Intent to Sole Source-High Content Screening System

AG-6395-SS-15-0004 Pursuant to FAR Subpart 6.302-1(c), USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), intends to award a sole source supply contract in that only one responsible source and no other supplies will satisfy agency requirements (see attached justification). The contract will be a firm-fixed price contract under FAR PART 12 Acquisition of Commercial Items with PerkinElmer Health Sciences Inc., 710 Bridgeport Avenue, Shelton, CT 06484-4794. This is not a request for competitive proposals. The requirement is to Purchase a wide-field high content microscope capable of providing automated cellular imaging in fluorescent, transmitted light, and phase-contrast modes for fixed- or live-cell assays. The Operetta High Content Screening System from PerkinElmer includes learning license, installation, user training and one year warranty. This automated acquisition and analysis of images is necessary for high throughput cell-based screening of novel chemical compounds. Effective toxicant development requires screening of thousands of potential compounds to find those that interact with the biological active site that has been identified as the target. This instrument will be used by the toxicology group at NWRC during toxicant development for several projects, specifically for the RNAi investigations in swine and rodents. This instrument will improve the results that are generated as it allows for images to be acquired from cells that are still located in an incubation chamber whereby reducing the cell stress related to time outside an incubator while images are being captured. This is exceptionally important for longer experiments, when images need to be taken sequentially over the course of the experiment to determine transport across cell membranes and interactions with cellular components. The Fertility Control Project would use the instrument for evaluation of different ovotoxins or chemisterilants and their effect and mode of action on ovarian follicles towards the development/discovery of permanent canine and porcine sterilants. Our focus for a porcine sterilant will be on follicle uptake of ovotoxins via receptor mediated endocytosis; this instrument would allow for real-time observation and imaging of such uptake under physiological culture conditions over an extended period of time. The requirement is essential to meeting the government's needs. Any interested sources capable of providing the equivalent supply item listed above are encouraged to submit statements of capability (which outlines how their item is equivalent or otherwise meets the requirements indicated in the justification) to the contracting office. Small business concerns are encouraged to participate. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based on 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. No requests for capability briefings will be honored as a result of this notice. Interested sources who submit data are responsible for appropriately marking information if it is proprietary in nature. The Government will not award a contract based on the information received, nor reimburse participants for information they provide. Information provided is strictly voluntary. Please email Statements of Capability to Patricia Simon at [email protected]. Telephonic inquiries will not be honored. Closing date for submission of Capability Statements is 09/01/2018, at 1:00 p.m. central time. The North American Industry Classification Code (NAICS) is 334516 with a small business size standard of less than 500 employees.