NIA 23-008704

Post Date/ Solicitation Issue Date

August 17, 2023 12:00 pm

Closing Response Date

August 27, 2023 12:00 pm

Proposed Award Date

August 29, 2023 12:00 pm

Project Title

Chromium Next GEM Cell Kits

Contracting Office

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Small Business Size Standard

1250 Employees

FPDS Classification Code

6550

Delivery of Goods

90 Days After Award

Competition Status

Brand Name Only

Single-Sole Source Determination

Statutory Authority: This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures and at a dollar value less than the simplified acquisition threshold are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements.

The essential characteristics of the Chromium Single Cell RNA sequencing kits that limit the availability to a brand name are the capacity of the product and reproducibility. Only this suggested product can furnish the requirements needed to properly sequence induced neuronal stem cells and is reliable enough to ensure that kit can be used repeatedly for different cell lines. The kits must be compatible in all needed aspects (form, fit, and function) for our sequencing protocol.

Background/Description of Requirement

This acquisition is being conducted under Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 13 – Simplified Acquisition Procedures, and the resultant contract award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2023-04 dated June 2, 2023.

The purpose of this acquisition is to purchase Chromium Next GEM Single Cell Kits.  The National Institute on Aging (NIA), Epigenetics and Stem Cell Aging Unit (ESCA) is focused on understanding how stem cell aging contributes to overall aging phenotypes.  The Chromium cell kits are required for ongoing neurodegenerative research.  The heterogeneity of the stem cell compartment continues to be an important contribution to the changes in functional potential.  The lab requires these single cell assays to characterize the heterogeneity of stem cell aging.  The supplies and reagents are necessary for disease research on gene expression analysis.  The requested product is necessary to profile the epigenetic landscape and gene expression of induced neural stem cells. The kit may also be used for various other cell types when needed. The item itself generates paired ATAC and GEX libraries from a single nuclei sample. These libraries can then be sequenced, and the data analyzed and visualized using Cell Ranger ARC and Loupe Cell Browser for assessing single cell gene expression and chromatic landscape. The data produced from this kit will allow TGB/EGS to characterize induced neuronal stem cells and check for any present markers of senescence. This version of the single cell RNA sequencing kit is effective, efficient, and reasonably priced.

Generic Name of Product:  Chromium Cell Kits

Purchase Description:

Chromium Next GEM Chip G Single Cell Kit, 48 rxns

Chromium Next GEM Single Cell 3' Kit v3.1, 16 rxns

Salient characteristics

• Delivers paired full-length sequences at the single cell level using universal and unbiased amplification strategies, thus avoiding amplification and detection bias associated with complex multiplex PCR while revealing biological complexity on a per-cell basis.
• The incorporation of a unique molecular identifier (UMI) in the template switch oligo enables transcript quantification and further reduces systematic bias by controlling for non-biological SNVs or other variants introduced by PCR and sequencing error.
• Must be compatible with the contractor’s automated instrument.
• Provides a precisely engineered reagent delivery method that enables thousands of micro-reactions in parallel
• combines single cell partitioning, barcoding, and library preparation in one integrated, validated instrument that minimizes pipetting steps and decreases hands-on time to less than 1 hour.

Quantity:  

(1) Chromium Next GEM Chip G Single Cell Kit, 48 rxns

(1) Chromium Next GEM Single Cell 3' Kit v3.1, 16 rxns

Contract Type:  A Firm Fixed Price type order award not exceeding the Simplified Acquisition Threshold is anticipated to be awarded resulting from this requirement.

Summary Statement: The Unique Entity Identifier (UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), certification of country of ownership, and the certification of business size must be included in the response.

All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.”

Quoter Terms and Conditions (To be completed by the Offeror):

1. Period of Performance OR Delivery Date After Receipt of Order:
2. Shipping Point (F.O.B. OR Destination):
3. Payment Discount Terms:
4. NIH BPA Number, if applicable:
5. SAM UEI Number:
6. Name of Company:
7. Street Address, City, State, Zip code:
8. Name of Person Authorized to Provide Quote:
9. Telephone Number and Email Address of Person Authorized to Provide Quote:

For equipment/parts/supply requirements under this requirement, if applicable, responses must include: the place of manufacturing (i.e., address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture).

Respondents that believe that they are manufacturers or authorized resellers of the brand-name product specified in this announcement must provide, as part of their response: (a) product, catalog, model, and/or part number(s); (b) product description; (c) all relevant information and documentation that the item(s) offered meets the salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics as specified in the purchase description; quantity; estimated price or cost; shipping, handling, and/or installation charges; and delivery date after receipt of order. 

In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government's need, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.

ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS, PROVISIONS, AND REPRESENTATIONS

The FAR Clauses are incorporated by reference and are provided in full text at https://www.acquisition.gov/:

1. FAR Provision 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Mar 2023) is applicable to this solicitation.
2. FAR Provision 52.212-2 Evaluation-Commercial Items (Nov 2021) is applicable to this solicitation. The Government will evaluate quotations or offers in accordance with FAR 13.106-2 and award a purchase order from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose quote conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate quotes: Technical capability of the item offered to meet the Government requirement; Price; and Past performance [see FAR 13.106-2(b)(3)]
3. FAR Provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Items (Dec 2022) is applicable to this solicitation.
4. FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Dec 2022) is applicable to this solicitation.
5. FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (June 2023) is applicable to this solicitation.

In addition, the following FAR provisions and clauses are applicable to this solicitation and incorporated by reference:

1. 52.204-7 System for Award Management (Oct 2018),
2. 52.204-13 System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018),
3. FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Aug 2020),
4. 52.204-18 Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Aug 2020),
5. 52.211-6, Brand Name or Equal (Aug 1999),
6. 52.225-1, Buy American-Supplies (Oct 2022) (41 U.S.C. chapter 83),
7. HHSAR 352.239-73, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015).
8. FAR 52.204-27, Prohibition on a ByteDance Covered Application (Jun 2023)

The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are available as an attachment. Offerors MUST complete the provision at 52.204-24 and 52.204-26 and submit completed copies as separate documents with their quotation.

1. FAR 52.204-24, Representation Regarding Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021)
2. FAR 52.204-25, Prohibition on Contracting for Certain Telecommunications and Video Surveillance Services or Equipment (Nov 2021)
3. FAR 52.204-26, Covered Telecommunications Equipment or Services Representation (Oct 2020)
4. NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions

All responses must be received by August 27, 2023, at 12:00 PM and must reference announcement / solicitation number NIA 23-008704. Responses may be submitted electronically to Carla Blalock at carla.blalock@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted.