Scientific Automated -80°C Ultra-Low Temperature (ULT) Freezer System

The National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute seeks quotations for a scientific automated -80°C ultra-low temperature freezer system, with proposals due July 8, 2026. This is a commercial item procurement issued as a combined synopsis and solicitation under FAR Subpart 12.6, with no set-aside applied.

Place of performance is Bethesda, Maryland 20892. The freezer must maintain storage temperatures at -80°C ± 3°C with enhanced stability of ± 1.5°C and temperature homogeneity control. The facility has structural ceiling constraints: two beams at approximately 11 feet 7 inches height create a working clearance of 11 feet 6 inches, requiring vendor accommodation despite the stated 12-foot ceiling height in technical requirements. Fire code compliance requires a fire suppression system with sprinkler penetrations in the freezer ceiling or sidewalls per detailed engineering drawings. The system must be capable of picking samples at both -20°C and -80°C temperatures. The NHLBI Biospecimen Core currently manages approximately 35,000 biospecimens linked to 7,700 participant visits annually across 60 supported laboratories and oversees 300 manual freezers. Projected return on investment analysis forecasts approximately $1 million in annual savings by Year 2 and full cost recovery within five years, primarily through reductions in labor (88%), energy (67%), and floor space (66%).

Quotations must be all-inclusive using DDP Prepay terms with all freight and import fees incorporated in the quote submitted by the deadline; the government's system does not permit post-award cost adjustments. Vendors should provide a comprehensive itemized price list of tray options and estimate costs for filling approximately 80 percent of the freezer capacity. The NAICS code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The PSC is 6515, Medical and Surgical Instruments, Equipment, and Supplies.