To maintain and provide preventive maintenance for BRAVO Liquid Handling Platform w/Gripper, 384 channel disposable Tip Head, ST and 96 channel disposable Tip Head, ST

DESCRIPTION:

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), ), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), currently has a need to maintain and provide preventive maintenance for a BRAVO Liquid Handling Platform and two (2) Disposable Tip Pipette Heads as listed below.

This is a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and shall be processed in accordance with (FAR Part 13– Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation that will be provided in relation to the stated need contained herein. This solicitation is issued as a Request for Quote (RFQ) and includes applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2023-04 (06/02/2023).

This requirement is a Total Small Business Set-Aside.The requirement’s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 811210 – Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance with a size standard of $34.0 million.

One Firm-Fixed-Priced award is anticipated to be made as a result of this solicitation.  

TITLE

Maintenance and Service Contract for Government-Owned Agilent Bravo Liquid Handling Platform w/Gripper, 396ST, 396-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head, and 96ST 96-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head Equipment.

BACKGROUND

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR) requires maintenance and support for the Agilent Bravo Liquid Handling Platform w/Gripper, a 396ST 396-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head, and a 96ST 96-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head which is used extensively in support of ongoing cancer research.

SCOPE 

The Contractor shall provide all labor, material, and equipment necessary to maintain and provide preventive maintenance for the following equipment and their associated components:

1. Agilent, Bravo Liquid Handling Platform w/Gripper (Serial No.: SGS11BLH20601)
2. Agilent, 396ST 396-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head (Serial No.: 12005481051)
3. Agilent, 96ST 96-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head (Serial No.: SG1835N007)

All maintenance services shall be performed on-site in accordance with the Original Equipment Manufacturer’s (OEM) most current standard commercial maintenance practices.  Onsite and emergency services shall be provided during standard business hours (Defined as 8:00 – 17:00 EST, Monday through Friday, excluding Federal Holidays found at (www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays) and extended hours (17:00 – 21:00 EST, Monday through Friday) for any issues not able to be resolved remotely, or during normal business hours. Software updates/services may be provided remotely as applicable. All travel, labor and materials shall be included in the purchase order price.

TYPE OF ORDER

This shall be issued as a firm-fixed-price Purchase Order for Severable Services.

GENERAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE 

The Contractor shall perform one (1) planned preventive maintenance during the contract period.  Technically qualified OEM-trained personnel shall perform Service.  Service shall consist of a thorough cleaning, positional calibration, calibration of aspiration and dispense volumes with fluorescent dyes and spectroscopy reading, adjusting, inspection, and testing of all equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s latest established service procedures.  All equipment shall be operationally tested through at least one (1) complete operating cycle at the end of the preventive maintenance inspection to assure optimum and efficient performance.

A loaner head shall be provided by the Contractor if the PM/repair service of the 396ST 396-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head and 96ST 96-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head is to be conducted off site and all parts, labor and shipping costs shall be included.

EMERGENCY SERVICE

On-site, emergency repair service visits shall be provided during the term of this contract at no additional cost to the government. Emergency service shall be provided during normal working hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 – 17:00 EST, excluding Federal Holidays. Upon receipt of notice that any part of the equipment is not functioning properly the initial service response time by the Contractor shall not exceed 24 hours. The onsite service response time shall not exceed (3) business days after all remote diagnostic sessions have been exhausted and a service visit is required.  A qualified OEM-trained service representative shall inspect the equipment and perform all repairs and adjustments necessary to restore the equipment to normal and efficient operating condition.  Emergency service calls shall not replace the necessity for planned preventative maintenance.  All labor, materials, and travel shall be included in the purchase order pricing.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT:

The Contractor shall provide unlimited phone, email, and remote support sessions support at no additional cost to the Government.  General technical support for trouble-shooting of the instrument and software application support shall be available MON-FRI 8:00 – 17:00 EST, excluding Federal holidays.

REPLACEMENT PARTS:

The Contractor shall furnish all required replacement parts at no additional cost to the Government, with the exception of consumables. All parts shall be OEM parts that are new or certified OEM remanufactured. Upon identification of required parts, they shall be delivered as soon as possible.

SOFTWARE UPDATES/SERVICE:

The Contractor shall provide Software Service and updates in accordance with the manufacturer’s latest established service procedures at no additional cost to the Government. Updates shall include error revisions, reliability fixes to existing software, and all other similar updates. Additionally, the Contractor shall provide unlimited telephone, remote support sessions and email access to technical support for use of program software and troubleshooting of the operating systems, at no additional cost to the Government. The contractor shall receive advance approval for the installation of all software updates and revisions from the Government. Defective software shall be replaced at no additional cost to the government.

SERVICE EXCLUSIONS:

The Contractor shall not be responsible for any repairs necessitated by abuse, neglect, vandalism, Acts of God, fire or water.  These repairs shall be the subject of a separate purchase order and shall not be performed under this contract. 

PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

Personnel shall have a minimum of three (3) years OEM-training and/or similar experience in the servicing of the Agilent Bravo Liquid Handling Platform w/Gripper, 396ST 396-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head, and 96ST 96-Well Disposable Tip Pipette Head as covered by this contract.  Technically qualified, OEM-trained or similar training, and authorized service technicians shall perform all required services, and provide technical support for equipment specified above in Section 3.0. The technicians shall be specifically trained on covered equipment, associated accessories, and software. Technicians must have access to the latest official instrument documentation and software resources. All primary service personnel shall have at least one backup support person with at least the same level of expertise on the equipment covered by this contract.

FIELD SERVICE REPORTS

Field Service Reports (FSR): The Contractor shall provide an electronic FSR to NCI’s Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) within seventy-two (72) of hours of completion of any services performed on equipment or software covered under this requirement. The Contractor shall complete FSR to include at a minimum, the following:

Contractors Name

1. Technician’s name, telephone number, and signature
2. Date and Time at which services were performed
3. Equipment Make, Model, and Serial Number
4. Summary of malfunction/issue
5. Summary of work performed
6. Certification that equipment is fully operational

FSR shall be delivered in Microsoft Office 2013 or newer Word formats or Adobe PDF, unless prior approval for another format has been obtained from the TPOC.

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

NIH, Main campus

9000 Rockville Pike 

Bethesda, MD  20892

Contact:  TBD at time of award.

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The anticipated period of performance shall consist of one (1) twelve (12) month base period and four (4) option years.

Base Period:                          August 1, 2023 – July 31, 2024

Option Year 1:                        August 1, 2024 – July 31, 2025

Option Year 2:                        August 1, 2025 – July 31, 2026

Option Year 3:                        August 1, 2026 – July 31, 2027

Option year 4:                        August 1, 2027 – July 31, 2028