66 -- GENEPIX 4000B SCANNER

Notice Date

September 7, 2001

Contracting Office

Acquisitions Management Operations Branch, NIAID, 6700-B Rockledge Drive, Room 1130, Bethesda, MD 20892-7605

ZIP Code

20892-7605

Solicitation Number

NOI1018

Response Due

September 24, 2001

Point of Contact

Frances Hawkins, Purchasing Agent (301) 402-2282/Carolyn Sentz, Contracting Officer (301) 402-2282

Description

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation notice of intent for a commercial item prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are not being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number for this acquisition is NOI 1018. The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 97-27. This acquisition will be processed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and is not a Small Business Set-Aside. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 339111 and the small business size is 500. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases intends to procure the Genepix 4000B Scanner from the Axon Instrument Company. The responsibility of the Microarray Research Facility is to supply Intramural Investigators with DNA microarrays to analyze gene expression profiles. The most critical single instrument that is used is the fluorescent scanner. The Genepix 4000B scanner has the ability to simultaneously scan in two wavelengths eliminating the need to post-capture image registration, which avoids pixel shifting. The acquisition time is only 5 minutes for both wavelengths reducing time needed to work at the scanner so that more users can generate data in the course of a day. This particular scanner reduces photobleaching and allows for the detection of weak signals while maintaining a superior signal to noise ratio. This feature is critical to the work being performed. The sensitivity of this scanner allows for a dynamic range of 4 orders of magnitude also an essential feature. The Axon scanner is compatible with the following existing systems: (1) our barcode-directed tracking system, (2) interfaces between the data collection software and the NIH CIT analysis interface (3) CIT administered database repository and (4) existing software tools for analyzing the data. It is important to recognize that the experimental validity depends on being able to make statistical assessments of data derived from internally consistent instrumentation. If it is not internally consistent, then the data within the series is invalid and may have severe consequences on the DIR research, since, many of the samples being examined by microarray hybridization come from irreplaceable clinical specimens or costly animal models. This particular scanner is a small dimension (17in.x12in.x8 in.) compared to others on the market and will fit into a limited space available. Images can, also, be easily exported into a wide variety of ancillary analysis programs for data analysis through CIT. Delivery location is FOB Destination to the National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Rockville, Md. 20852 and shall be inside delivery. The FAR provisions and clauses that apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-3,Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-4, Contractor Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statues or Executive Orders Commercial Items; FAR 52.225-3, Buy American Act also applies. Offerors must include with their offer a completed copy of the provisions at FAR 52.212-3, Offerors Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items. Offers must be submitted no later than 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) 09/24/01. For delivery of responses through the Postal Service, the address is NIH/NIAID/AMOB, 6700 B Rockledge Drive/MSC 7605, Room 1130; Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7605. Note: If, hand-delivered or delivery service is used you must use Zip Code 20817. Electronic submissions will not be accepted. Requests for information concerning this requirement are to be addressed to Frances Hawkins at (301) 402-2282. Collect calls will not be accepted.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010911/66SOL017.HTM (W-250 SN50X0H7)