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

66 -- ARRAYING ROBOT SOL NCI-RFQ-00073-NV DUE 032200 POC Debbie Moore, Purchasing Agent (301) 402-4509, Todd Cole, Contracting Officer, (301) 402-4509 The National Cancer Institute, Division of Clinical Sciences intends to procure arraying robot from Genetic Microsystems, Inc., 34 Commerce Way, Woburn, MA 01801. Laser Capture Microdissection (LCM) is currently being used in the Cancer Genome Anatomy Program (CGAP) effort to catalog the genes which are expressed in human tissue as normal cells undergo premalignant changes and further develop into invasive and metastatic cancer. Microarray hybridization panels containing these index sets are being used to obtain a molecular fingerprint of gene expression in microdissected human tissue biopsies. Such a fingerprint of gene/protein expression patterns may provide crucial clues for etiology and may contribute to diagnostic decisions and therapies tailored to the individual patient. Particular molecules found to be associated with a defined pathological lesion may serve as future imaging or therapeutic targets. The microarray hybridization panels consist of glass slides, or nylon membranes, upon which are spotted arrays of hundreds to thousands of cDNA clones or individual proteins. In order to apply these arrays to microdissected tissue, we extract the RNA and proteins from the tissue cells and label it with a detectable signaling tag, either radionucleotides or chemiluminescent nucleotides. The labeled sample is then applied to the surface of the glass/nylon array. Any RNA/protein species that recognizes the bound cDNA/protein on the array binds to its respective cDNA or protein spot. The result is a microarray of thousands of spots, each spot possessing a detectable tag bound in proportion to the amount of the RNA/protein species recognized by that particular immobilized cDNA or protein. The robot is need in order to array cDNA clones or proteins in a microarray format. The arrayer must have the capability to array many different types of biomolecules and liquid cultures in a format that spaces the spots far enough apart in order to efficiently analyze radioactive signals from a phosphorimager. The arrayingrobot from Genetic Microsystems, Inc. is the only commercially available system that will array cDNA clones, proteins, liquid cell cultures, and bacterial cell suspensions in such flexible, adaptable, and expandable formats for multiple detection methods. Specifically, the research requires an arraying robot with the following features: A. The system shall be able to array all of these molecules and not just subsets of them: 1) DNA, 2) cDNA, 3) proteins, 4) live bacterial cultures, 5) live mammalian tissue culture cells, and 6) phage lysates; B. The arrayer shall be able to vary the size of spots in the range of 150 microns to 500 microns in diameter. The system shall be able to handle spacing needs twice this size so that if 500 micron sized spots are required the system can provide spacing at least 1,000 microns apart. The system shall ultimately provide for spacing of spots up to 1,200 microns apart. Genetic Microsystems, Inc. is the only source known to the NCI researcher that can provide a robot that meets the above requirements needed for research. This is not a solicitation for quotes. However, if any interested party believes it can meet he above requirement, they may submit a statement of capabilities. All information furnished shall be in writing and must contain information in sufficient detail to allow the NCI researcher to determine if the party can meet the above specifications. Capability statements must be received in the Contracting Office by 1:00 PM EST (local Washington, D.C. time) on March 22, 2000. If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Moore, Purchasing Agent on (301)402-4509. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Posted 03/07/00 (W-SN431982). (0067)

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