DESCRIPTION:
THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS OR COMMERCIAL SERVICES PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN FAR SUBPART 12.6-STREAMLINED PROCEDURES FOR EVALUATION AND SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS-AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED, AND A SEPARATE WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. THE SOLICITATION IS BEING ISSUED USING SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION PROCEDURES UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF FAR PART 13.5 SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES FOR CERTAIN COMMERCIAL ITEMS.
This solicitation is a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2024-05 dated May 22, 2024.
The associated North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516– Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1,000 employees.
Contractors must possess an ACTIVE registration in the System for Award Management system, www.SAM.gov, when submitting a quotation and shall continue to be registered until time of award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract resulting from this solicitation. The Contracting Officer will confirm that quoters have an “active” registration at the www.sam.gov website upon receipt of the quotation. If the SAM.gov registration is not active, the quotation will not be considered for award.
This acquisition is being solicited as a brand name only, total small business set-aside. Quoters must provide the brand name identified within the Statement of Requirement (SOR). The brand name only justification is as follows:
BACKGROUND:
The Biomolecular Measurement Division (BMD) of the Materials Measurement Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (1) advances novel measurement methods and models for the determination and analysis of the structure and function of biological macromolecules and their complexes; (2) advances methods to determine the physical and chemical factors which determine the specific interactions of macromolecules with cofactors and ligands; (3) studies the relationships between biomolecule structure,
dynamics, function, and energetics using computational, biophysical and biochemical techniques; (4) develops reference databases for these properties; and (5) advances measurement methods for engineering complex biological systems.
In addition to meeting the needs for these programmatic activities, the BMD requires liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) instrumentation to determine identity, purity, stability, and higher order structure of protein therapeutics, vaccines, and their process and product related impurities. The LC-MS instrumentation is especially needed for (re)certification and stability assessment of current and planned NIST Reference Materials (RMs). The BMD requires a hybrid mass spectrometer that combines quadrupole, linear ion trap, and Orbitrap mass analyzers and features collision induced dissociation (CID), higher energy C-trap dissociation (HCD), electron transfer dissociation (ETD), and ultraviolet photodissociation (UVPD) fragmentation techniques. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) systems must be compatible with the mass spectrometer, and both must meet needs for certification of NIST RMs, hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), and oligonucleotide analysis activities.
Based on NIST’s extensive market research, the Orbitrap Ascend tribrid mass spectrometer with Vanquish LC systems manufactured by Thermo Electron North America (Thermo), is the only commercial product that meets BML’s needs. The required instrument is replacing an old instrument, manufactured by Thermo, purchased in 2008 which was used for original certification of NISTmAb RM 8671. The old instrument is no longer operable or eligible for repair. The instrument sought is required to be purchased in Fiscal Year (FY) 24 because recertification of RM 8671 is due in FY 25. To be consistent with previous certifications and for other similar RMs and studies, a similar orbitrap mass analyzer instrument is needed, and the instrument sought is the newer version of the previously purchased orbitrap mass analyzer. This orbitrap mass analyzer is patented and exclusively manufactured by Thermo; therefore, the Thermo brand name will meet the BML’s requirements. In addition to needing an orbitrap, the HDX- MS Analysis of Biopharmaceuticals project requires dissociation types UVPD, CID, HCD, and ETD and only the Thermo brand instrument has all of these in one instrument.
The objective of this solicitation is to establish a Firm-Fixed-Price purchase order based on the brand name only specifications described in the attached Statement of Requirements.
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
All Contractors shall provide a firm-fixed-price quotation for the following Contract Line Items (CLINs), in accordance with the specifications outlined in the attached Statement of Requirement. All equipment must be new. Used or remanufactured equipment will not be considered for award:
BASE CONTRACT LINE ITEM(S):
- Line Item 0001: (Quantity 1 Each) BRAND NAME Analytical instrument inclusive of one (1) Orbitrap Ascend tribrid mass spectrometer and two (2) Vanquish ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) systems, inclusive of delivery, operations and maintenance manual, installation, training and initial warranty; in accordance with the Statement of Requirements.
OPTION CONTRACT LINE ITEMS:
- Line Item 0002: (Quantity 1 Year) Option Year 1 of Extended Warranty and Preventative Maintenance Services in accordance with the Statement of Requirement.
- Line Item 0003: (Quantity 1 Year) Option Year 2 of Extended Warranty and Preventative Maintenance Services in accordance with the Statement of Requirement.
- Line Item 0004: (Quantity 1 Year) Option Year 3 of Extended Warranty and Preventative Maintenance Services in accordance with the Statement of Requirement.
- Line Item 0005: (Quantity 1 Year) Option Year 4 of Extended Warranty and Preventative Maintenance Services in accordance with the Statement of Requirement.
DELIVERY TERMS
Delivery terms shall be FOB Destination. The Contractor shall pack and mark the shipment in conformance with carrier requirements, deliver the shipment in good order and condition to the point of delivery specified in the purchase order, be responsible for loss of and/or damage to the goods occurring before receipt and acceptance of the shipment by the consignee at the delivery point specified in the purchase order; and pay all charges to the specified point of delivery.
EVALUATION CRITERIA & BASIS FOR AWARD:
The Government intends to award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Contractor whose quotation, conforming to the solicitation, provides the lowest priced, technically acceptable quote.
Technically acceptable means that the quote:
1.) Meets or exceeds the brand name only minimum equipment specifications listed within the Statement of Requirements;
2.) Meets training, warranty, and installation requirements as applicable;
3.) Meets the required delivery schedule; and
4.) Meets Option Years 1-4 for Extended Warranty and Preventative Maintenance Services.
Price:
The price evaluation will determine whether the quoted prices are fair and reasonable in relation to the solicitation requirements. Quoted prices must be entirely compatible with the technical quotation.
NIST intends to evaluate quotations and issue a purchase order based on the initial quotes received. Therefore, the offerors initial quote should contain the offerors best terms from a price and technical standpoint. The Contracting Officer anticipates awarding this requirement without discussions but reserves the right to enter discussions if it is deemed necessary.
INSTRUCTIONS:
Due Date for Quotations and Questions
All quotations must be submitted, via e-mail, to the Contracting Officer, Sadaf Afkhami, at Sadaf.Afkhami@nist.gov. Submissions must be received no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on August 30, 2024. FAX quotations will not be accepted. Quoters must reference the RFQ number in the subject line of the e-mail submission. Quotes shall not be deemed received by the Government until the quotation has entered the e-mail inbox of the individual(s) set forth above.
Questions: All questions regarding this notice must be submitted via e-mail to the Contracting Officer, Sadaf Afkhami, at Sadaf.Afkhami@nist.gov, no later than 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on August 22, 2024. All responses to the questions will be made in writing, without identification of the questioner, and will be included in an amendment to the solicitation. Even if provided in other form, only the responses included in the amendment to the solicitation will govern performance of the contract.
Please reference the solicitation number in the subject line of all email communications.
Quotation Preparation Instructions:
Each quotation shall consist of three (3) separate electronic files. In preparing the quotation, each electronic file shall stand on its own:
- Technical Quotation
- Price Quotation
- Completed copy of the Provisions and Clauses
Technical Quotation:
Shall include the following:
(1) Technical description and/or product literature. Quoters shall include the manufacturer, make and model of the product, manufacturer sales literature or other product literature which CLEARLY DOCUMENTS that the offered products meet the brand name only specifications outlined in the statement of requirements. It is the responsibility of the quoter to ensure that submitted documentation clearly addresses all specifications and requirements.
(2) If product literature does not address any given specification, the Contractor must provide a discussion of how the Contractor will meet or exceed that required specification. Any modifications must be discussed. It is the responsibility of the quoter to ensure that the discussion clearly addresses the modification and how the required specification(s) will be met with the quoted modification. If such information is not provided, the Government will conclude that the minimum specifications have not been met.
(3) The quoted delivery timeline for the contract line items.
(4) A description of the quoted installation, training, and warranty.
(5) A description of the quoted Option Years for Extended Warranty and Preventative Maintenance for Option Years 1-4.
Price Quotation:
(1) All Contractors shall submit a firm fixed price, FOB Destination, price quotation for the contract line item(s). The quotation must include a unit price and total amount for each line item and the aggregate price for all contract line items.
(2) The price quotation shall include a cover page with the following information:
- The solicitation number 1333ND24QNB640642;
- The name and address, of the Contractor;
- The name, phone number, and email address of the Contractor’s point of contact;
- Unique Entity Identifier # for Contractor’s active SAM.Gov registration.
- Any applicable discount terms.
- A statement that the Contractor agrees to all terms, conditions, and provisions included in the solicitation. If the Contractor objects to any of the terms and conditions contained in this solicitation, the Contractor shall state “The terms and conditions in the solicitation are acceptable to be included in the award document with the exception, deletion, or addition of the following:” [Contractor shall list exception(s) and rationale for the exception(s)]. It is the sole responsibility of the Contractor to identify in their quote any exceptions to the terms and conditions of the solicitation.
- A statement that the quotation is valid for a minimum of 90 days from the response deadline of this solicitation.
Completed Provisions and Clauses:
The provisions and clauses applicable to this solicitation are identified in Attachment 2 titled “Provisions and Clauses”. Contractors shall provide a completed copy of all provisions highlighted in blue in the attached Provisions and Clauses document (Attachment 2).
The full text of a Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) provision or clause may be accessed electronically at www.acquisition.gov/far. The full text of a Department of Commerce Acquisition Regulation (CAR) provision or clause may be accessed electronically at https://www.acquisition.gov/car.
Please note that this procurement IS NOT being conducted under the GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) program or another Government-Wide Area Contract (GWAC). If a contractor submits a quotation based upon an FSS or GWAC contract, the Government will accept the quoted price. However, the terms and conditions stated herein will be included in any resultant Purchase Order, not the terms and conditions of the contractor’s FSS or GWAC contract.
ATTACHMENTS:
The following attachments apply to this solicitation:
- Attachment 1: Statement of Requirements
- Attachment 2: Provisions and Clauses
