NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE CONTRACT.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate a contract on a sole source basis with ProteinSimple, San Jose, CA. The purpose of the contract is for the contractor to supply the JESS Protein Separation Apparatus. The system is new and under patent so there are no refurbished or generic models available. Western blots are used to detect proteins in cells or tissues. The lab has been doing these experiments manually using Bio Rad Mini Protean Tetra gel boxes. The JESS system will be used to examine the expression level and size of normal and mutant protein. The Laboratory of Molecular Genetics performs basic biological research on hearing and deafness. The research results are published in scientific journals and are subjected to strict peer review. The NIDCD currently studies proteins that are expressed in the inner ear. Until now, Western Blot systems were gel based, requiring both labor intensive and time- consuming steps-sample preparation, acrylamide gel electrophoresis, transfer to a membrane, fluorescent immunostaining, washing, imaging, and data analysis. The JESS platform is capillary based as opposed to gel based, so most of the steps are performed by the instrument rather than the researcher-- electrophoresis, transfer, immunostaining, imaging, and data analysis. Users prepare and load the sample, then view and work with the analyzed data peaks. Unlike the traditional bands on a gel, peaks generated by the capillary instrument allow the user to measure the protein size and concentration. Traditional bands are also available for quick verification of a protein's presence or absence in a given sample. ProteinSimple is the only manufacturer of capillary based Western Blot systems

Responses
The proposed acquisition action is for items and/or services for which the
Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the
authority of FAR 13.106-1 (b). If you believe you can provide the items or
services, please forward capability statements to [email protected] by 5pm
(ET) on Friday June 21, 2019 and reference solicitation number
NIHOLAO-OD3-NOI-5382794.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract
acquisition based upon responses to the notice is solely within the discretion
of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for
the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.
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. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. 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.
Any solicitation resulting from the analysis of information obtained will be
announced to the public in Federal Business Opportunities in accordance with
the FAR Part 5. However, responses to this notice will not be considered
adequate responses to a solicitation. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or
sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government
reserves the right to use any nonproprietary technical information in any
resultant solicitation(s).

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