This is a Sources Sought notice in which any entity, large or small business, may respond. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. For equipment/supply requirements responses must include: (1) the place of manufacturing (i.e. address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture), as well as (2) the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only Background: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives. NCATS is one of 27 Institutes and Centers at the NIH and its mission is to catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions. The 3-D Tissue Bioprinting program’s primary focus is the development of “disease-relevant tissue models” to reduce the predictability gap between results from current 2-D cell-based assays and results from testing in humans. The program team focuses on many different treatment methods and aims to overcome translational barriers toward the development of urgently needed treatments for unmet medical needs. The work that various groups at NCATS (ASPIRE, 3DTBL & Automation) require extensive prototyping and iterative testing. NCATS currently generates a lot of plastic waste from failed/ modified 3D prints. Recycling them will be a green solution to deal with the waste. This will be saving a lot of time and money on new filament orders. Also, with the recycling system, NCATS can create its own specialty filaments by mixing various polymers with metal powders or composites. Being able to create its own specialty filaments would be a useful thing as the systems NCATS design have different requirements as per the project. Some need them to be chemically compatible to the solvents, whereas some need mechanical strength. The versatility afforded to NCATS by the 3DEVO recycling system for 3D waste (Brand-name or equal) will be invaluable in the future. Thus, without acquisition of the 3DEVO recycling system for 3D waste (Brand-name or equal), the NCATS 3DTBL will be unable to recycle 3D prints and create specialty filaments. Purpose and Objectives: 3D Tissue Bioprinting Lab (3DTBL) at the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) seeks to purchase a 3DEVO recycling system for 3D waste (Brand-name or equal) in order to recycle 3D prints and create specialty filaments. Project Requirements: For reference purposes, the Recycling and Re-Use System for plastic waste from 3D printing that meet the need of this requirement is the 3DEVO recycling system for 3D waste. See the attached Purchase Description for the complete list of brand-name items, descriptions, and salient characteristics. Contract Type and Anticipated Period of Performance / Delivery Date: The Government anticipates awarding a firm fixed-price purchase order under a future solicitation. The anticipated delivery date is eight (8) weeks after receipt of order. Other important considerations: In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25. Capability statement /information sought. Large and Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products or services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Interested small businesses are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number. The respondent must also provide their Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., Large Business, Small Business, 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist . Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. Responses must be received by 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on June 6, 2022 , and reference Sources Sought Number 75N95022Q00280. Responses must be submitted by email to Renato Gomes, Contract Specialist,
[email protected]. “ Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).”