Metabolic Analyses - CHO Cell Characterization

This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition will be made in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 "Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items," as applicable, and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. Submit quotes on NIAID-RFQ19-1973527.

This solicitation is a request for quotes (RFQ). The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2019-03, effective July 12, 2019. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 541380, Testing Laboratories, with a small business size standard of $15,000,000.00.

Background and Laboratory Needs:
The Vaccine Research Center (VRC) of the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is developing vaccines for HIV-1 and other viruses. The goal of the Vaccine Production Program Laboratory (VPPL) is to efficiently translate candidate research vaccines into materials for proof-of-concept clinical trials and to enable advanced development and licensure by partners. The VPPL is responsible for process design and development, clinical good manufacturing practices (CGMP) manufacturing, pre-clinical safety testing and regulatory activities for all VRC products. VPPL has developed a robust CHO-DG44 expression platform for the production of VRC clinical candidate material for proof-of-concept studies. As an initiative to further streamline the process to increase the yields and quality attributes of the product, the research is characterizing high expressing cell lines with the control (Host) and low producing clones. Metabolic analysis of the CHO-DG44 cell characterization is needed to provide the lab the information on the cellular pathways and will potentially identify the bottlenecks in cell behavior to a particular attribute. Information that arises from these analyses will be used to future optimize the process platform to facilitate efficiency in the overall process design. See Statement of Work attachment for requirement. Quotes shall include the format in the attached quote proposal attachment.

FOB Point Shall be Destination: 9 West Watkins Road Room 200/250 Gaithersburg, MD 20878

Period of Performance/Delivery Time: 365 days after date of award

The Government intends to award without discussions, but reserves the right to conduct discussions should it be deemed in the Government's best interest. The Government intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order to the responsible contractor as a result of this RFQ that will include the terms and conditions set forth herein. NIAID will evaluate quotes to determine the most advantageous to the government. NIAID will make that determination based on technical acceptability, delivery and price. The Government's objective is to obtain the highest technical solution considered necessary to achieve the project objectives with a reasonable price. NIAID will evaluate for delivery and price only those quotes which are rated technically acceptable. In the event quotes are evaluated as technically equal, delivery and price will become major considerations in selecting the successful Vendor.

FAR provisions and clauses are attached.

Quoter must also include the following provision in their quote and check the appropriate response:
52.209-2 -- Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations--Representation. (Nov 2015)
(a) Definitions. "Inverted domestic corporation" and "subsidiary" have the meaning given in the clause of this contract entitled Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations (52.209-10).
(b) Government agencies are not permitted to use appropriated (or otherwise made available) funds for contracts with either an inverted domestic corporation, or a subsidiary of an inverted domestic corporation, unless the exception at 9.108-2(b) applies or the requirement is waived in accordance with the procedures at 9.108-4.
(c) Representation. By submission of its offer, the offeror represents that- (check one)
____(1) It is not an inverted domestic corporation: and
____(2) It is not a subsidiary of an inverted domestic corporation

By submission of a quote, the quoter acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation (www.sam.gov).

This is an open-market combined synopsis/solicitation for laboratory supplies as defined herein. The government intends to award a purchase order as a result of this combined synopsis/solicitation that will include the terms and conditions set forth herein. To facilitate the award process all quotes should include a statement regarding the terms and conditions herein as follows: "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document without modification, deletion or addition." OR "The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:" (Quoter shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s).)

Offers shall be e-mailed to julie.yun@nih.gov Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f).

SPECIAL NOTICE TO OFFERORS
Offerors are advised that the Government may share your information with non-government personnel who are assisting with the evaluation of quotes. The exclusive responsibility for source selection will reside with the Government. By submitting your offer, you will be consenting to disclosure of your offer to non-government personnel for purposes of evaluation.

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