This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.
The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition; and (4) availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality.
For equipment/supply requirements, small business responses must include: (1) the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture), as well as (2) the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule).
Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.
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: As part of the iPSC Neurodegenerative Disease Initiative, the National Institute on Aging (NIA) plans to measure how neurodegeneration-related mutations alter protein networks of disease-relevant iPSC-derived cells. The most sensitive and scalable method to measure these changes is through proteomic mass spectrometry. Recent advances in mass spectrometer technologies, particularly in orbitrap-based mass spectrometers, have enabled label-free data independent acquisition based quantification of thousands of proteins, including low-abundant proteins, from biological samples in single runs.
Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to provide mass spectrometry equipment for the iPSC Neurodegenerative Diseases Initiative (INDI) Project within the new Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (CARD).
Project requirements: Mass spectrometer system shall include:
• Ion source with adjustable heated electrospray ionization (HESI) probe.
• HESI probe flow rates between 1–1,000 µL/min.
• HESI probe with sweep gas for reduced chemical noise.
• Optional APCI probe compatible with liquid flow rates of 50–1,000 µL/min without splitting; the APCI probe can be upgraded to optional APPI capability.
• Atmospheric pressure ionization (API) interface with high-capacity ion transfer. tube (HCTT) with increased ion flux into the vacuum system for improved sensitivity and desolvation and vent-free maintenance.
• Electrodynamic ion funnel (EDIF) - a radio frequency (RF) device that efficiently captures and transmits ions as they leave the HCTT.
• EDIF with automatic tuning for broad ion transmission curves with reduced ion losses.
• Internal calibrant source to generate internal calibrant ions for real-time lock mass calibration in positive and negative modes.
• Internal calibrant source that provides <1 ppm root mean square drift over 24 hours.
• Internal calibrant source with automatic single point recalibrations.
• Advanced active beam guide (AABG) with axial field and low-pass ion filtering to reduce noise by preventing neutrals and high-velocity clusters from entering the quadrupole mass filter using a double bent geometry.
• Advanced quadrupole technology (AQT) with segmented quadrupole mass filter for precursor ion selection with variable precursor isolation width from 0.4 to 1,200 u.
• AQT tandem pass spectrometry precursor ion selection with high transmission from m/z 40 to 2,500.
• Robust AQT with RF-switching mode.
• AQT with quadrupole isolation switching of 1 ms for ion selection.
• Ion-routing multipole (IRM) for ion trapping and storage.
• IRM for higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) with nitrogen collision gas for acquisition of MS2 spectra.
• IRM for selection of absolute collision energy (CE) or normalized collision energy (NCE) for precursor fragmentation.
• IRM for variable pressure control with BioPharma option, optimizing performance for small and large molecule workflows.
• Automatic Gain Control (AGC) for dynamic adjustment of ion injection time based on real-time measurement of ion flux.
• Ultra-high-field mass analyzer with low noise detection pre-amplifier and 4 kV central electrode voltage.
• Next generation high-resolution accurate mass analyzer with ion processor with dual pressure regions to efficiently trap, fragment ions with HCD, and prepare ion packet for MS2 acquisition at rates of up to 200 Hz.
• Next generation high resolution mass analyzer with injection optics maximize ion transmission and alignment to minimize losses.
• Next generation high resolution mass analyzer with asymmetric ion mirrors direct ions into transversal asymmetric oscillations.
• Next generation high resolution mass analyzer ion foil shapes and maintains ion packet to maximize transmission and resolution and provide a higher space-charge capacity.
• Next generation high resolution mass analyzer with HDR detector assembly aligns and post-accelerates ion packet for high sensitivity HRAM ion detection over a wide m/z range.
• Next generation high resolution mass analyzer with high linear dynamic range two-channel detection system.
• Next generation high resolution mass analyzer with isolated pressure cell for low noise and increased lifetime of the detector.
• Vacuum system with three turbomolecular pumps and a single dual-stage oil-free roughing pump for reduced energy consumption.
• Vacuum system with two split-flow turbomolecular pumps for ultra-high vacuum in ultra-high field and next generation mass analyzers.
• Vacuum system with stainless steel and aluminum high-vacuum analyzer chambers.
• Vacuum system with enhanced technology to reduce the pressure in the ultra-high vacuum region of the mass analyzer to <10-10 Torr.
• Optional nanoelectrospray ion source compatible with liquid flow rates of 20 to 2,000 nL/min.
Anticipated period of performance: 6 months after receipt of order.
Other important considerations: In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.
Capability statement /information sought.
Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.
Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number.
One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.
The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement 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 is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.
All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.
The response must be submitted to Hashim Dasti, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address hashim.dasti@nih.gov.
The response must be received on or before December 31, 2024 at 11AM 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 in www.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).
