Long Read Sequencing Kits

 (i)        This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued.

(ii)        The solicitation number is 75N95020Q00236 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ).

This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5— Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. 

(iii)       The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2020-07, with effective date July 2, 2020.

(iv)       The associated NAICS code is 334516and the small business size standard is 1,000 employees.   This requirement is full and open with no set-aside restrictions.

(v)        This requirement is for the following items: Oxford Nanopore Long Read Sequencing Kits. This is a Brand Name or Equal requirement.

(vi)       NIH Requires 1 each of the following:

• PromethION 48 Starter Pack, Starter Pack, Sequencing Unit (Catalogue Number PRM48BasicSP)
• PromethION Flow Cell 72 packs (Catalogue Number FLO-PRO002)
• Shipping charges shall be included in the quote

(vii)      The Government anticipates award of a firm fixed-price purchase order for this acquisition, and the anticipated delivery date is within 6 months after receipt of order (ARO). Delivery will be f.o.b. destination. The place of delivery and acceptance will be 35 Convent Drive, Bldg 35, Bethesda MD 20892.

(viii)     The provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at these addresses:  https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far   https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html   

(End of provision)

The following provisions apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference:

• FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (Oct 2018)
• FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Jul 2016)
• FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999)
• FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Jun 2020)
• FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Mar 2020)
• HHSAR 352.239-73, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015)

The clause at FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at these addresses:

https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far     https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html  

(End of clause)

The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference:

• FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)
• FAR 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Jul 2016)
• FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items (Oct 2018).
• HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015)

The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text:

• FAR 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Aug 2020)
• FAR 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Aug 2020)
• FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items (Jun 2020)
• NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions (2/2014)

(ix)       The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. 

(a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirement; and (ii) price.

Technical is significantly more important than price.

 (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.

(x)        Offerors must include a completed copy of the following FAR provisions with their offer:

• 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Aug 2020)
• 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Jun 2020)

(xiii)     There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition.

(xiv)     The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement.

(xv)      Responses to this solicitation must include sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities of providing the product or service. The price quote shall include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, delivery days after contract award, delivery terms, prompt payment discount terms, F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), product or catalog number(s), product description, and any other information or factors that may be considered in the award decision. Such factors may include: past performance, special features required for effective program performance, trade-in considerations, probable life of the item selected as compared with that of a comparable item, warranty considerations, maintenance availability, and environmental and energy efficiency considerations.

Respondents proposing on an equal product of the brand-name product 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; quantity; estimated price or cost; shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and delivery date after receipt of order. 

The Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.

All quotations must be received by 10:00 am Eastern Daylight Time, on August 28, 2020 and reference Solicitation Number 75N95020Q00236. Responses must be submitted electronically to Karen Mahon, Contracting Officer, at Karen.Mahon@nih.gov.

Fax responses will not be accepted.

(xvi)     The name and telephone number of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation: Karen Mahon, Contracting Officer, Karen.Mahon@nih.gov.