Qiacube connect

This is a Sources Sought Notice only. This is not a request for proposal, but a survey to locate potential sources. This Sources Sought does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals, or a Request for Quotations, and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an order or otherwise pay for the information solicited, nor is it a guarantee of a forthcoming solicitation or contract. It is for market research purposes only. Respondents will not be notified of the results of the evaluation.

The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities, and qualifications of various members of industry, to include the Small Business Community: Small Business, Section 8(a), Historically Underutilized Business Zones (HUB-Zone), Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB), and Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB). The Government must ensure there is adequate competition among the potential pool of responsible contractors. Small business, Section 8(a), HUBZone, SDVOSB, WOSB, & EDWOSB businesses are highly encouraged to participate.

NAICS Code: 334513, Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables

NAICS Size Standard: 750 employees

Sources Sought Closing Response Date: Five (5) Calendar days after posting.

Contact Point: Rafael Anderson, rlanderson@usgs.gov

The Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC) has a requirement for a QIAcube Connect automated system for spin-column purification of DNA, RNA, or protein from water or tissue samples. The instrument will support projects involving environmental DNA detection, gene expression analysis, RNA interference, and DNA sequencing. Projects are funded by the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area Invasive Species Program, the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area Environmental Health Program, and reimbursable grants from DoD, Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP).
Spin-column purifications of DNA, RNA, or protein from samples of water or tissue are well-established but demanding techniques. The QIAcube Connect offers a unique combination of features that fit our laboratories¿ need for an automated system to perform spin column purifications. The instrument offers full automation, capacity to purify 12 samples in parallel in each run, flexibility to run different kits specific to the needs of each project, QA/QC support for confirming correct setup for each run and tracing samples, and prevention of cross-contamination by UV LED light at wavelength 278 nm and optical power of 200-300 mW. The instrument contains a centrifuge with a swing-out rotor, maximum 45°, 12 rotor positions, and 12,000 x g maximum speed. The instrument contains a shaker with an amplitude of 2 mm and a speed range of 100-2000 RPM. The instrument contains a heater with a range of ambient temperature to 70 °C. The instrument contains a pipetting system with a syringe size of 1 ml and a pipetting range of 5 - 900 µl.


Responses: All interested parties should notify this office via e-mail within the posted date. Responses shall include:

(I) To what extent each of the specifications can be met.
(II) Include your type of business (i.e. commercial, academia), whether your organization is classified as a large or small business. If a small business, you must also list any small disadvantaged status you hold [HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Women Owned Small Business (WOSB), Economically Disadvantaged Women-Owned Small Business (EDWOSB), etc.].
Interested firms shall submit (1) NAME, ADDRESS, and PHONE NUMBER OF THE FIRM (including UEI (Unique Entity Identifier); (2) a CAPABILITY STATEMENT including (a) RECENT (within the last three fiscal years) RELEVANT (similar projects to this requirement) performance history (identify the name of the owner and their point(s) of contact with telephone and fax numbers, e-mail addresses; and (b) in what capacity (e.g., prime, subcontractor etc.) they performed the work; and (3) their SIZE STATUS.

Your company must have a UEI number and be registered on-line at the System for Award Management (SAM). You will also be required to provide your small business status information either via the On-line Representations and Certifications also located at the SAM.gov website before an award to your company can be made. Your on-line registration will cover any/all of your offers to the Federal Government, and only needs updated annually.

At this time, the Government is not accepting questions pertaining to the sources sought notice.

Responses to this source sought notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. All interested sources must respond to future solicitation announcements separately from responses to this market survey. Any solicitation that may be issued will be posted on the SAM.Gov. It is the responsibility of potential responders to monitor the site for additional information pertaining to this announcement.