SOLICITATION NOTICE
66 -- Agilent Atomic Force Microscope 5500 ILM
- Notice Date
- 7/17/2009
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 333314
— Optical Instrument and Lens Manufacturing
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Blvd., EPS Suite 600, Rockville, Maryland, 20852
- ZIP Code
- 20852
- Solicitation Number
- NCI-90129-AV
- Archive Date
- 8/12/2009
- Point of Contact
- Ashley L. Virts,
- E-Mail Address
-
virtsa@mail.nih.gov
(virtsa@mail.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression (LRBGE)/Chromatin Structure and Epigenetic Mechanisms plans to procure as a sole source the brand name Agilent Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) 5500 ILM with Agilent Technologies; PO Box 4026; Englewood, CO 80155-4027. This acquisition will be conducted under the procedures for acquiring commercial items authorized in FAR Part 12 and under the authority to use simplified procedures for commercial requirements as provided in FAR 13.501. The North American Industry Classification System code is 333314 and the business size standard is 500 employees. This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. No faxed or emailed capability statements will be accepted. Contractor shall provide one (1) original and one (1) copy of the capability statement. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 11:00 AM EST, by July 28, 2009. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed or emailed to: Ashley Virts, Contract Specialist via electronic mail at virtsa@mail.nih.gov or fax to 301-402-4513. It is the vendors’ responsibility to ensure all questions have been received in the contracting office. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon 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 collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA). Reference: NCI-90129-AV on all correspondence. Part I: Background information and description of requirements: The Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression (LRBGE)/Chromatin Structure and Epigenetic Mechanisms Unit are currently conducting research into molecular mechanisms and causes of chromosome/genomic instability caused in colorectal cancer cells, the human genome project, and other sequencing comprising of various organisms. The lab focuses on centromeres and the CenH3 protein to elucidate the relationship between histone variants, chromatin fiber structure, assembly/disassembly dynamics and biological function in cancer cells with the hope of eventually determining if anti-centromere peptides could provide therapeutic potential to halting the progress of cancers since all dividing cells require an active centromere. Centromeres are the visually striking central constriction seen eukaryotic mitotic chromosomes, and are the site for microtubule attachment. The current goals of the lab to be reached with acquisition of such a microscope are to elucidate how CenH3 nucleosomal structural variation alters through the cell cycle and how assembly and disassembly kinetics influence the cetromeric chromatin fiber accessibility and uniformity in cancer cells, and how the global chromatin fiber's three-dimensional arrangement is altered when the individual nucleosomes that make up the fiber are replaced by CenH3 variants as in cancer cells. JUSTIFICATION FOR OTHER THAN FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION: Part II: Facts and Reasons to Justify Other than Full and Open Competition: Statutory Authority Statute: This justification has been prepared under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1) as set forth in 13.106-1 (b)(1) (b) Soliciting from a single source. (2) For sole source acquisitions of commercial items in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold conducted pursuant to subpart 13.5, the requirements at 13.501(a) apply. No other requirement and/or type for supply or service will satisfy agency need. Justification: To encompass the multiple high resolution nanoscale studies, the lab is proposing to purchase the Agilent AFM 5500 ILM Instrument System as a fully integrated modular instrument system. The AFM system enables single molecule observation, in-solution biochemistry and analysis of chromatin samples extracted from tumor samples. This is important to current research into the molecular mechanisms of chromosome breakage in colorectal cancer cells. The AFM system is required for direct control of the pre-analytic steps (sample preparation, observation, in-solution biochemistry, force measurements, protein-protein interaction) as well as post analysis steps (topography measurement and imaging). Currently such a microscope is not available within the LRBGE, which has led to a request for the acquisition of an AFM system from Agilent Technologies. In addition to the studies mentioned above, a long term goal to combine optical fluorescent imaging using fluorescently tagged CenH3 and other proteins that can be tracked across the cell cycle and magnified. These goals are only capable with utility of the Agilent atomic force microscopy unit. All Agilent machines are built using a modular assembly making ease of swapping units or upgrading features virtually effortless. In addition, output and analysis software included with the instrument is user friendly and requires minimal training for the end-user. The data collection computer can therefore be utilized at peak efficiency by being dedicated to machine operation, while all analyses are performed on remote machines by individual users. The Agilent AFM 5000 ILM instrument and available technology is manufactured and patented by Agilent Technologies which leaves them as the sole source vendor for this acquisition. No other source is known to the NCI who can comply or manufacturer what is being requested by the lab. The following salient characteristics apply to the Agilent Atomic Force Microscope 550 ILM: •Highly modular system allows for unparalleled flexibility •Environmental/Temperature control of macromolecules that do not exceed ± 2° F •Humidity variation which does not exceed ± 20% RH •Acoustic noise not to exceed 75 dBc •Hermetically sealed scanners •Superior scanning under any condition including fluids, gases or ambient conditions that occur •High-resolution scanner with large scan range of 90 μm x 90 μm •Vertical sample approach
- Web Link
-
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- Record
- SN01879233-W 20090719/090718000052-a2353610275c5a3b8099850842cc9836 (fbodaily.com)
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