Low volume liquid handling instrument (UW-MAD) [20-0020]

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is seeking bids for a Low Volume Liquid Handling Instrument through a Request for Bid (RFB) process for its Department of Medicine. The procurement is specifically for an advanced scientific instrument capable of dispensing volumes between 200 nanoliters and 5 microliters, with the ability to dispense cells and solutions with beads into 1536-well plates for high-throughput screening assays at a core facility. The bid was issued on August 28, 2019, with written questions due by September 5, 2019, and final bids required by September 12, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time. The university reserves the right to conduct oral presentations, product demonstrations, and vendor site visits prior to award. Bid evaluation will consider factors such as timeliness of delivery, with prices needing to remain firm and fixed for sixty days from the bid opening date. The successful instrument must be delivered FOB Destination Installed, with all delivery charges, installation, setup, and documentation included in the bid price.

The university encourages participation from certified Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Woman-Owned Businesses (WBE), and Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses (DVB), with potential preference awards available to certified MBE or DVB firms submitting qualified bids within five percent of the lowest bid. The contract will include a minimum one-year warranty on items and parts, with the warranty period beginning after successful acceptance testing within thirty days of installation. Service requirements mandate unlimited callback maintenance during normal business hours (8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday), with service calls to be returned within eight business hours and equipment serviced within one week of the initial call. Payment terms are set at Net 30 days following acceptance of items meeting all specifications. While no specific budget range was provided, the complexity of the instrument suggests a potentially significant procurement value. The contract may also qualify for GSA pricing, potentially offering additional cost-effectiveness for the university.