The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking small business concerns, including veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, small disadvantaged businesses, and women owned small businesses. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing; Small Business Size Standard is 500 employees. The following information is provided to assist the FDA in conducting Market Research to identify potential small business concerns for this effort:

The FDA Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) requires an upgrade of its existing BD FACSCanto II Flow Cytometer, Serial Number V33896101657, from a 6-color, 2-laser system to a 8-color, 3-laser system to aid in defining the biomarkers of infection for malaria and Babesia infection.

This upgrade shall also include installation of and training on upgraded system (inclusive of travel, labor, and parts) and corresponding clinical software for automation, compensation analysis, and quality control.

Interested small business concerns must respond with capability statements which are due in person, by postal mail, fax or email to the point of contact listed below on or before June 04, 2012 by 09:00 AM (Central Time in Jefferson, Arkansas) at the Food and Drug Administration, FDA/OO/OFBA/OAGS/DAP, Attn: Sondea Blair, 3900 NCTR Road, HFT-320, Jefferson, AR 72079-9502. Reference FDA 1104061.

Respondents should supply:
-Business name, DUNS number, business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number and email address.
-Indicate whether you are the manufacturer of the product put forth for consideration and if not the manufacturer, identify your position in the supply chain and identity the actual manufacturer.
-Capability statement with sufficient descriptive literature that unequivocally demonstrates the technically capability of the product.
-Description list of computer software, components, and accessories required to operate or otherwise support the instrument.
-Capability statements must provide enough information to determine if the company can meet the requirement and be not longer than 5 pages excluding set-aside certifications.
-Availability of requested equipment via U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule to include Schedule Number, Special Item Number (SIN), and Contract Number.
-Informational pricing.
-Prior experience over the last five (3) years in furnishing relevant upgrades to include institution and point of contact name, phone number and email address for each institution identified.

For information regarding this market survey, please contact Sondea Blair [email protected].

The government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, which is not identified in the response.

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 FedBizOpps. 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).