or homogenization, and the gentleMACS Dissociators are the only devices can be used to dissociate, homogenize or perfuse various tissues in a closed system. These integrated features and benefits are not available in one place and in the same format through any other entity.

The research team has utilized a gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters in previous studies that is housed in a NIOSH laboratory located in a separate building. Repeatedly transporting samples out of the lab has limited researcher ability to multi-task, and introduced the potential for sample contamination during transport. The workload in the Occupational Allergy Team has significantly increased and using an instrument located in a different building has become inconvenient and detrimental to the team’s ability to reproducibly process samples. Procuring the instrument to be housed in the lab where tissues are being processed with allow for more reproducible processing of tissues with increased viability and also lower the potential for contamination of tissues during transport. Other tissue dissociator systems were considered, but did not meet the needs of the laboratory. Specifically the RWD DSC-800 Single Cell Suspension Dissociator was considered; however, upon further research, the RWD website indicated that the tissue processing tubes for this instrument are not available in the US market. Additionally, for continuity of sample preparation consistent with previous studies, only the gentleMACS Octo Dissociator with Heaters utilizes the same reagents and dissociation conditions used in previous studies.

The justification for this non-competitive action is in accordance with FAR 13.106-1(b)(1), “only one source [is] reasonably available” Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are encouraged to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written capabilities statement which shall be considered by the agency. Please forward the capability statement to Maria Shamburger, MShamburger@cdc.gov, Contracting Officer, Reference 2024-85321. All vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to an award of a federal contract. The website is: www.sam.gov.

The Government will review any/all capabilities statements information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response to this announcement will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, negotiations will be conducted with Miltenyi Biotec, Inc. as the only source and a purchase order will be issued without any additional notices being posted.