Automated centrifugation-based plate washer with dispenser system

This is a Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Background: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), Tox21 and TRND programs are requesting the purchase of an automated, centrifugation-based plate washer with dispenser system. This instrument will enable NCATS researchers to gently wash microplates using centrifugation, which will greatly increase the throughput of ELISA based assays, and other assays that require multiple wash steps. Centrifugation allows for a contact-free and complete removal of liquid from the well without disrupting adherent cells. High-throughput screening projects require the washing of 384- and 1536-well microplates. Currently, two of our labs only have aspirator-type washers to perform this function. Using an aspirator-type washer (only permissible for 384-well assays) is a tedious procedure, and each wash step can introduce a degree of error into the assay, due to variable volumes removed from wells. Also, some cells do not tolerate the agitation of multiple dispense/aspiration steps, so cells can be lost from wells in cell-based assays. One of NCATS’ goals is to develop methods that advance the science of high-throughput screening and informatics by addressing the high incidence of false-positives in target discovery. To this end, it is imperative we reduce errors to minimal. The washer will reduce noise in many phenotypic screens we are running as part of our research screenings, and permit screening of assays using hepatocytes as the mammalian cell type infected by parasites and/or viruses. Purpose and Objectives: This Sources Sought notice seeks to determine eligible sources capable of achieving the essential features of this potential requirement. The purpose of this potential requirement is to obtain one (1) automated centrifugation-based plate washer with dispenser system capable of working with all microplate formats,in accordance with the essential features described below. Project requirements: Generic Name of Product: automated centrifugation-based plate washer with dispenser system Brand Name of Product: BlueCatBio BlueWasher FAR 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999) is applicable to this Sources Sought Notice. Salient Characteristics: 1573-L – BlueWasher – Qty 1 1576-US - Control Laptop Win10 – Qty 1 2DISMAG32AP - Dispenser System, 32 pin, adjustable pressure with magnetic quick swap – Qty 1 1575 – Dispenser Package 1536 – Qty 1 2DISAS - Dispenser, slanted – Qty 1 2INP1 - Additional liquid input channel – Qty 3 2CNM8 - Carrier, h8, 52mm cut-out – Qty 1 3SW120 - 12 Month Limited Warranty – Qty 1 Anticipated period of performance: One-time delivery to ship within 30 days after receipt of order Requested Response: The intent of this sources sought notice is to define the procurement strategy (e.g. set-aside, sole source, unrestricted) for a solicitation that is intended to be posted soon. Interested contractors are requested to respond by (1) identifying how their proposed product meets or exceeds the project requirements listed above; and (2) providing product literature, white papers, or capability statements that demonstrate their bona fide ability to supply such an item within the time frame described above. In addition, please state your business size status and whether you are the manufacturer or authorized distributor of the item you propose. Please note that NCATS is particularly interested in small business sources. If you are a small business, please state the type of small business (small business; HUBZone; service-disabled, veteran-owned; 8(a); veteran-owned; woman-owned; or small disadvantaged businesses) and your size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. The respondent must also provide their DUNS 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. The information submitted must be must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirements and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. 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 e-mail addresses. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contracting Specialist. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Ty Lawson, Contracting Specialist, at e-mail address [email protected]. The response must be received on or before June 1, 2020, 3:00pm , Eastern Time. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published at beta.SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).