REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ) / COMBINED SYNOPSIS-SOLICITATION
Solicitation Number: NIH-RFQ-26-PCA-NCI-02843
Notice Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
Title: Attune Xenith Flow Cytometer or Equal
Posted Date: July 16, 2026
Response Date: July 21, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Set-Aside: None
NAICS Code: 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
PSC Code: 6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and in conjunction with FAR Part 12. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Pediatric Oncology Branch (POB), intends to acquire one (1) spectral flow cytometry system, including automation, software, installation, startup, training, warranty, and manufacturer-supported service, in accordance with the requirements set forth herein.
This acquisition is being conducted as an open market purchase. The Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order resulting from this solicitation.
2. DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT
2.1 Background
The Pediatric Oncology Branch conducts laboratory, translational, and clinical research focused on developing new therapies for children and young adults with cancer, including CAR-T, TCR-engineered, NK-cell, ?d T-cell, and other immune-based treatments.
The Government requires replacement of an existing BD Fortessa flow cytometer, which is approaching end-of-life status, with a modern spectral flow cytometry platform capable of advanced immune cell analysis and characterization of patient-derived samples. The instrument will serve as a shared resource supporting six Pediatric Oncology Branch laboratories and multiple ongoing NIH intramural research studies.
2.2 Objective
The objective of this acquisition is to obtain a commercial spectral flow cytometry system capable of supporting advanced immunophenotyping and functional immune cell analysis of patient-derived and preclinical samples, while providing high throughput, automation, and compatibility with existing laboratory workflows.
3. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS / MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
The Government seeks one (1) Thermo Fisher Invitrogen Attune Xenith Flow Cytometer or equal. To be considered for award, any quoted product must meet all of the following minimum salient characteristics:
3.1 Instrument Requirements
The system shall:
- Support spectral flow cytometry capability with full-spectrum fluorescence detection and spectral unmixing.
- Support conventional compensation-based flow cytometry workflows.
- Include a minimum of six excitation lasers, including:
- ultraviolet (UV),
- violet,
- blue,
- yellow-green,
- red, and
- near-infrared (NIR).
- Include a minimum of 51 fluorescent detectors and 6 scatter detectors.
- Utilize acoustic-assisted hydrodynamic focusing technology.
- Provide high-speed sample acquisition suitable for shared-resource operation.
- Be capable of analyzing tumor, tissue, blood, and cellular therapy samples.
- Be compatible with an automated sample loading system capable of processing both 96-well and 384-well plate formats.
- Include the CytKick Max Automated Sample Loader, or an equal automated sample loading system fully compatible with the quoted instrument and capable of equivalent functionality.
- Include integrated instrument control and analysis software for:
- instrument control,
- data acquisition,
- spectral analysis,
- quality control monitoring, and
- data export.
- Include touchscreen operation and automated maintenance functions.
- Provide remote diagnostics and manufacturer-supported service support.
- Include all hardware, software, licenses, accessories, and components necessary for complete and fully functional operation.
3.2 Services Requirements
The vendor shall provide:
- Delivery to the Government site identified in this solicitation;
- Installation and operational startup;
- User training;
- Manufacturer warranty coverage; and
- Manufacturer-supported service associated with the delivered system.
3.3 Compatibility / Operational Requirements
The quoted system must be suitable for use as a shared resource supporting multiple laboratories and must support high-parameter immune profiling using limited pediatric clinical specimens. Vendors quoting an equal product must clearly demonstrate how the quoted system meets all minimum requirements and supports equivalent operational capability.
4. DELIVERY / PLACE OF PERFORMANCE
Delivery, installation, startup, and training shall be performed at:
National Institutes of Health
Building 10 CRC, Room 1-3872
10 Center Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
The required delivery/performance period is 12 weeks after date of award or sooner, inclusive of delivery, installation, startup, training, and Government acceptance.
5. CONTRACT TYPE
The Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order.
6. BASIS FOR AWARD
The Government intends to award to the quoter whose quotation represents the best value to the Government, considering the following evaluation factors:
- Technical Acceptability
- Past Performance
- Price
6.1 Technical Acceptability
Technical acceptability is the most important factor. The Government will evaluate whether the quoted product meets all salient characteristics and minimum requirements of this solicitation.
For any equal product, the vendor must provide sufficient technical documentation to demonstrate equivalency, including product literature, specifications, brochures, and a point-by-point crosswalk to each salient characteristic.
Failure to clearly demonstrate compliance with all minimum requirements may render the quotation unacceptable.
6.2 Past Performance
The Government will evaluate the vendor's record of recent and relevant past performance for similar laboratory instrumentation or comparable scientific equipment acquisitions. The Government may consider information obtained from the vendor, CPARS, prior Government experience, and other available sources.
6.3 Price
Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. The Government may make award to other than the lowest-priced quotation if a higher-rated quotation is determined to provide the best value.
7. QUOTATION INSTRUCTIONS
Vendors shall submit a complete quotation package that includes the following:
7.1 Volume I Technical Quote
The technical quote shall include:
- Manufacturer name and model number;
- Description of the quoted system;
- Product literature/specifications;
- Point-by-point response to each salient characteristic;
- Description of included software, accessories, automation, warranty, and service;
- Delivery lead time;
- Installation and training approach;
- Identification of any exceptions to the solicitation requirements.
7.2 Volume II Past Performance
Provide up to three examples of recent and relevant contracts or purchase orders for similar laboratory instrumentation or scientific equipment, including:
- customer name,
- contract/order number,
- description of supplies/services,
- dollar value,
- period of performance,
- point of contact with email and phone number.
7.3 Volume III Price Quote
The price quote shall include:
- unit price,
- extended price,
- total quoted price,
- any shipping charges,
- any installation/startup/training charges,
- warranty information,
- any other separately priced items.
The total quoted price shall include all costs necessary to provide a complete and fully functional system meeting the requirements of this solicitation.
7.4 SAM Registration
Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov at the time of award.
8. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
Quotations shall be submitted electronically to:
Contracting Officer: Linda Smith
Email: linda.smith2@nih.gov and;
Procurement Technician: Danielle Tines (c)
Email: danielle.tines@nih.gov
Quotations are due no later than:
July 21, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern Time
Late submissions may be rejected and not considered for award.
9. CLAUSES AND PROVISIONS
The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition, in addition to any others required by law or agency policy:
FAR Provisions
- FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Products and Commercial Services
- FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation Commercial Products and Commercial Services
(The specific evaluation factors are identified in this solicitation.) - FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services
- FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management
- FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance
FAR Clauses
- FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services
- FAR 52.232-25, Prompt Payment
- FAR 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors
HHSAR Clauses
- HHSAR 352.203-70, Anti-Lobbying
- HHSAR 352.208-70, Printing and Duplication
- HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations
- HHSAR 352.232-71, Electronic Submission of Payment Requests
10. BRAND NAME OR EQUAL INFORMATION
This requirement is issued on a brand name or equal basis. The referenced brand name product is the Thermo Fisher Invitrogen Attune Xenith Flow Cytometer.
Any quotation offering an equal product must include sufficient descriptive material to permit the Government to determine whether the product offered meets all salient characteristics identified in this solicitation. The burden is on the vendor to establish equivalency.
The Government is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the quotation.
If the vendor is providing an equal product(s), please supply descriptive data for evaluation purposes to determine the validly of how it is an EQUAL. The following FAR provision applies to this a solicitation FAR 52.211.6 Brand Name or Equal (August 1999)
(a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as "brand name or equal," the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government's needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that "equal" products must meet are specified in the solicitation.
(b) To be considered for award, offers of "equal" products, including "equal" products of the brand name manufacturer, must-
(1) Meet the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristic specified in this solicitation;
(2) Clearly identify the item by-
(i) Brand name, if any; and
(ii) Make or model number;
(3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the Contracting Officer; and
(4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications.
(c) The Contracting Officer will evaluate "equal" products on the basis of information furnished by the offeror or identified in the offer and reasonably available to the Contracting Officer. The Contracting Officer is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.
(d) Unless the offeror clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an "equal" product, the offeror shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation.
(End of provision)
11. IMPORTANT NOTICE
This solicitation is issued as a competitive RFQ. The Government reserves the right to:
- make award without discussions;
- request clarifications if needed;
- reject any or all quotations; and
Quoters are advised that the Government may share your information with non-government personnel who are assisting with the evaluation of quotes. The exclusive responsibility for source selection will reside with the Government. By submitting your quote, you will be consenting to disclosure of your quote to non-government personnel for purposes of evaluation.
