The Human Emulation Organ-on-a-Chip Instruments and Accessories

Background:

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Neural Differentiation Unit NTDU/Translational Neuroscience Center (NDU) requires a purchase of Human Emulation (brand name or equal) Organ-on-a-Chip instruments and accessories, which is a platform utilizing organ chips to recreate the natural physiology and mechanical forces that cells experience in the human body and the software applications, to work with various Organ-Chips for integration and analysis. The instrument will expend NDU lab capability to use Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSCs) to make brain organoids on a chip to study neurological disorders.

The mission of the NDU lab is to develop in vitro 3D organoid models to study neural development and degeneration and pathology infectious diseases in the human brain. The 3D brain organoids consists of a varieties of neurons and the other brain cells including endothelial, microglial and oligodendrocytes. The lab previously established multiple 3D brain organoids to research the role of HERV-K on human neural development and tumorigenicity, pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ALS, pathogenesis of Zika virus on human brain development.

This purchase of a Human Emulation System (brand name or equal) Organs-on-Chips platform requires a system with greater precision and control than cell culture or animal-based testing methods. The Organ-Chip must have the ability to be configured to emulate many organs, including brain by culturing different types of cells in two adjacent chambers, creating the body’s dynamic cellular microenvironment, including tissue-to-tissue interfaces, media flow, and mechanical forces, such as flow and stretch. It must have the ability to be used as a platform to study a variety of neurological conditions, including the function of Blood-Brain barrier (BBB) or neuroinflammation involving interactions from multiple cell types or tissues.

A capable vendors must demonstrate its ability to provide the following brand name or equal items:

Items:

Orb Hub Module 1 (Orb-HM1); cat# Orb-HM1; quantity of 1

Zoë Culture Module 1 (Zoë-CM1); cat# Zoë-CM1; quantity of 1

Fixed Chip Imaging Adapter Kit; cat# CHIP-IMG; quantity of 1

Basic Research Chip Kit- 12 PK; cat# BRK-WER-12, quantity of 4

The brand name or equal items should possess the following salient characteristics:

General:

Overall Size 330 x 330 x 298 mm (13” x 13” x 11.75”)

Weight 7.3 kg (16 lbs)

Power Consumption 105 W

Operating Requirements:

Electrical Power 100-240 VAC 50-60 Hz

Gas Input Pressure 10-20 psig, fixed source / 3000 psi, 68 gm canister

Gas Input Composition 100% CO2

Environmental:

Operating Temperature 10-35 ºC

Relative Humidity 30-80% RH

Max Altitude 2000 meters

Storage Temperature -5-60 ºC

Storage Humidity 30-90% RH, non-condensing

IP Rating IP12B

Technical:

Gas Output Composition 5% CO2, balance air

Gas Output Pressure 275 + / - 35 kPa (40 + / - 5 psig)

Mixed Gas Flowrate 130 mL / min maximum

Vacuum Output 73 kPa (10.6 psi), minimum

Electrical Output 4 x 12 VDC, powers up to four Zoës

CAPABILITY STATEMENT

Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize itself with the requirements of this product or service. Failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk.

The established NAICS code is 541714. Respondents must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) best estimated delivery date after receipt of order; (d) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in this announcement.

Any other specific and relevant information about this particular area of procurement that would improve our consideration and evaluation of the information presented is desirable. Documentation may include, but not be limited to, contracts both Government and commercial the organization performed, references, i.e., names, titles, telephone numbers and any other information serving to document the organizations capability, e.g., awards, commendations, etc.

The respondent must also provide their Unique Entity ID number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the product requirement. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response must include the respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and email addresses.

Respondents must reference announcement number 75N95022Q00220 on all correspondence related to this Small Business Sources Sought notice. The response must be submitted electronically to alexander.beraud@nih.gov and be received prior to the closing date specified in this announcement.

The response must be received on or before May 23, 2022, 05:00 pm, Eastern Time.

PLEASE SEE THE ATTACHED SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE FOR ALL RELEVENAT DETAILS.