Tissue Processor with Uninterrupted Power Supply

Response Deadline: 10:00PM Eastern, Thursday, April 21, 2016

RE: Request for Information (RFI) - Tissue Processor with Uninterrupted Power Supply

The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USU) is the Nation's federal health sciences university and is committed to excellence in military medicine and public health during peace and war. We provide the Nation with health professionals dedicated to career service in the Department of Defense and the United States Public Health Service and with scientists who serve the common good. We serve the uniformed services and the Nation as an outstanding academic health sciences center with a worldwide perspective for education, research, service, and consultation; we are unique in relating these activities to military medicine, disaster medicine, and military medical readiness. USU is located in Bethesda, MD on the grounds of the Naval Support Activity Bethesda.

USU has a requirement for a tissue processor meeting the specifications listed below:

Required Specifications:

Required Specification (Justification for Specification)
Fully Enclosed fume system (minimizes exposure of chemical fumes to personnel) 
Self contained exchange of chemicals (minimizes exposure of chemical fumes to personnel)
Capable of processing 300 cassettes to (maximize daily support of histology workload)
Enhanced reagent management system (to avoid tissue cross contamination)
Ability to optimize volume and flow rates (to provide variable processing schedules based on tissues)
Automatic internal diagnostics (to support Good Laboratory Practices (GLP) documentation)
Capable of saving 50 tissue schedules (to provide variable processing schedules based on tissues)
Heated retort (to reduce condensation while eliminating fumes)
Uninterrupted Power supply (to prevent power loss and variations during tissue processing)

Desired Specification (Justification for Specification) 
User friendly processing functions (for use of laboratory personnel)
Options for annual service contracts (for service and longevity of the equipment)
Password protection (to avoid accidental changes in processing)

If you are interested in this requirement, please answer the following questions:

1. Are the specifications listed above clear?
2. Are you able to quote a processor that will meet the specifications identified above?
3. If no, what specifications could you not meet?
4. What is the brand name and model number of the processor you would quote?
5. Is the processor manufactured by yourself or another company?
6. If the processor is manufactured by another company, what is the name of the manufacturer?
7. What type of warranty is provided (duration)?
8. Are you able to provide firm-fixed pricing for future preventative maintenance or service periods (option years)?
9. If yes, how many option years are you able to quote firm-fixed pricing for?

Please provide the following with your submission:
1. Company name and address
2. DUNS Number
3. Socio-Economic Status (Small, SDVOSB, etc.) - Socio-economic status will be verified in SAM.gov.
4. Point of Contact (Name, Email and Phone Number)

This is a Request for Information (RFI) only and does not guarantee that a solicitation will be issued for this requirement. Vendors responding to this RFI are doing so at their own cost and will not be reimbursed by the Government for preparation costs.

The Government reserves the right to request additional information at any time.

All responses are due by 10:00PM Eastern, April 21, 2016.