SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- NIST Biosensor Calibration Standards Program-Test Protocols
- Notice Date
- 8/19/2010
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Acquisition Management Division, 100 Bureau Drive, Building 301, Room B129, Mail Stop 1640, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899-1640
- ZIP Code
- 20899-1640
- Solicitation Number
- RFQNB831020-A-06262mac
- Archive Date
- 8/30/2010
- Point of Contact
- Mario A. Checchia, Phone: 301-975-8407, WILLIAM N. LI, Phone: 3019753955
- E-Mail Address
-
mario.checchia@nist.gov, William.Li@nist.gov
(mario.checchia@nist.gov, William.Li@nist.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Parts 12 and 13, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotes are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. Solicitation Number NB831020-A-06262 is issued as a request for quotation. This solicitation is set aside exclusively for small business concerns. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 541690 Other Scientific and Technical Consulting. The NIST has a requirement for Biosensor Calibration Standards Program-Test Protocols. The performance work statement follows: I. BACKGROUND: The Bioassay methods group within the Biochemical Sciences Division at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) develops, models, and applies spectroscopic and immunological methods to biological assays. The Department of Defense (DOD) and the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) requires new test methods and protocols to provide acceptance testing for fluorescent microspheres used to validate the performance of biosensors used for national defense. NIST is funded by NRL to develop these microspheres, and deliver methods, data, and standards to referee the performance of these Joint Biological Point Detector Systems (JBPDS). Work under this contract shall address important gaps in the existing capability for the biosensor evaluation and calibration. The intended contract deliverable is to develop suitable materials for the microsphere calibration bead, assess the optical properties of the microsphere and develop test protocols to be used for lot-to-lot acceptance testing of the microsphere calibration beads. To meet this goal, the Bioassay Methods group will use the expertise of a Contractor to develop these spheres and measurement methods. These methods will be used by end users and government agencies, to assist in the independent evaluation of biosensor equipment. I. Scope of Work The Contractor shall develop and disseminate measurement tools to improve the accuracy and reliability of biosensor triggers incorporated into US military fixed place biosensor platforms. To address these needs, the Contractor shall conduct research and development for new reference materials, perform physical and optical characterization of these materials and develop reference data for validation and performance testing of the triggers. As part of phase II of the larger DOD funded Task, the contractor will assist NIST PI's in developing a system wide calibration of the JBPDS. II. Specific Tasks: The Contractor shall design, assemble and test the required apparatus. The Contractor shall evaluate the response of commercial off the shelf (COTS) microspheres as well as custom microspheres. The Contractor shall: 1. Procure microspheres with embedded fluorophores that are excited by 265 nanometers (nm) light. a. Develop specifications for UV microspheres. b. Suggested contacts for developing technical specifications are Spherotech, Becton Dickinson, Coulter, Life Technologies, Thermo(Duke Scientific) and Bangs Lab. c. Procure COTS microspheres with desired optical properties. 2. Characterize microsphere fluorescence. a. Develop experimental protocol for assigning traceable properties to microspheres. b. Perform measurements to assign values of equivalent number of reference fluorophores to the microspheres. 3. Develop Test protocol to be used to acceptance testing of the fluorescent microspheres. a. Develop specifications for a custom spectrometer. Minimum design specifications are as follows: i. Laser excitation system using 265 nm excitation ii. Fluorescence detection system: dual color tryptophan and NADH spectral regions. iii. Scattering detection system appropriate to detect 2 to 3 micron diameter microspheres. b. Build and Qualify spectrometer for microsphere testing. c. Develop and test protocol to ascertain UV microsphere characteristics for testing. 4. Investigate reliability issues for integration of biological markers into/onto microspheres in support of future DOD funded work. a. Select antibody epitope for immobilization on microsphere b. Develop immobilization chemistry c. Measure reactivity of microsphere with antibody (flow cytometry). 5. Additional characteristics of the JBPDS microspheres that shall be calibrated include a. Antibody derivitized Microsphere optical properties including elastic scattering and fluorescence cross sections. b. Biological activity of aerosol particles including antibody/antigen reactivity and nucleic acid sequence. 6. Develop measurement methods and analysis to support International Society of Analytical Cytometry ISAC equivalent reference fluorophore (ERF) study. a. Measure fluorescence properties of Becton Dickenson supplied FITC, PE, APC and Pacific Blue microbeads. b. Develop algorithm to assign ERF values to each of the four specific microspheres. c. Provide final report documenting ERF assignment and the measurement process. 7. Optional Period One Tasks a. Measure antigen/antibody concentration on microsphere surface b. Measure affinity constants for antibody on microsphere surface c. Integrate microsphere calibrant into JBPDS calibration system. i. Develop methods for determining aerosol microsphere concentration and number density. d. Coordinate with NRL (DOD) and develop calibration/system validation protocols. e. Develop methods for delivering aerosolized microspheres into DOD biosensor system. III. Deliverables and Deliverable Due Dates a. Custom Spectrometer 1) Design of custom UV-laser based spectrometer system: The Contractor shall complete the design of the fluorescence spectrometer with operational capabilities from 266 nm to 600 nm within thirty (30) business days after start of contract. 2) Assembly of the spectrometer within 90 days of start of contract 3) Qualification of spectrometer within 120 days of start of contract. Includes wavelength and intensity response calibration traceable to NIST standards. 4) Document design, assembly and testing of UV-laser based microsphere fluorescence spectrometer 180 days of start of contract. b. COTS microspheres 1) Develop specifications for microspheres in accordance with DOD requirements 30 days from start of contract. 2) Contact microsphere manufacturers listed in Specific Tasks 1b 30 days from start of contract. 3) Procure sample microspheres 60 days start of contract. 4) Measure optical properties of COTS microspheres short and long wavelength excitation fluorescence, absorbance, intrinsic scattering, and quantum efficiency of fluorescence using NIST spectrometers. 120 days from start of contract. 5) Assign equivalent number of reference fluorophores properties to COTS microspheres. 180 days from start of contract. 6) Develop protocol for lot-to-lot testing of UV microspheres and test. 270 days from start of contract. 7) Develop protein immobilization schemes for selected COTS microspheres. 270 days from start of contract. 8) Perform flow cytometry assay with microspheres with antibody immobilized to beads. 300 days start of contract 9) ISAC study: measure fluorescence of four BD supplied microspheres. 30 days from start of contract 10) ISAC study: develop algorithm to assign ERF to BD microspheres. 60 days from start of contract 11) ISAC study: final report 120 days from start of contract. c. Method Report (Microsphere beads) The Final report describing protocols for measuring the optical properties of the microsphere beads written in a style consistent with a NIST special publication 260, shall be completed within three hundred (300) business days after start of contract. The report shall include the following: 1) Executive summary. 2) Description of the COTS microspheres 3) Detailed discussion on design of the custom spectrometer, experimental test conditions and testing procedures. 4) Detailed discussion on optical properties of the selected COTs microspheres 5) Detailed discussion of the immobilization chemistry to attach antibodies to microsphere 6) Detailed discussion of the procedure to ascertain UV microsphere characteristics for acceptance testing. 7) Conclusions and recommendations d. Monthly Progress Reports: The Contractor shall provide progress reports that document the following for the previous month: 1) Activities accomplished, discussion and listing of data generated, any problems, issues, risks, and recommendations that were brought to the attention of the Technical Information Contact. 2) Planned activities for the next month. DUE: By the 10th of each month e. Optional Period One Task - Deliverables: 1) Generate a method report for tasks 7a and 7b (section III). The reports shall include the following: i. Executive summary. ii. Detailed discussion of experimental test conditions and testing procedures. iii. Detailed discussion on optical properties of the selected COTs microspheres iv. Detailed discussion of the immobilization chemistry to attach antibodies to microsphere v. Conclusions and recommendations DUE: No later than _240__and __270__ days after award of the option, respectively, for tasks 7a and 7b. 2) Generate a method report for tasks 7c and 7d. The reports shall include the following: i. Executive summary. ii. Detailed discussion of experimental test conditions and testing procedures. iii. Detailed discussion on integrating microsphere calibrant into JBADs calibration system. iv. Detailed discussion of the calibration/system validation protocols. v. Conclusions and recommendations DUE: No later than _240__and __270__ days after award of the option, respectively, for tasks 7c and 7d. Submit monthly progress reports in accordance with Section IV.d Standards for Acceptance of Deliverables: The Technical Information Contact will provide comments on a deliverable within ten (10) calendars days from receipt of the deliverable. The Contractor shall make any needed changes to the deliverables within five (5) calendar days from receipt of electronic or written comments from the Technical Information Contact. All written deliverables shall be in MS Word 2007 format. IV. Period of Performance and Place of Performance The period of performance is a base period of one year with a one year option period. is September 15, 2010 through September 14, 2011 with one(1) one year Option Period. The Government may elect to award a one-year option for optional task 7. The total period of performance may be up two (2) years. All work shall be performed at NIST, Gaithersburg, MD. The contract will have access to the NIST Gaithersburg Campus from 7 AM to 7 PM. Normal duty hours are Monday through Friday with the exception of Federal holidays or other official closures. Facility/Building/Campus Closures: During anticipated closure of the NIST Campus due to declared training holidays, administrative leave granted to the entire government staff, or other closure, contract employees may not be required to perform services, unless specifically scheduled. In the event of unplanned closure of the facility due to natural disasters, emergency, or severe weather, contract workers who are scheduled to work, shall not report to work unless notified differently by the COTR. Federal Holidays: The contract employee will not be paid on federal holidays unless contract employee is scheduled to work on a holiday and will be paid for hours worked at the hourly rate established in the contract. The following is a list of legal federal holidays as referred to elsewhere in the contract. Contract employees may be required to work on legal holidays as determined by the COTR or OU Division Chief. • New Year's Day, January 1st • Martin Luther King's Birthday, 3rd Monday in January • President's Day, 3rd Monday in February • Memorial Day, Last Monday in May • Independence Day, July 4th • Labor Day, 1st Monday in September • Columbus Day, 2nd Monday in October • Veteran's Day, November 11th • Thanksgiving Day, 4th Thursday in November • Christmas Day, December 25th V. Government-Furnished Property, Data, and Information All property, data and information provided by the Government in the performance of this task remains the property of the Government and shall be surrendered to the government upon completion or termination of this requirement. Likewise, all deliverables generated under this requirement remain the property of the Government. The Government will provide the following throughout performance of this contract: • Measurement methods capabilities to assist independent evaluation of the microspheres. • All laboratory and office equipment. • All parts for the UV laser spectrometer • All necessary chemicals • Office space with telephone and computer. VI. Risk Assessment The HSPD-12 Security Risk Level assigned to this contract is low risk. VII. Contractor Minimum Qualifications The Contractor shall have a PhD degree in Physics with a concentration on biophysical measurements. The Contractor shall be a U.S. Citizen capable of obtaining NIST security clearance. The Contractor shall also have at minimum 20 years of experience in developing optical technologies, instrumentation, experience with flow cytometry, developing NIST traceable methods, voluntary standards committee experience, thorough knowledge of biophysical measurements, and experience in the development of NIST SRM's. The Contractor shall have expertise in algorithm design and development of software for automation of laboratory experiments. The Contractor will have documented experience (publications) in the assignment of equivalent soluble reference fluorophore properties to fluorescent microbeads. VIII. Travel Travel will be refunded in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulation (FTR), and will not exceed the maximum per diem rate (meals and lodging), and transportation costs, in effect at the time of travel. Travel to NRL workshops and planning meetings is required. IX. Deliverables and Payment Schedule The Contractor may invoice the Government upon receipt from the TIC that a given deliverable is of acceptable quality and that all other assigned tasks are up to date. X. General Requirements This work does not involve confidential or proprietary data. The certification and accreditation requirements of Clause 1352.239-73 do not apply and a security accreditation package is not required. Misconduct or Disruption of Services: At any time during the performance period of this contract, the Contracting Officer, Technical Information Contact (TIC) or Operating Unit (OU) Director may request the Contractor employee be immediately removed from the premises if they determine, at their unilateral discretion, that any of the Contractor employee's actions or impaired state to be a disruption to the workforce. Safety: The Contractor employee shall be responsible for knowing and complying with all installation safety prevention regulations. Such regulations include, but are not limited to, general safety, fire prevention, and waste disposal. Patent Rights: The Government retains a Government use license to all inventions arising from this work. Security: NIST is a restricted campus. An identification badge is required for access for entry into buildings and also is shown to the armed Security Police when entering the campus. Identification Badges: Contractor employees shall comply with NIST identification and access requirements. The Contractor employee is responsible for absences due to expired identification and access documents. Each Contractor employee shall wear a visible identification badge provided by the NIST Security Office. The badge must show the full name, title, and if required by NIST, the words "Contractor" in front. The Contractor employee shall turn in the NIST identification badge and vehicle pass to the TIC or Contracting Officer (CO) upon termination of their services under this contract. Vehicle Registration: All Contractor employees must register their vehicles with the NIST Security Office to gain access to the campus. A valid driver's license, Government-furnished civilian ID, proof of insurance and current registration must be presented to the NIST Security Office, at which time a NIST vehicle pass will be issued. The pass shall be displayed on the vehicle's rear view mirror in accordance with instructions. The Contractor employee shall follow NIST procedures for removal and turn-in of the vehicle pass upon termination of services under this contract. Media Inquiries: The Contractor employee shall not respond to any media inquiries. Any inquiries from the media shall be immediately relayed to the TIC and/or CO. There shall be no interviews, comments, or any other response without the knowledge and approval of the NIST Director. If further information is required about the facilities, please refer to the NIST website, www.nist.gov. Deliverables: As described in the PWS above. A delivery schedule will be established based upon the deliverables and inspection and acceptance as described in FAR clause 52.212-4. TIC : The Technical Information Contact is : to be determined, National Institute of Standards and Technology. Place of Performance: NIST Campus Gaithersburg, Maryland. Price Quote - The contractor shall submit the best potential fixed price to provide the services of the PWS. For comparison purposes, the estimated labor hour effort is 1000 per base and option period. The resulting purchase order shall be negotiated on a firm fixed price basis. The award shall be made on a best value basis. The best value evaluation factors are Technical Capability, Experience, Past Performance and Price. The offeror shall submit: (a) Technical Capability Understanding and Approach - The Offeror shall demonstrate its understanding of each type of work identified in the statement of work and describe in detail its approach to successfully completing each type of work in the timeframes required. (b) Experience Experience - The offeror shall describe its experience performing similar services. The offeror's description of its experience shall include, but not be limited to, the cumulative management and corporate experience in the areas of expertise highlighted in the Statement of Work. Key Personnel Experience - The offeror shall demonstrate the education, qualifications, capabilities, and experience of its Project Manager by submitting a resume. The Offeror shall also include a letter of commitment for the Project Manager covering the period of time he or she will be supporting this requirement. The offeror shall also address how it would replace the Project Manager with a similarly qualified and experienced individual in a timely manner. (c) Past Performance Information The offeror shall provide past performance information regarding all relevant contracts for the PAST 3 YEARS with federal, state or local governments and commercial customers. The information should describe contracts of a similar type and scope as the current requirement. If the offer intends to use another firm for part of this requirement, that firm's past performance information shall also be provided. If the offeror has no relevant past performance it should include a statement to that effect in its proposal. The government reserves the right to consider data obtained from sources other than those described by the offeror in its proposal. The description of each contract described in this section shall not exceed a half page. For each of the above listed contracts, the offeror shall provide the following information: • Contract Number; • Description and relevance to solicitation requirements; • Period of Performance - Indicate by month and year the start and completion (or "ongoing") dates for the contract; • Name and address of the client with current telephone number and email address of a point of contact of the client responsible for this contract. • Contracting Office - If a Government contract (federal or state), identify the Procuring Contracting Officer, Administrative Contracting Officer, and Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), and their names and current telephone numbers and email address; • Contract Performance - A brief summary of performance provided; The offeror shall include information regarding any problems encountered on the contracts described above and corrective actions taken to resolve those problems. The factors, Technical Capability, Experience and Past Performance when combined are significantly more important than price. The evaluation factors are : (1) Technical Capability Technical Understanding and Approach - The offeror's technical understanding and approach will be evaluated to determine the offeror's ability to successfully complete the requirements. NIST's evaluation of the offeror's technical understanding and approach will include an assessment of: (a) the offeror's understanding of the requirements of the SOW; (b) whether the offeror's approach will ensure timely performance of the requirements; (2) Experience The offeror's experience will be evaluated to determine the nature and extent of the offeror's experience successfully executing similar projects. NIST will also consider the extent to which any awards or certifications, letters of appreciation, commendations, or industry recognitions of excellence indicate that the offeror has successfully completed similar contracts. The offeror's Key Personnel experience will be evaluated to determine whether they have the appropriate education, qualifications, capabilities, and experience to successfully supervise and implement the performance of the requirements and that the offeror's plan for replacing key personnel as necessary will facilitate seamless performance of the requirements (3) Past Performance NIST will evaluate the offeror's and, if appropriate, its subcontractors' past performance information to determine its relevance to the current requirements and the extent to which it demonstrates that the offeror has successfully completed relevant contracts in the past three years. In assessing the offeror's past performance, NIST will evaluate the quality, timeliness, and the ability to control cost and schedule of the past work. (4) Price The proposed price will be evaluated but not scored. The price/cost evaluation will determine whether the proposed prices are realistic, complete, and reasonable in relation to the solicitation requirements. Proposed price/costs must be entirely compatible with the technical proposal. Although price is the least important evaluation factor, it will not be ignored. The degree of importance of the proposed price will increase with the degree of equality of the proposals in relation to the other factors on which selection is to be based. The solicitation document and incorporated clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular Number 2005-41. The provisions and clauses may be downloaded at http://www.acqnet.gov.far. The following provisions and clauses shall apply to this solicitation and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.252-1 Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (FEB 1998) and FAR 52.252-2 Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998). This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electrically at the/these addresses: http://www.arnet.gov/far/ and http://oam.ocs.doc.gov/CAPPS_car.html. FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52,212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items. The Government shall award a purchase order resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) Technical Capability (ii) Experience, (iii) past performance, and (iv ) price; FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition and there is no addenda to this provision; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition; FAR 52.204-9, Personal Identity Verification of Contractor Personnel; FAR 52.217-8 Option to extend services; FAR 52.227-14, Rights in Data - General; CAR 1352.201-70, Contracting Officer's Authority (MAR 2000) ; CAR 1352.208-70, Printing (MAR 2000) ; CAR 1352.209-73, Compliance With The Laws (MAR 2000) ; Use the FAR version of the Harmless From Liability and CAR 1352.252-71, Regulatory Notice (MAR 2000) and other appropriate clauses as appropriate. All interested contractors must be active and registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) at the CCR website www.ccr.gov and must provide a completed copy of the Offeror Representations and Certifications. Interested contractors are invited to review the above Performance Work Statement "NIST Biosensor Calibration Standards Program-Test Protocols" an electronic response to be received no later than 5:00pm August 29, 2010 NIST Gaithersburg, Maryland time addressed to Mario Checchia, Contract Specialist, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Stop 1640Gaithersburg, Maryland 20899-1640, email: mario.checchia@nist.gov and the Contracting Officer William Li, William.li@nist.gov. Contractors must submit a complete response. Responses that are not substantially complete will be returned. Offers of partial performance shall be rejected. An original and four copies shall be submitted as well as an electronic version in MS Word or Adobe Acrobat. The electronic version shall be in the form of an email with attachments. A one page letter shall transmit the quotation signed by an individual authorized to commit the organization. Each response shall be on 8 1/2-inch x 11-inch paper, in a commercially standard font, not smaller than a size 12 font. The response shall be secured by simple stapling and shall not contain elaborate binding. Each page in the response shall be separately numbered. A page of paper printed on both sides is considered two pages. The quote shall include the letter of transmittal, shall be limited to twenty (20) single sided pages. Submit quotes arranged in three sections as follows: Section I - Technical Capability, Section II - Experience, Section III Past Performance, and Section IV - Price, firm fixed price for the required services. Each firm fixed price shall include sufficient data to allow the Government to determine the amount, realism and consistency of the fixed price. Award shall be made to the responsible contractor that offers the best value to the Government. The Government shall not be liable for any costs incurred in response to this request. The Government reserves the right to make a single award, multiple awards, or no award as a result of this RFQ. It is the responsibility of the contractor to confirm NIST's receipt of quote.
- Web Link
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FBO.gov Permalink
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- Place of Performance
- Address: NIST Campus, Gaithersburg, Maryland, 20899, United States
- Zip Code: 20899
- Zip Code: 20899
- Record
- SN02247079-W 20100821/100819235607-e17ce57ab28a7c420a7249833281df8d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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