INTRODUCTION
THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME).

The National Institutes of Health, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), Office of Acquisitions (OA) on behalf of the on behalf of the National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases intends to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC for the acquisition of a Cytiva AKTA go FPLC and all parts and accessories included.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 334516 with a Size Standard of 1,000.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2021-07 Effective September 10, 2021.

This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($250,000).

STATUTORY AUTHORITY
This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) under provisions of the statutory authority of FAR Subpart 6.302- FAR 6.302-1—Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1).

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE
Within 30 Days of Award

Place of Performance
National Institutes of Health 
National Institute of Digestive, Diabetes & Kidney Diseases 
5 Memorial Drive
Bethesda MD 20892
 

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute supports much of the clinical research on the diseases of internal medicine and related subspecialty fields, as well as many basic science disciplines. 

The Institute's Division of Intramural Research encompasses the broad spectrum of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, inborn errors of metabolism, endocrine disorders, mineral metabolism, digestive and liver diseases, nutrition, urology and renal disease, and hematology. Basic research studies include biochemistry, biophysics, nutrition, pathology, histochemistry, bioorganic chemistry, physical chemistry, chemical and molecular biology, and pharmacology. 

NIDDK extramural research is organized into 4 divisions: Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolic Diseases; Digestive Diseases and Nutrition; Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases; and Extramural Activities.  The Institute supports basic and clinical research through investigator-initiated grants, program project and center grants, and career development and training awards. The Institute also supports research and development projects and large-scale clinical trials through contracts.
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BACKGROUND
The Section on Genetic Mechanisms has a requirement to obtain a Cytiva AKTA go FPLC system equipped with a Micro Kit, fraction collector F9-T, and UNICORN 7 workstation pure-BP-exp as scientists of this Section carry out research studying collective protein dynamic patterns involved in cell biological processes in bacteria and higher eukaryotes. These projects require purification of a large number of proteins. FPLC systems are essential equipment for efficient purification of proteins. This group currently does not have its own FPLC protein purification set up and depends on shared use of equipment belonging to the Section of Molecular Virology for protein purification. However, with recent progress of the projects of both groups, there has been an increasing requirement for large numbers of proteins to be purified for the projects of the two sections, and additional FPLC systems are urgently needed. This AKTA go FPLC system will be used as a shareduse equipment among the two sections to alleviate the bottle neck in the progress of the projects of the two sections. 

For this Section, the AKTA go FPLC system is required for purification of proteins by column chromatography. These proteins, such as ParA, ParB, MinD, MinE proteins will be used to study the mechanism of bacterial cell division processes and eukaryotic cell signalling systems.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

The National Institutes of Health (NIH)’s National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) has a requirement for the purification of proteins by column chromatography. The equipment is expected to come with a 1 year warranty and be compatible with our collection of Cytiva chromatography columns and TSK columns. The vendor is expected to set up the equipment in Room 231 of Building 5, remove packing materials, and provide training in its use to the members of the laboratory.

SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS

Compatibility with our two existing Cytiva AKTA Pure FPLC systems (NIH Decals 01809890 and 02044543) belonging to the Section of the Molecular Virology, LMB/NIDDK is an essential requirement. The AKTA go FPLC system runs on the same Unicorn software as the AKTA Pure FPLC systems. This enables purification software programs to be transferred seamlessly between all the units and avoids having to train users in multiple software packages. Furthermore, this ensures reproducibility of experimental data regardless of which FPLC system is usec. This is important because the FPLCs are used by multiple users, and thus, the flexibility of being able to switch to another FPLC when one is in use supports the NIDDK mission goals by increasing research efficiency. Moreover, the AKTA go FPLC system comes with a Micro kit that greatly reduces the volume of the flowpath. This is important because we often have to work with very small samples and a very small dead volume flow path reduces sample loss, dilution, and increases resolution. The Microkit includes an injection valve, conductivity monitor, outlet valve and micro fraction collector nozzle. These components are modular and fully compatible with our AKTA Pure FPLC systems, further increasing our options as needs arise.

Specifically, the NIDDK requires the following tasks:

Task Area 1 – Installation shall be done within two weeks of delivery on a bench in Room 306 of Building 5 at NIH’s Bethesda Main Campus location.

Task Area 2 - The vendor will provide inside delivery.

Task Area 3 - Software shall be included together with a 1 year warranty.

Task Area 4 - Training will be provided to Ying Huang and one other member of the laboratory.

CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION

The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10—Market Research.  Only one source is available: Per FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) the Contracting Officer has determined GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC to be the only reasonable available source to provide the Cytiva AKTA go FPLC and all parts and accessories included.   

This acquisition was pursued on a sole source basis centered on the following:

Compatibility with our two existing Cytiva AKTA Pure FPLC systems (NIH Decals 01809890 and 02044543) belonging to the Section of Molecular Virology, LMB/NIDDK is an essential requirement, because the new system will be used by scientists in that Section and the Section of Genetic Mechanisms interchangeably among the FPLC systems available to make most efficient scheduling for all scientists involved. The new FPLC system should run on the same software as these existing systems. This enables purification software programs to be transferred seamlessly among the two existing units and the new units, and avoids having to train users in multiple software packages. It also ensures reproducibility of experimental data regardless of which of our units is used. This is important because the FPLCs are used by multiple users and the flexibility of being able to switch to another unit when one is in use supports the NIDDK mission goals by increasing research efficiency. 

Additionally, the AKTA go FPLC system comes with a Micro kit that greatly reduces the volume of the flow path. This is important because we often have to work with very small samples and a very small dead volume flow path reduces sample loss, dilution and increases resolution. The Microkit includes an injection valve, conductivity monitor, outlet valve and micro fraction collector nozzle. These components are modular and fully compatible with our AKTA Pure FPLCs, further increasing our options as needs arise.

We require an FPLC with a minimal flow path including micro injection valve, conductivity monitor, outlet valve and micro fraction collector nozzle. Compatibility of these micro components with our existing AKTA systems would be a positive factor as it would increase research flexibility as needs change.

In addition the following specifications are required:

•    Piston pump, metering type
•    Flow rate variable from 0.01 to 25 ml/min
•    Operating pressure up to 5 Mpa (required for our TSK columns)
•    Width no greater than 34 cm due to limited available bench space 

The AKTA go FPLC runs on the same Unicorn software as the AKTA Pure FPLC systems that the Section of Molecular Virology, LMB/NIDDK already have. The Unicorn software is proprietary software of Cytiva and is not compatible with FPLC systems from other vendors. This enables purification software programs to be transferred seamlessly between all the units and avoids having to train users in multiple software packages. This also ensures reproducibility of experimental data regardless of which FPLC is used. This is important because the FPLC systems are used by multiple users, so the flexibility of being able to switch to another FPLC when one is in use supports the NIDDK mission goals by increasing research efficiency.

Therefore, this order can only be placed with GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC.  Failure to procure these deliverables from GLOBAL LIFE SCIENCES SOLUTIONS USA LLC would result in a significant loss of research.

CLOSING STATEMENT
This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties’ bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: descriptive literature, delivery timeframe, warranties and/or other information that demonstrates that the offer meets all the foregoing requirements, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.”

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. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses to this notice shall be submitted electronically by 9:00 am Eastern Standard Time, on Monday, September 20, 2021 to the Contracting Officer, Amber Harris, at [email protected].

Assessment of Capability
Lowest Price Technically Acceptable