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

66 -- INSTRUMENTS & LABORATORY EQUIPMENT SOL RFQ-NCI-90242 DUE 092499 POC Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent, 301-402-4509, Todd Cole, Contracting Officer The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Advanced Technology Center (ATC) plans on purchasing an upgrade to an existing arrayer built by Genomic Instrumentation Services, PO Box 2048, Menlo Park, CA 94026. The Advanced Technology Center (ATC) provides a multidisciplinary group of scientists cutting edge biotechnology instrumentation to conduct research on cancer-related genes and gene pathways. The efforts commonly involve the detection and evaluation of gene expression patterns in human cells and tissue. The ATC has used microarray technology since its original setup in March 1998. Specifically, the Genemachine arrayer, which was built by Genomics Instrumentation Services, Inc., has been particularly valuable to the establishment of an NCI core facility for microarray technology. Since March 1998, Genomics Instrumentation Services, Inc. has developed a new arrayer, the Omnigrid. This new arrayer utilizes a significantly advanced manufacturing process that includes the use of enclosures to enhance functionality. The upgrade will replace hardware, including: the drive screws, the gridding axes, the servo motors, the motion controller, and the operating software. The upgrade will enable the ATC to print arrays at twice the speed than currently available (array printing work that took 20 hours previously will now only take 8 hours). In addition, through the use of enclosures, manual attention will not be required every 30 minutes while printing -- manual attention will only be required every 90 minutes. Enclosures provide for less manual attention by preventing dust accumulation on the arrays being processed and by internally controlling the humidity during the printing. This ultimately creates higher quality chips as wells. Furthermore, the upgrade simulates the new technology of the Omnigrid arrayer; however, it is only a much less costly upgrade to the previous arrayer to achieve the same results. The upgrade is 100% compatible to the existing Genemachine arrayer. Genomic Instrumentation Services is the only source known to the NCI Researcher that can provide an upgrade to a Genemachine arrayer that simulates much improved arrayer technology (and is 100% compatible to the existing system). This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above upgrade requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The capability statement and any other furnished information must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can fully meet the requirements. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 3:00 p.m., EST on September 24, 1999. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent on (301)402-4509. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received shall be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. Posted 09/08/99 (W-SN377255). (0251)

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