This notice is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items using Simplified Acquisition Procedures. This acquisition will be made in accordance with the format in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and solicitation for commercial Items, as applicable, and as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation (a written solicitation will not be issued) and quotes are being requested. The Solicitation number is RFQ-NIAID-24-2209041 and the solicitation is issued as a Request for Quotes (RFQ).
This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). The solicitation documents and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 2024-03 February 23, 2024
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this procurement is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing with a small business size standard of 1000 employees. The requirement is being competed full and open competition, with a brand name restriction and without a small business set-aside.
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), has a requirement for:
Brand Name for the following: The Gridion sequencing instrument and supplies are manufactured in United Kingdom, by Oxford Nanopore Technologies. https://nanoporetech.com/products/gridion
1) GRDCapEx QTY: 1
GridION Mk1 CapEX
1x GridION Mk1 Sequencing Device GRD-MK1
1x Assurance ASSURANCE
1x License and Warranty - GridION SLW12M-G
2) StarterPack QTY: 1
MinION Starter Pack
1x MinION Sequencing Device MIN-101B
1x Control Expansion Kit EXP-CTL001
1x Flow Cell Wash Kit EXP-WSH004
1x Flow Cell (R10.4.1) FLO-MIN114
1x Rapid Barcoding Kit 24 V14 SQK-RBK114.24
3) SQK-RPB114.24 QTY:1
Rapid PCR Barcoding Kit 24 V14
4) SHIPPING COSTS: THESE PRODUCTS MUST SHIP DIRECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER TO A FOREIGN SITE IN CAMBODIA. These products will NOT touch domestic soil. These product posting requirements must ship directly to: US EMBASSY PHNOM PENH #1, street Christopher Howes (96), Daun Penh, Phnom Penh Attn: Dr. Christina Yek
10) ALL FOREIGN TAXES MUST BE INCLUDED AS THIS WILL BE A FIRM FIXED PRICE AWARD
11) INVOICES WILL BE PAID UPON DELIVERY AND ACCEPTANCE OF UNITS AND PRODUCTS. NO PAYMENTS WILL BE ISSUED IN ADVANCE OF RECEIVING PRODUCTS.
Brand name Justification:
LMVR has an on-going collaboration with National Centre for Parasitology, Entomology and Malaria Control, Phnom Penh, Cambodia since 2005 that was formalized into the International Center of Excellence (ICER) Cambodia in 2019. As research studies and public health support efforts at ICER Cambodia have expanded and diversified, the ICER laboratory team have identified a need for long-read sequencing to provide full or near-full genomes of pathogens for structural genomics and pathogen evolutionary analyses.
To efficiently study virus evolution, deep and rapid sequencing of virus genomic material from experimental, clinical, and field samples is required. Many deep sequencing platforms exist, but they are usually expensive, have a large footprint, require extensive training, and are time consuming to use and generate data. However, Nanopore's GridION Mk1 sequencing platform is particularly suitable for our purposes. It provides high-throughput data generation of up to 250 Gb with at least 420 bases / second in 72 hours. This allows us to run at least 50-100 samples per session which is what we require for our studies. Also, GridION Mk1 provides real-time processing and analysis of data enabling rapid detection of emergent variants of viruses in real time. Given the limited ability in Cambodia to perform in-country, affordable equipment service and maintenance, this feature of ONT is necessary. The bioinformatics pipelines the ICER team uses for sequence analysis are already adapted to process ONT sequences, which would facilitate ease of adoption of the technology. Finally, ICER Cambodia supports public health efforts led by the National Institute of Public Health (NIPH) in Cambodia. This collaboration is part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the NIH and the Cambodian Ministry of Health. Support offered to NIPH includes troubleshooting of sequencing methodologies and outputs, and training to adopt existing workflows to target new pathogens. NIPH owns two ONT sequencers and have requested technical assistance on experimental design and data analysis using these instruments. The procurement of an ONT sequencer for ICER Cambodia could enable us to facilitate NIPH training more effectively.
The government intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order to the responsible contractor as a result of this RFQ that will include the terms and conditions set forth herein. The award will be based on the following: technical capability to meet the requirements and price. ****Please note - Time and Material proposals will not be accepted, only Firm Fixed Price Quotations. ****
The following FAR provisions apply to this acquisition:
FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items (SEP 2023)
FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items (NOV 2023)
FAR 52.204-7 System for Award Management (OCT 2018)
(Offerors must complete annual representations and certifications on-line at http://www.sam.gov/ in accordance with FAR 52.212-3 Offerors Representations and Certifications- Commercial Items (Please ensure FAR 52.209-2 -- Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations--Representation. (Nov 2015) is updated in your SAM record)
FAR 52.203-18 Prohibition on Contracting with Entities that Require Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements Representation (JAN 2017)
52.204 26 Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services-Representation
(OCT 2020) *** Must complete representation if attached to this solicitation- see attachment 52.204-26
The following FAR contract clauses apply to this acquisition:
FAR 52-212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items (NOV 2022)
FAR 52-212.5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items (DEC 2023)
*The applicable subparagraphs of FAR52.212-5 are included in the attachment to this posting.
FAR 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors (MAR 2023)
FAR 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (OCT 2018)
FAR 52.204-25 Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (NOV 2021)
HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 2015)
FAR 52.252-2 -- Clauses Incorporated by Reference. (Feb 1998)
This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at this address: http://farsite.hill.af.mil/vffara.htm
By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation (www.sam.gov).
Copies of the above-referenced provisions and clauses are available from http://www.acquisition.gov/far/loadmainre.html & http: //www.hhs.gov/regulation/index.html or, upon request, either by telephone or fax.
Submission shall be received not later than March 9, 2024 @ 4:00 EST
Offers may be e-mailed to Diana Rohlman (E-Mail/ diana.rohlman@nih.gov). Offers shall include RFQ number in the subject line (RFQ-NIAID-24-2209041). Late submissions shall be treated in accordance with the solicitation provision at FAR 52.212-1(f)
All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by this Agency.
Any questions or concerns regarding this solicitation should be forwarded in writing via e-mail to Diana Rohlman at diana.rohlman@nih.gov.
