Inverted Microscope System

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE 

1.    Solicitation Number:     75N95025Q00059

2.    Title: Inverted Microscope System

3.    Classification Code: 6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies 
4.    NAICS Code: 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

5.    Size Standard: 1,000 employees

5.    Description:  Inverted Microscope System

This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. 

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the 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.  This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

For equipment/supply requirements, small business responses must include: (1) the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture), as well as (2) the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule). Complete Attachment 2, 52.225-2-Buy-American-Certificate

Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality.

2.    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, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives.  
The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which mission it 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.

NCATS is tasked with identifying and developing novel small molecule, peptide and biologic leads against a wide spectrum of human disease targets, which it accomplishes by screening thousands of compounds 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 develop and optimize biological assays and discover novel small molecules for application against a wide range of human diseases.
The Assay Development and Screening Technologies (ADST) laboratory focuses on the advancement of therapeutic development through research and implementation of innovative assay designs and chemical library screening methods related to disease biology.  Towards this effort there is a large emphasis on mammalian cell culture and model organism, including C. elegans, assays to model human pathophysiologies.  These systems require continuous maintenance and visual validation of cell/organism health and proliferation for both assay development and high-throughput screening efforts.  As such it is necessary to have fully operational and equipment cell culture and nematode culture areas for the growth and use of these model systems.   

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to procure one (1) Nikon’s Eclipse Ts2-FL Fluorescence Microscope (Part #MFA34200) for NCATS and Nikon Ds10 Color digital camera Head, Epi Flurorescenced LED and Filter Sets (Part # MQA20000 and NIS Elements Documentation (Part #MQS33100) including additional items (below). This microscope camera is needed to continue its laboratory’s ongoing research which focuses on the advancement of therapeutic development through research and implementation of innovative assay designs and chemical library screening methods related to disease biology.

Project requirements: The significant, essential physical, functional, performance, or material element(s) that are the Government’s minimum acceptable standards for an equivalent Nikon (See below) manufactured by Nikon to meet the government’s objective are in Attachment 1: Purchase Description.

The microscope camera shall be warranted, and the Contractor shall warrant its equipment against defects in material, fabrication, or workmanship for a minimum of one (1) year from the date the Government accepts delivery of the item.

Anticipated period of performance or Delivery: Delivery within 30 days after receipt of order (ARO). In the alternative, provide lead times if delivery would exceed the 30 days. 

Other important considerations: In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.

Capability statement /information sought. 

The respondent must also provide their UEI 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.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein.  A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. 

The response is limited to ten (10) page limit.  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.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer.  Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted via email to the Contracting Officer, Michelle Cecilia (michelle.cecilia@nih.gov).  

The response must be received on or before 12/9/2024, 3:00 P.M., Eastern Time.

“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 presolicitation 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).”