Automated Liquid Handling System for Sample Preparation

Active

Contract Opportunity

Contracting Office Address

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST),

Acquisition Management Division,

100 Bureau Drive, Mail Stop 1640,

Gaithersburg, MD, 20899-1640

This is a Sources Sought Notice ONLY. Requests for copies of a solicitation will not receive a response.

This Notice is for planning purposes only and is not a Request for Proposal or Request for Quotation or an obligation on the part of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for conducting a follow-on acquisition. NIST does not intend to award a contract on the basis of this Notice, or otherwise pay for the information requested. No entitlement or payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by NIST will arise as a result of submission of responses to this Notice and NIST use of such information. NIST recognizes that proprietary components, interfaces and equipment, and clearly mark restricted or proprietary components, interfaces and equipment, and clearly mark restricted or proprietary data and present it as an addendum to the non-restricted/non-proprietary information. In the absence of such identification, NIST will assume to have unlimited rights to all technical data in the information paper.

NO SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS EXIST AT THIS TIME.

Requirement

The Surface and Trace Chemical Analysis Group (STCAG) of the Materials Measurement Science Division (MMSD) of the Materials Measurement Laboratory (MML) has significant research efforts in the field of forensic science, including analyses for the identification and quantitation of drugs and adulterants for forensic chemistry, public health, and homeland security applications.

Current projects in this space include the Rapid Drug Analysis and Research (RaDAR) program and the Characterized Authentic Drug Samples (CADS) project. The RaDAR program provides comprehensive, near real-time analysis of drug residues collected from public safety and public health entities across the U.S. The CADS project characterizes authentic drug samples submitted through collaborating forensic laboratories to be characterized and supplied as Research Grade Test Material (RGTM) to laboratories developing and validating new methods and techniques. Sample preparation protocols for these projects include dilutions, pH adjusted liquid/liquid extractions, and preparation of calibration curves and quality control samples.

NIST is seeking information on vendors who could potentially provide the following.

• A pipette based automated liquid handling system capable of pipetting from 1 µL to 5 mL.


• A system capable of performing the required sample preparation tasks
  
  
  
  • These tasks may include calibration curve preparation, addition of reagents, mixing of samples, serial dilutions, and liquid/liquid extractions with the capability to collect either the top or bottom layer.
  
  
  
  


• A system able to be upgraded to complete solid phase extraction should the need arise.


• A system able to work with a variety of consumables, but specifically 2 mL screw-top autosampler vials, 12 x 75 mm test tubes, and 96 well plates.


• A versatile system that allows for easy method development with changes made in real-time in the software by users.


• A system able to operate without connection to a network.


• A system that fits on a standard laboratory bench (32” deep) and maintains performance in temperatures ranging from 20 ºC to 30 ºC, at humidity ranges from 20 % to 80 % RH.


• Power requirements, standard 110/120V.


• Provide all necessary manuals, software, training, and a minimum 1-year warranty.

Interested parties shall describe the capabilities of their organization as it relates to the service described above. NIST anticipates issuing a Request for Quotation in third quarter of FY2025 and awarding a contract no later than fourth quarter FY2025.

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large and small businesses. The small business size standard associated with the NAICS code for this effort, 334516, is 1000 employees. Please include your company’s size classification and socio-economic status in any response to this notice.

After results of this market research are obtained and analyzed, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a contract. Companies that can provide such items are requested to email a written response describing their abilities to Donald.graham@nist.gov no later than the response date for this sources sought notice.

The following information is requested to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice:

1. Name, Address, Unique Entity ID #, and point of contact information of your company.


2. Any information on the company’s small business certifications, if applicable.


3. Description of your company’s capabilities as they relate to the item described in this notice.


4. A description of your company’s previous experience providing the item described in this notice.


5. Indication of whether the item described in this notice are currently offered via your company’s GSA Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contracts, Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs), or other existing Government-wide contract vehicles; and, if so, the contract number(s) for those vehicles.


6. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in finalizing its market research.

Responses are limited to a total of twelve (12) pages. The responses must be in MS Word format. Pages shall be 8½-inch x 11-inch, using Times New Roman 11 Point Font. Each page shall have adequate margins on each side (at least one inch) of the page. Header/footer information (which does not include any information to be analyzed) may be included in the 1" margin space.

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