Molecular Devices FLIPR Tetra High-Throughput Cellular Screening Systems with attachments and supporting reagents, brand name or equal

This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.
Please note that to qualify as an eligible small business for purposes of a small business set-aside, at least 50% of the cost of contract performance incurred for personnel must be expended for employees of the small business awardee (see FAR 52.219-14 Limitations on Subcontracting).

Purpose and Objectives
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 translational science center that prides itself on its tremendously productive pipeline and is innovative in several ways. NCATS brings together a diverse range of scientists, including medicinal chemists, biologists, toxicologists, and engineers, in to ultimately translate basic science into real products and services that help improve people's lives.
NCATS seeks high-throughput cellular screening systems to aid in the fight against opioid addiction and enhance research on pain management. These systems will add to NCATS' existing robotic system and increase NCATS' ability to perform time-sensitive assays and address key technological needs for projects that have strong implications on the pain and opioid addiction fields of research.

Project Requirements
NCATS seeks to purchase two (2) Molecular Devices FLIPR Tetra High-Throughput Cellular Screening Systems, or brand-name equal systems. The FLIPR Tetra High-Throughput Cellular Screening System provides an automated solution for identifying early leads in the drug discovery process and for evaluating drug efficacy and toxicity. With simultaneous pipette and read function, the system supports fast kinetic cellular assays. It can be quickly configured based on library size, detection mode, screening format, assay and target. It is a fully integrated solution with a seamless transition from assay development to lead optimization.
The FLIPR Tetra systems are commercially available and are customized with options to fit the specific laboratory needs. Brand name or equal multimodal high-throughput cellular screening systems must have the following salient characteristics:
• Intensified CCD camera capable of both standard fluorescence and aequorin luminescence detection to enable membrane potential assays/detection
• User-configurable 384-, and 1536-well pipettors/pin tools
• User-exchangeable cell suspension option
• Intuitive, user-friendly software interface
• Internal plate handler for accelerated throughput
• Easy Integration into the Kalypsys Robotic Platform
The requirements also include field installation of the systems and on-site training for NCATS staff.

Anticipated Period of Performance
Delivery of the systems is to occur within ten (10) weeks after receipt of order, with installation and on-site training occurring shortly thereafter.

Required Information
All capability statements must provide the following: (1) DUNS number; (2) organization name; (3) organization address; (4) point of contact; (5) point of contact title, address, telephone, and email address; and (6) size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) pursuant the applicable NAICS code.
Submission Instructions and Due Date
Written capability statements must be SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 12:00PM EDT FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018 to the below Contracting Office Address, Attn: Kimberly Espinosa. Electronic capability statements will be accepted by the primary point of contact listed below.

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 pre-solicitation 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).

Contracting Office Address
NCATS Section
NIDA Office of Acquisition
6001 Executive Boulevard
Suite 3151, MSC 9531
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9531*

*Use Rockville, MD 20852 for Fed-Ex/USPS/Courier/Hand-Delivery

Points of Contact
Primary Point of Contact:
Kimberly Espinosa
Contract Specialist
Kimberly.espinosa@nih.gov
Phone: (301) 827-3546

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