NEPA21 Electroporation System

FedBizOps Synopsis

Document Type:  Combined Synopsis/Solicitation

Solicitation Number: RFQ-NIAID-2056969

Posted Date: 01/06/2021

Response Date: 01/13/2021

Set Aside: None

NAICS Code: 334516

Classification Code: 6640

Contracting Office Address:

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases/AMOB, 903 S. 4th Street, Hamilton, MT 59840

Primary Point of Contact: 

Dana Monroe at dana.monroe@nih.gov

Description:

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 (a written solicitation will not be issued) and quotes are being requested. The Solicitation number is RFQ-NIAID-2056969 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotes (RFQ).

This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2021-02 November 23, 2020.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, with a small business size standard of 1000 employees.  The requirement is being competed full and open competition, with a brand name or equal restriction, and without a small business set-aside.

This is a Request for Quotes for supplies of the same brand or equal.  The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has a requirement for supplies of the same brand or equal to the following specific items (1 each):

NEPA21 Electroporation system

NEPA electrokinetic tw1

NEPA platinum plate electrode

Cuvette Adaptor

Cuvette Holder

This requirement is for a NEPA21 electroporation system for the electroporation of RNA and DNA into zygotic embryos and cells for creating CRISPR cas9 gene edited animals and cells. It requires short pulses of current which has almost no detrimental effect on the cells and embryos. This equipment must provide direct introduction of sgRNAs and donor plasmids for CRISPR cas9 mediated gene targeting into the embryos and cells. In addition to electroporation of DNA and RNA in in vitro, this system should be able to be used directly in in vivo also via iGONAD (Genome editing via Oviductal Nucleic Acids Delivery) which is an efficient method to create CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene edited animals. This machine must have a high reproducibility to electroporate DNA, sgRNAs and plasmids into live embryos and in the oviducts by iGONAD (Genome editing via Oviductal Nucleic Acids Delivery), and a high degree of flexibility to switch from adult and embryonic cells to embryos with a high degree of gene editing capability. This machine must possess superior quality for embryos and cell survival which is highly critical to generate CRISPR/cas9 gene edited animals.

SPECIFICATIONS

# pulsing phases: Up to 4

Types of pulses: Poring and Transfer

# of poring pulses: 0-9

# of transfer pulses: 0-99

Decaying pulses: Yes

Reverse polarity: Yes

Impedance readout: Yes

Total energy readout: Yes, in Joules

Power Requirements: AC100-240V 50/60Hz

Size: 346(W) x 330(D) x113(H) mm

Weight: 7.5 kg

Warranty: 2 Year

Place of Performance: NIH, 12735 Twinbrook Parkway, Bethesda, MD 20852, United States.  FOB: Destination

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.  The award will be based on the following; technical capability to meet the requirements and price.

The following FAR provisions apply to this acquisition:

FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items (June 2020)

FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (Nov 2020)

FAR 52.204-7 System for Award Management (Oct 2018)

(Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://www.sam.gov/ in accordance with FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items (Please ensure 52.209-2 -- Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations--Representation. (Nov 2015) is updated in your SAM record)

FAR 52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements – Representation (Jan 2017)

52.204–24 Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video

Surveillance Services or Equipment (AUG 2020) *** Must complete representation if attached to this solicitation- see attachment 52.204-24

52.211-6 Brand Name or Equal.

As prescribed in 11.107(a), insert the following provision:

Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999)

      (a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as "brand name or equal," the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government’s needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that "equal" products must meet are specified in the solicitation.

      (b) To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must-

           (1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation;

           (2) Clearly identify the item by-

                (i) Brand name, if any; and

                (ii) Make or model number;

           (3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and

           (4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications.

      (c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate "equal" products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.

      (d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an "equal" product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation.

(End of provision)

The following FAR contract clauses apply to this acquisition:

FAR 52-212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items (OCT 2018)

FAR 52-212.5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items (Nov 2020)

*The applicable subparagraphs of FAR52.212-5 are included in the attachment to this posting.

FAR 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (Dec 2013)

FAR 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)

HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 2015)

52.252-2 -- Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (Feb 1998)

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 this address:  http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm

By submission of an offer, the offeror 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).

Copies of the above-referenced provisions and clauses are available from http://www.acquisition.gov/far/loadmainre.html & http: //www.hhs.gov/regulation/index.html or, upon request, either by telephone or fax.

Submission shall be received not later than January 13, 2021 @ 5:00PM PST

Offers may be e-mailed to Dana Monroe (E-Mail/ dana.monroe@nih.gov). Offers shall include RFQ number in the subject line (RFQ-NIAID-2056969). Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f)

All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by this Agency. 

Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to Dana Monroe at dana.monroe@nih.gov.