National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSAS, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS/Room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

66 -- AUTOMATED PIPETTOR SYSTEM SOL RFQ-NCI-90156-NR DUE 082399 POC Marsha Gorham, Purchasing Agent, * Todd Cole, Contracting Officer This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for Commercial Items, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation, No. RFQ QSI90005, includes all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through FAR 97-13. The acquisition will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.5 to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. This requirement is set-aside for small business. The standard Industrial Classification Code is 3826, and the business size standard is 500. Requirement: The National Cancer Institute requires an automated pipettor system for techniques of genomic analysis and other applications requiring high throughput and precision. Automation of these tasks will provide increased speed and reproducibility compared to manual techniques. The pipettors will be used for applications requiring rapid, whole-plate transfers. Therefore, it shall transfer no less than ninety-six (96) samples at a time. The pipettor shall be easily programmable, by using a personal computer controller utilizing standard Windows conventions. The system software shall be easily programmable to control a variety of pipetting parameters such as aspirate and dispense volumes, speeds and heights, tip touches, pre- and post-dispense air gaps, multiple aspirations and dispenses within one (1) transfer step, mix volumes, speeds, cycles, and air gaps. For efficient programming of methods, advanced programming features such as looping and variables shall exist to allow shorter and reusable methods to be written. The instrument shall support a variety of labware such as flat-well microplates, round bottom microplates, V-bottom microplates, deep-well plates, and 384-well plates and shall be capable of pipetting between any of these labware types without the need of special hardware. Shall allow new labware types to be defined after installation for implementation of new protocols. The pipetting volume shall have a range of 1 uL to 50 ul, with a reproducibility of < 5% C.V. The instrument shall be UL and CE approved, and include safety features that will stop all instrument motion should the operator inadvertently intervene in the work area. For convenience and reproducibility the instrument shall have automatic tip loading. Tip loading shall be performed by a separate mechanism from the positioning motors, to prevent excessive wear on the motors. The instrument shall include a work surface which holds no less than five (5)plates plus a tip loading station, to allow processing of multiple plates in a single method. The instrument shall have disposable pipette tips to prevent any carryover or contamination. Shall have an optional tip washing station with vacuum drying. Shall have industry standard RS-232 and DDE communications for robotic or computer interface. Shall be field-upgradable to an automation-friendly configuration which is amenable to both stacker carousels and the robotic loading of tips and plates. Shall include a macro language which shall be usable to communicate directly to the pipettor hardware to control all motor movements. Shall have trained, experienced service engineers to provide on-site services when required. Due to limited laboratory space the instrument shall fit into a space no larger than 30 inches (76.2 cm) deep X 48 inches (121.9cm) wide. The contractor shall provide a Year 2000 Warranty for each hardware, software, and firmware product delivered under this contract. Nothing in this warranty shall be construed to limit any rights or remedies the 0Government may otherwise have under this contract with respect to defects other than Year 2000 performance. Delivery time shall be within 45 days after award Delivery shall be FOB Destination or FOB Origin with transportation insurance provide by the vendor with inside delivery. The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1, INSTRUCTION TO OFFERORS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS; FAR 52.212-2, EVALUATION -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS; FAR 52.212-3, OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS -- WITH DUNS NUMBER ADDENDUM; FAR 52.212-4, CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS; AND FAR 52.212-5, CONTRACT TERMS AND CONDITIONS REQUIRED TO IMPLEMENT STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDERS -- COMMERCIAL ITEMS -- DEVIATION FOR SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITIONS. The following FAR clauses cited in paragraph (b) of the clause at FAR 52.212-5 are also applicable to this acquisition: FAR 52.222-26, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY; FAR 52.222-35, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR DISABLED VETERANS AND VETERANS OF THE VIETNAM ERA; FAR 52.222-36, AFFIRMATIVE ACTION FOR WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES; FAR 52.222-37, EMPLOYMENT REPORTS ON DISABLED VETERANS AND VETERANS OF VIETNAM ERA; AND FAR 52.225-21, BUY AMERICAN ACT -- NORTH AMERICAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT -- BALANCE OF PAYMENT PROGRAM; 52.232-33; 52.232-34; and PAYMENT BY ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER -- OTHER THAN CENTRAL CONTRACTOR REGISTRATION. Offerors must provide descriptive literature, warranties, and/or other information in sufficient detail to demonstrate that their quotation fully meets the requirements of this solicitation. The contract will be awarded to the most responsive, responsible offeror submitting the lowest price offer that fully meets the requirements of this solicitation. Offers must be in writing and one original and three copies of the following shall be submitted: 1) A completed SF-18 or SF-1449 with a completed "Schedule of Offered Supplies/Services," signed by an authorized individual to bind the organization; 2) a completed copy of FAR 52.212-3 "Offeror Representations and Certifications -- Commercial Items -- with Duns Number Addendum," signed by an authorized representative of the offeror; 3) descriptive literature and other information indicating that the quotation meets the requirements; and 4) acknowledgment of amendments, if any. All offers and related materials must be received in the noted office by no later than 3:00 PM EST on August 23, 1999. Full text copies of the representations and certifications or other cited provisions and clauses may be obtained from Marsha Gorham, Purchasing Agent, on (301)402-4509. Please cite the solicitation number, RFQ-NCI-90124-NR, in your offer. Offers that fail to furnish the required information are reject the terms and conditions of the solicitation may be excluded from consideration. Posted 08/06/99 (W-SN364364). (0218)

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