Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC) – High-throughput Automated Phenotyping Platform (HTP-APP)

The Pacific Northwest Division of Battelle Memorial Institute (Battelle), Management and Operating Contractor of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), on behalf of the Department of Energy, is issuing this request for information (RFI)/sources sought/expression of interest (EOI) announcement as a means of conducting market research to identify companies/contractors having interest in and the resources to develop and provide an automated High Throughput (HTP) Microbial Molecular Phenotyping Capability (M2PC), with maximum modularity, flexibility, and expandability, at PNNL’s Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) in Richland, WA.

THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AT THIS TIME. This request for information does not constitute a solicitation/request for proposals and submission of any information in response to this market survey is purely voluntary. This RFI/Sources Sought/EOI is released pursuant to FAR 5.201(e), Exchanges with Industry, and is issued for the purpose of conducting market research as described in FAR 10.002. As such, nothing in this request shall be interpreted as a commitment on the part of Battelle to enter into a contract with any respondent. Battelle assumes no financial responsibility for any costs incurred.   

Battelle will evaluate market information to ascertain potential market capacity and potential interested contractors capable of providing services consistent with those described in this RFI/Sources Sought/EOI. Telephone inquiries will not be accepted or acknowledged, and no feedback or evaluations will be provided to companies regarding their submissions. 

Additionally, Battelle is releasing the Draft Request for Proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of a High-Throughput Automated Phenotyping Platform (HTP-APP). The purpose of the Draft RFP is to solicit questions and comments from all interested parties, and to assist Battelle in developing a Final RFP for this procurement. During the development of the Final RFP, Battelle will consider the comments received from interested parties in response to the Draft RFP. 

BATTELLE IS NOT REQUESTING PROPOSALS AT THIS TIME AND INTERESTED PARTIES SHALL NOT SUBMIT PROPOSALS IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT RFP. BATTELLE WILL NOT EVALUATE ANY PROPOSALS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THE DRAFT RFP. PROPOSALS SHALL BE SUBMITTED ONLY IN RESPONSE TO THE FINAL RFP, CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED TO BE ISSUED IN QUARTER 1 OF CALANDER YEAR 2025. 

A Performance Specification is not available at this time; however, the major elements of scope are identified in Attachment 1, “HTP-APP_Technical Brief”. The various major elements of scope have descriptive statements that indicate Battelle’s desired outcome associated with the acquisition of the HTP-APP – this is intended to provide the interested contractors with insight regarding Battelle’s perspective on the objectives that need to be accomplished and Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) that are to be met.

Battelle will host a virtual industry briefing event to provide a more detailed overview of the project and additional project related information to interested potential offerors. This will provide an opportunity for Battelle to have discussions and dialogue with industry in order to garner additional insight and elicit interest in the future procurement opportunity. This event will take place via Microsoft Teams on Friday May 24, 2024 at 10:30am Pacific Time and can be accessed as follows: 

Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_OWNlMGMyODQtNjkzMi00NjZhLThkYzMtYzI5YTc0YzAxMWFl%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22d6faa5f9-0ae2-4033-8c01-30048a38deeb%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22f8855f5d-c069-4439-8d7f-51c7c0376d6a%22%7d 

Meeting ID: 295 226 709 784  

Passcode: ZcABBb  

Phone Number: (509) 408-1681 

Conference ID: 234 306 579# 

Interested parties who consider themselves capable to perform the necessary services and provide a fully functioning and operational HTP-APP are invited to: 

• Attend the industry briefing event on May 24, 2024

• Review the attached RFI documents and submit response and capability statement  

• Thoroughly examine the Draft RFP in its entirety and submit comments  

Responses and comments are to be submitted no later than 4:00pm Pacific Time, June 11, 2024. The response and capability statements as well as comments to the Draft RFP shall be no more than a total of fifteen (15) pages. All responses and comments must be emailed to Samantha.Ernst@pnnl.gov.