66--The Combat Feeding Directorate is in need of refrigeration, incubation, & liquid nitrogen storage capabilities for tissue culture/cell culture facilities.

Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Natick Soldier System Center (NSSC), intends to award a firm fixed price purchase order on a sole source basis to: Fisher Scientific Company LLC. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available. 1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs: The Combat Feeding Directorate is in need of refrigeration, incubation, & liquid nitrogen storage capabilities for tissue culture/cell culture facilities. Currently, there exists none of these capabilities within CFD capable for mammalian cell culture/tissue culture analysis. Refrigeration must have microprocessor control capable of 1-8 degrees, I degree temp resolution, 2 sliding glass doors, IISV, automatic defrost, audible/visible warning for temp deviations, key-operated ON/OFF alarm for setpoint security. Incubation must be water-jacketed, have carbon dioxide gas inlet, l20V electrical demand, 6.S cu ft chamber volume & exterior dimensions as stated in the quote. Liquid nitrogen storage must be l20V Rack/box system, 0.99Lday static evaporation rate. Critical to liquid nitrogen storage is a level monitor, inner capacity of III L while still having exterior dimensions stated in quotation. Interior racks must be stainless steel. Precise temperature control at all stages of mammalian cell analysis (refrigeration, incubation, liquid nitrogen storage) is absolutely critical to reliable cell culture/tissue culture research and validation. Furthermore, based on laboratory dimension restrictions, particular care was needed to source equipment that provided adequate working capacities (chamber volumes, interior volumes, inner capacities, etc), while exterior dimensions would fit in the lab space available. 2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.): Among the companies considered: Amerex, Binder, Bulldog, Esco, INHECO, Jeio, Sanyo, Wheaton, UVP, GE, MIDSCI, Terra. Each of the other systems was excluded if they did not meet the criteria above. Specifically, the maximum interior working volumes relative to exterior dimensions - given the limited space requirements in cell culture lab E206. ThermoFisher incubator, refrigeration, and liquid nitrogen storage meets all of the requirements above. CFO members have been using same model ThermoFisher equipment in other NSRDEC labs 3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted: Extensive in-house vendor catalog search including ColeParmer, VWR, Diagger, and Labsource. However, online information generally more current and thorough. Extensive online market survey conducted - major suppliers of cell culture/tissue culture laboratory equipment were evaluated. Specifically, www.labsource.com was utilized as a comparison tool. Keywords include "incubator", "C02 incubator", "refrigeration", "nitrogen storage", "cryogenic freezer". Vendors include: Amerex, Binder, Bulldog, Esco, INHECO, Jeio, Sanyo, Wheaton, UVP, GE, MIDSCI, Terra. Decisions were based on an analysis of working volumes vs. exterior dimensions, ThermoFisher was selected. Furthermore, it is the opinion of peer-interview scientists recommend ThermoFisher storage, incubation, refrigeration. 4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition: None 5. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required: No competitor found offers all the required / preferred capabilities. 6. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to: [email protected] no later than 7:00 a.m. on July 11th, 2011. Contracting Office Address: Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground CCAP-SCN, Natick Contracting Division Kansas Street, Building 1 Natick, MA 01760-5011 Point of Contact: Sean Auld, Contract Specialist [email protected]