Introduction

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 provide a potential requirement.

Background, Purpose, Objectives

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC) is currently seeking sources capable of providing the Biacore 8K Surface Plasmon Resonance system manufactured by Cytiva Inc. The VRC determines the immune correlates of protection against emerging infectious diseases. The Vaccine Research Center (VRC) is performing critical work in pandemic response to SARS-CoV-2 infection (i.e., COVID-19). The VRC is analyzing SARS-CoV-2 specific immune responses following infection and vaccine induced immune response. In this project, we are developing an assay that will assess the reactivity of vaccine-induced antibodies in a quantitative manner. This project will require a high-throughput SPR instrument with automated sample injection to handle the anticipated quantity of controls and samples needed to perform the method. Further, we require an instrument with the ability to run unattended for extended periods of time to adhere to NIH/VRC social distancing guidelines. The Biacore 8K+ (manufacturer # 29344964) is the only system that meets our requirements in sensitivity, throughput, and automation.

Project Requirements

Successful offerors must be authorized resellers of the requested equipment, and only this brand of equipment will be accepted.

The Government anticipates making an award, firm fixed price award for this requirement.

Anticipated Period of Performance

It is anticipated that an award will be made in August 01, 2019 and will be valid for 120 days (ARO).

Capability Statement/Information Sought

All capable vendors should respond with a brief capability statement by June 30, 2020 at 5:00 PM EST. Capability statements must reference the Biacore 8K distributions performed by the contractor.

If your organization has the potential capacity to support this requirement, please provide the following information: 1) organization name, address, point of contact, email address, website address, telephone number, DUNS number and type of ownership for the organization; and 2) tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of capability.

Capability statements should also include documentation indicating that offerors business size as determined by the Small Business Administration’s Table of Size Standards located at: (https://www.sba.gov/content/small-business-size-standards) for NAICS 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing . This SBA size standard is currently 1000 employees, but is subject to change. Prospective offerors may also note whether they meet any other socio-economic business categories such as 8(a), Hub-Zone, or Service Disabled Veteran when submitting their capability statement.

Submission Instructions

Interested businesses who consider themselves qualified to provide the above-listed equipment are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by June 30, 2020 at 5:00 PM EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to purchasing agent, Laura Grey: [email protected].

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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. 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).