Solicitation No. 75N95024Q00436
Title: Single Cell RNAseq Protocol and Automation Bundle
1. This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.
2. The solicitation number is 75N95024Q00436 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ) on an unrestricted basis, as a full and open requirement.
This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5— Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. A time and materials type of purchase order is contemplated for this requirement.
3. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2024-06, dated 07-30-2024.
4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with associated small business size standard of 1,000 employees or less.
5. Line Items: Through this procurement NIDA anticipates a single award, firm fixed price purchase order for brand name or equal scRNAseq Protocol and Automation Bundle and component parts as described in Attachment 1 – Purchase Description.
Below is a table that contains the line item number and description of the brand name or equal requirements for the anticipated award.
Line No. Description
1 Qty: 1. Evercode Automation Mega Package with Integra Assist Plus (SKU: NTWT3500)
2 Qty: 1. 8-channel VOYAGER Electronic Pipette 0.5 – 12.5uL (SKU: 4721)
3 Qty: 1. 8-channel VOYAGER Electronic Pipette 2 - 50uL (SKU: 4726)
4 Qty: 1. 16-channel VIAFLO Electronic Pipette 0.5 – 12.5uL (SKU: 4641)
5 Qty: 1. 16-channel VIAFLO Electronic Pipette 2 – 50uL (SKU: 4646)
6 Qty: 2. 4-pipette Charging Stand (SKU: 4215)
6. Description of Requirement: The objective of this solicitation is to purchase a brand name or equal scRNAseq Protocol and Automation Bundle for the Translational Neuroscience Center (TNC), National Institute of Stroke, NINDS. The TNC’s responsibility is to aid other labs, primarily at NINDS but also throughout the NIH, in translating their basic science discoveries into potential therapeutics. One technology the TNC is using to better understand therapeutic targets in single-cell (sc)-RNAseq. NINDS requires a scRNAseq protocol that will be used at a larger scale and in order to improve precision, accuracy, and efficiency it needs to be automated. NINDS also requires a workflow that completely automates their scRNAseq protocol. The protocol can be used to process up to a million cells and sixteen samples in one run. The purchase of this equipment will allow the TNC to scale up its capacity to run many samples for scRNAseq analysis in a timely and efficient manner and provide collaborators with critical information that can be used to better translate their findings into the clinic.
7. The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Items (Sep 2023) is applicable to this solicitation.
8. The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation – Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following is provided as an addendum to clause 52.212-2:
The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible Offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, i.e. this RFQ will be evaluated and award made on the basis of best value to the Government. Offeror’s submitting a response must provide a completed Price Quote to be evaluated and considered for award. Price quotes must indicate fixed unit pricing and total cost, including shipping cost and estimated time of delivery after receipt of order.
Technical evaluation shall be based on the following:
- Technical Approach
NIDA shall evaluate:
A tradeoff process shall be used for this acquisition because it has been determined to be in the best interest of the Government to consider award to other than the lowest priced Offeror or other than the highest technically rated offeror. All evaluation factors and significant sub-factors that will affect contract award and their relative importance will be clearly stated in the solicitation; and the solicitation shall state whether all evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than, approximately equal to, or significantly less important than cost or price. For this acquisition, the following considerations will be part of the trade-off process: Technical Evaluation Factors including Past Performance, and Price.
The evaluation will be based on the demonstrated capabilities of the prospective Offerors in relation to the needs of the project as set forth in the solicitation. The merits of each proposal will be evaluated carefully. Each proposal must document the feasibility of successful implementation of the requirements of the solicitation. Offerors must submit information sufficient to evaluate their proposals based on the detailed factors listed below.
ARTICLE 1 - Evaluation Criteria
A tradeoff process shall be used for this acquisition because it has been determined to be in the best interest of the Government to consider award to other than the lowest priced Offeror or other than the highest technically rated offeror. All evaluation factors and significant sub-factors that will affect contract award and their relative importance will be clearly stated in the solicitation; and the solicitation shall state whether all evaluation factors other than cost or price, when combined, are significantly more important than, approximately equal to, or significantly less important than cost or price. For this acquisition, the following considerations will be part of the trade-off process: Technical Evaluation Factors including Past Performance, and Price.
TECHNICAL EVALUATION FACTORS
The evaluation factors are used by the technical evaluation committee when reviewing the technical quotes. The factors below are listed with weights assigned indicating relative importance for evaluation purposes, i.e., a higher weight indicates higher importance.
1. Technical Capability and Functionality
NIDA shall evaluate the offeror’s technical approach for overall capability and functionality in relation to the General Requirement, Salient Characteristics, Quantity and Deliverables as described in the Statement of Work.
2. Contract Management and Customer Support
NIDA shall evaluate the offeror’s ability to provide a high level of customer service, particularly in the area of initial responsiveness and resolution of device and service problems. Specifically, the Government will evaluate the Offeror’s capability based on its description of any applicable warranty, customer support process.
3. Speed of Delivery, Installation and Set-up
NIDA shall evaluate the offeror’s technical approach for completeness, feasibility, soundness and practicality of the proposed approach and work plan for accomplishing the requirements of the Statement of Work.
PAST PERFORMANCE
Offerors will be evaluated based on information obtained from references provided by the offeror, other relevant past performance information obtained from other sources known to the Government, and any information supplied by the offeror concerning problems encountered on the identified contracts and corrective action taken. Furthermore, the Government will assess the relative risks associated with each offeror. Performance risks are those associated with an offeror's likelihood of success in performing the acquisition requirements as indicated by that offeror's record of past performance. The assessment of performance risk is not intended to be the product of a mechanical or mathematical analysis of an offeror's performance on a list of contracts but rather the product of subjective judgment by the Government after it considers all available and relevant information.
PRICE EVALUATION
Offerors price quote will be evaluated for reasonableness. For a price to be reasonable, it must represent a price to the government that a prudent person would pay when consideration is given to prices in the market. Normally, price reasonableness is established through adequate price competition, but may also be determined through cost and price analysis techniques. Price evaluation will not be conducted on any Offeror determined to be technically unacceptable.
The award will be made on a competitive best value basis, using “tradeoff” among cost/price and non-cost/price factors. The Government may elect to award to other than the lowest priced Offeror, or other than the Offeror with the highest rated non-cost/price proposal. In either case, a tradeoff will be conducted. The government reserves such right of flexibility in conducting the evaluation as necessary to assure an award with the Contractor providing the best value to the government.
The major evaluation factors for this solicitation include technical and cost/price factors. Interrelationships of these elements will be assessed consistent with the regulations concerning the considerations of cost and other factors in determining contract award. Technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the contract, however cost/price is also important to the overall contract award decision. Therefore, Offerors are reminded that award will be made to the Offeror whose proposal provides the combination of features that offers the best or greatest overall value to the Government.
The Government may request clarifying information from the schedule contractor, as it relates to its quote.
(b) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful Offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award.
9. The Offeror is to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications—Commercial Items, with its offer. Offerors must include the representation at 52.204-24 if it is not in in their completed FAR Representations and Certifications. A copy of that representation is attached as Attachment 2 - Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment.
10. The provision at FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions—Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and is supplemented by Attachment 4 - 52.212-4 Addendum and Supplemental Clauses.
11. The provision of FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. See attachment.
12. The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions as determined by the Contracting Officer are necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices. Additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary for this acquisition are supplemented by the following attachments:
- Attachment 1 – Purchase Description
- Attachment 2 - 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions – Commercial Items (Nov 2023)
- Attachment 3 - 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items.
- Attachment 4 - Invoicing Instructions
13. The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement.
14. The response to the combined synopsis/solicitation is due no later than August 27, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST). Offers submitted after the deadline may not be considered. The response should be submitted in a searchable format to the Contract Specialist, Shaun Rostad at shaun.rostad@nih.gov. Electronic submittals must include the combined synopsis/solicitation 75N95024Q00436 and the Title in the Subject Line.
In addition, the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.
Technical Quotes shall be submitted in accordance with the General Requirement identified in Section 6 of this combined synopsis/solicitation.
Any Quote, modification, or revision that is received at the designated Government office after the exact date and time specified for receipt of quotations is “late” and may not be considered. Quotes received “late” may not be evaluated or considered for award and may be returned to the Offeror. If an emergency or unanticipated event interrupts normal Government processes so that Quotes cannot be received at the Government office designated for receipt of Quotes by the exact time specified in the solicitation, and urgent Government requirements preclude amendment of the solicitation closing date, the time specified for receipt of Quotes will be deemed to be extended to the same time of day specified in the solicitation on the first work day on which normal Government processes resume.
The Government reserves the right to award without discussions if the Contracting Officer determines that the initial cost/prices are fair and reasonable and that discussions are not necessary.
15. Questions may be submitted to Shaun Rostad and Josh Lazarus at shaun.rostad@nih.gov and josh.lazarus@nih.gov up to August 23, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
