SOURCES SOUGHT
66 -- Protein Crystallization Liquid Handling Robot
- Notice Date
- 3/5/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 334516
— Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services, 3900 NCTR Road, HFT-320, Bldg 50 | Rm 421, Jefferson, Arkansas, 72079, United States
- ZIP Code
- 72079
- Solicitation Number
- FDA1115719
- Archive Date
- 3/27/2013
- Point of Contact
- Regina R. Williams, Phone: (870) 543-7012
- E-Mail Address
-
regina.williams@fda.hhs.gov
(regina.williams@fda.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is conducting market research to support the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) requirement for a Protein Crystallization Liquid Handling Robot with three (3) 1-year Post-Warranty Maintenance Options. This is a Sources Sought Notice to determine the availability and capability of Small Business Manufacturers or Small Businesses capable of supplying a U.S. made product of a small business manufacturer or producer. This notice is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, Request for Proposals or Request for Quotation, or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained herein. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this notice. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is- 334516- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing; Small Business Size Standard is 500 employees. Introduction The protein crystallization liquid handling robot will be used in the lab for X-ray crystallographic structure determination of various proteins involved in the neutralization of hepatitis C virus (HCV). This FDA mission-related research project will facilitate the development of an effective HCV-specific immune globulin (HCIGIV) product and an effective HCV vaccine, as well as the establishment of an assay for evaluating and monitoring the potency of future HCIGIV products during clinical trials. Background An understanding of the structural basis of antibody-mediated virus neutralization is critical for immune prophylaxis and treatment of viral diseases. CBER is interested in the development of an effective immune globulin product and an effective vaccine directly against hepatitis C virus (HCV). A major effort in the lab focuses on the crystallization and X-ray crystallographic structure determination of the viral antigens, in complex with either neutralizing or non-neutralizing antibodies. The elucidation of the structural features of the antigen/antibody complex will help in designing vaccines that elicit neutralizing antibodies, while avoiding non-neutralizing antibody production. One of the most important and challenging steps towards attaining this goal is to produce protein crystals. Performing protein crystallization screening experiments manually is time consuming and labor intensive. Often times, it requires setting up over one thousand different conditions, if not more, to obtain a single crystal-producing hit. Scope To obtain a liquid handling robot specifically designed for protein crystallization that fulfills Dr. Zhang's lab research needs and expedites progress of their research. Work Requirements Technical Requirements: The system must be able to perform fast and reliable protein crystallization screening experiments. See the following technical requirements: Device shall use new disposable pipette tips for each action to ensure absolutely no cross contamination. Device shall meet the following dimensions (L x W x H): 1600mm x 500mm x 700mm. Instrument shall be able to handle volumes as small as 50 nL to 1.2 μL with great precision and reliability, an important factor for using robot for crystallization. Instrument shall be capable of dispensing viscous solutions such as glycerol and polyethylene glycol, the two reagents which are frequently used in protein crystallization experiments. Device shall have capability to automate all the popular protein crystallization techniques: hanging drop, sitting drop, micro-batch as well as additive screening plate preparation, without the need to make set-up changes to the instrument. Device interface shall have "user-friendly" software for programming a protocol to run a specific screening experiment. Device shall operate at room temperature and in the 4 ºC cold room. Instrument shall have ability to accommodate different/multiple crystallization plate formats. Device shall include scientific computer, monitor, and software. Instrument shall include delivery, installation, training and one year warranty, Options: Three (3) 1-year option periods for Post-Warranty System Service Maintenance Agreement shall include, at a minimum, the following: One (1) Preventive Maintenance visit per year. Preventive maintenance performed by (Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM certified technicians, following OEM manual. Unlimited phone and email technical support with response time within 24 hours of request for support Labor and travel for on-site repairs. Repairs parts must be OEM. Unlimited Software updates The offeror shall furnish sufficient technical information necessary for the Government to conclusively determine that the offered products/services and components meet the technical requirements identified above. At a minimum, responses shall include the following: Business name, DUNS number, business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number and email address (Provide this same information if responding to provide a product manufactured by another firm); Sufficient descriptive literature that unequivocally demonstrates that offered products and services meet or exceed above specifications. All descriptive material necessary for the government to determine whether the service/product offered meets the technical requirements including: technical specifications, descriptive material, literature, brochures and other information, which demonstrates the capabilities of the contractor to meet the requirement. Three (3) years of past performance information for the manufacture and/or sale of same or substantially similar items to include date of sale, description, dollar value, client name, client address, client point of contact name, client point of contact mailing address (if different from that provided for client), client point of contact phone number, client point of contact email address, and name of the manufacturer (to include DUNS number and size status) if not the respondent. If applicable, identification of the firm's GSA Schedule contract(s) by Schedule number and SINs that are applicable to this potential requirement. The government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, not identified in the response. Interested Parties must respond with capability statements which are due in person, by postal mail or email to the point of contact listed below on or before March 12, 2013 by 12:00 hours (Central Standard Time in Jefferson, Arkansas) at the Food and Drug Administration, Office of Acquisition & Grants Services, Field Operations Branch, Attn: Regina Williams, 3900 NCTR Road, HFT-320, Jefferson, AR 72079-9502 or email regina.williams@fda.hhs.gov. Reference FDA1115719. 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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. 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)."
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/FDA/NCTR/FDA1115719/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: NIH Campus, 8800 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN03003671-W 20130307/130305234531-6dc3e3ea51a79796d8600d96a3781246 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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