SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Equipment
- Notice Date
- 8/4/2010
- Notice Type
- Justification and Approval (J&A)
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Rockledge Dr. Bethesda, MD, Office of Acquisitions, 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7902
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7902
- Solicitation Number
- NHLBI-PB-HG-2010-247-RSF
- Archive Date
- 8/28/2010
- Point of Contact
- Rashida S. Ferebee, Phone: 3014352605
- E-Mail Address
-
ferebeers@nhlbi.nih.gov
(ferebeers@nhlbi.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Award Date
- 7/29/2010
- Description
- Justification for Other than Full and Open Competition “Source Selection Information – see FAR 2.101 and 3.104” 1. Identification of the agency and contracting activity. a. Federal agency and contracting activity. HHS. b. Sponsoring organization. NIH/NHGRI c. Project Officer Information. Project Officer Name: Scott Martin 2. Nature and/or description of the action being approved. Acquisition purpose and objectives. a. Project background. The Trans-NIH RNAi initiative conducts high-throughput siRNA screens in collaboration with intramural investigators. siRNAs down-regulate target genes possessing corresponding sequence complimentarity. In this way, we can interrogate a specific gene’s function in the context of any biology we can assay. The initiative’s work encompasses assay development, screening, and initial follow-up. Over the past year, we have completed a series of successful pilot screening campaigns. These screens employed siRNA libraries targeting more than 7,000 human genes (roughly one third of the genome). Screening revealed novel components of important cell signaling pathways and genes that affect the activity of therapeutic agents. We are now embarking on larger, genome-wide screens. An important part of these efforts is the management of siRNA resources. Specifically, siRNAs need to be transferred from source plates to corresponding assay plates for experiments. Additionally, active siRNAs need to be “cherry picked” from source plates and re-arrayed to new plates for a variety of follow-up experiments. These include real-time PCR experiments, which will also in part need to be automated on the liquid handling system. Additionally, many siRNA libraries need to be reformatted for high-throughput screening (e.g., 96 well to 384 well). Moreover, our needs require the flexibility to conduct simultaneous 96 and 384 well operations, which requires a setup with two independent 96 and 384 well pipetting heads. In all, a highly flexible liquid handling platform is needed for a variety of fixed and ever-evolving needs. The Beckman system comprising the Biomek FXP and Biomek NXP units is a liquid handling platform that will meet these needs within the Trans-NIH RNAi screening program. Description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency’s needs b. Project title. The Trans-NIH RNAi Initiative Liquid Handling Platform c. Project description. The Trans-NIH RNAi initiative conducts high-throughput siRNA screens in collaboration with intramural investigators. An important part of these efforts is the management of siRNA resources. Specifically, siRNAs need to be transferred from source plates to corresponding assay plates for experiments. Additionally, active siRNAs need to be “cherry picked” from source plates and re-arrayed to new plates for a variety of follow-up experiments. These include real-time PCR experiments, which will also in part need to be automated on the liquid handling system. Additionally, many siRNA libraries need to be reformatted for high-throughput screening (e.g., 96 well to 384 well). Moreover, our needs require the flexibility to conduct simultaneous 96 and 384 well operations, which requires a setup with two independent 96 and 384 well pipetting heads. In all, a highly flexible liquid handling platform is needed for a variety of fixed and ever-evolving needs. Specifically, we require a liquid handling platform that • incorporates a modular-based platform designed to accommodate a variety of sample throughput in 96-, 384-, and 1536-well formats • has an 8-channel variable spanning head capable of independent tip liquid level detection for cherry-picking micorplates. The spanning head needs to access microplate and non-microplate well-to-well dimensions, providing extreme flexibility. The span 8 probes need to pipette 1 µL with accuracies of 3% CV • the ability to operate independent and simultaneous 384 and 96 multichannel heads with pipetting accuracies of 3% CV at volumes of 1 µL • accommodates a variety of tube and plate formats such as deep-well plates, PCR plates, reservoirs, and tubes in racks • provides user safety by offering a laser light curtain. This light curtain allows for complete work area accessibility while still providing operator safety • has liquid handling software that is extremely user-friendly and adaptable for the novice or advanced user. The software needs to have predefined and validated methods that are applicable to our operations (e.g., methods to extract nucleic acid for real-time PCR analysis and plasmid purification). • Requirement type. X Supplies/equipment • Type of action. X New requirement • Proposed contract/order type. X Firm-fixed-price d. Performance/delivery period. 60 days ARO 3. Identification of the statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition. X This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 253(c)(1) as set forth in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 6.302-(B)(1). The statutory authorities justifying this sole-source acquisition are 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), and FAR 6.302-1(b)(1). The resources required are available only from one responsible source based on unique capabilities.  This acquisition is conducted under the authority of section 4202 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996.  This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003 (41 U.S.C. 428a). 4. Demonstration that the proposed contractor(s) unique qualifications or the nature of the acquisition requires use of the authority cited. a. Name and address of the proposed contractor(s). Beckman Coulter 250 South Kraemer Blvd Brea, CA 92822 b. Nature of the acquisition and proposed unique qualifications of the contractor(s). Several aspects of the Beckman system comprising the Biomek FXP and Biomek NXP units make it unique. Their modular-based platforms are designed to accommodate a variety of sample throughput in 96-, 384-, and 1536-well formats. Specifically, the liquid handling platform will have one 384-channel head with a gripping unit, a second arm with 8 independent pipetting probes, and a single arm with one 96-channel head with a gripping unit. The 384 and 96 multichannel heads maintain pipetting accuracies of 3% CV at volumes of 1 µL. Both 384 and 96 well head can be changed to the other head type, allowing us to ramp the capacity of our liquid handling operations if required for specific operations. The 8-channel variable spanning head is capable of independent tip liquid level detection, and offers fixed probe or disposable pipette tip options. It is also able to access microplate and non-microplate well-to-well dimensions, providing extreme flexibility. The span 8 probes are able to pipette 1 µL with accuracies of 3% CV. The span 8 also has the capability to include a solvent/solution selection system in order to change between up to 6 different solutions within a method. The system is designed to accommodate a variety of tube and plate formats such as deep-well plates, PCR plates, reservoirs, and tubes in racks. This flexibility is critical to accommodate a wide variety of operations, including preparation of samples for real-time PCR analysis of active siRNAs. A variety of tip type options are also available for normal and low volume pipetting from a variety of vendors including 20 µL, 30 µL, 50 µL, 100 µL, 200 µL and 1000 µL tips. The system also provides user safety by offering a laser light curtain. This light curtain allows for complete work area accessibility while still providing operator safety. The liquid handler also includes a means for self-calibration with a laser system to allow for quick and easy calibration and not require “teaching”. Furthermore, the liquid handling system is capable of being integrated with external labware storage and other devices. An especially important feature of this system is that the liquid handling software is extremely user-friendly and adaptable for the novice or advanced user. The software has predefined and validated methods that are applicable to our operations (e.g., methods to extract nucleic acid for real-time PCR analysis and plasmid purification). The software also has three independent steps that function in concert to handle the most challenging parts of a hit picking process, including Hitpicking Setup (this determines the wells to transfer and assigns sources to destinations), Data Driven Transfer (liquid transfer), and Hitpicking Leftovers (this creates a record of any hits not transferred during the method). This software has options for volume splitting and specialized tip handling into a highly configurable user interface that allow our input files to direct the hit picking operation. Further, the ability to specify destination plates and wells, and individual transfer volumes from the hit file are essential. No other platform offers all of the critical features described in detail above. Specifically, no other comparably priced system can offer simultaneous and independent 384 and 96 well head operations, robust hit-picking and arraying, self calibration, pre-defined and validated protocols that are relevant to our needs, and user friendly software that has previously been used by current group members. 6. Description of the efforts made to ensure that offers are solicited from as many potential sources as practicable. Indicate whether a FedBizOpps notice was or will be publicized as required by FAR Subpart 5.2 and, if not, which exception under FAR 5.202 applies. A sources sought notice was posted on FedBizOpps on June 17, 2010 for 15 days. One capability statement was received from a small business for an “equal part”. The capability statement was reviewed by program and it was determined that the equipment offered would not be satisfactory to the Government. 7. Determination by the Contracting Officer that the anticipated cost/price to the Government will be fair and reasonable. Price reasonableness was determined by reviewing Beckman Coulter GSA contract price. Beckman Coulter gave the Government a significant discount off of their GSA prices. As such their quoted price is deemed fair and reasonable. 8. Description of the market research conducted (see FAR Part 10) and the results, or a statement of the reasons market research was not conducted. A sources sought notice was posted on FedBizOpps on June 17, 2010 for 15 days. One capability statement was received from a small business for an “equal part”. After review of the capability statement it was determined that the equal part would not meet the needs of the Government. 9. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition. None 10. Listing of sources, if any, that expressed, in writing, an interest in the acquisition. 11. Statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the required supplies or services. Issued a sources sought notice to determine the capabilities of other companies to fulfill the requirement.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NHLBI/ NHLBI-PB-HG-2010-247-RSF /listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NIH/NHGRI, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN02228706-W 20100806/100804235115-e73d21508484905bf9716e7ffed8e12c (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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