The purpose of this SS is to identify qualified small business concerns, including Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-Owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) that are interested in and capable of providing the BioComp Instruments Gradient Station with Fractionator Tube Holders, Seton Centrifuge Tubes, and Fractionator accessories.

The NHLBI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this Sources Sought notice, the NHLBI may issue a Request for Quote (RFQ).

There is no solicitation available at this time. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NHLBI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought notice or the NHLBI's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement.

The NHLBI is seeking capability statements from all eligible small business concerns, particularly Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB), and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 with a size standard of 500 employees.

Based on the responses received from this SOURCES SOUGHT announcement, the proposed acquisition may be solicited as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. All eligible small business concerns responding to this Sources Sought announcement must have the capabilities to provide the below product within 30 days after receipt of purchase order.

Background Information

The Laboratory of Ribonucleoprotein Biochemistry in NHLBI conducts research on the function of messenger RNA-protein complexes in health and disease. The gradient station is necessary for the formation and fractionation of density gradients. Density gradient centrifugation is an important technique for the biochemical analysis of mRNAs. These experiments require reproducible formation of gradients of sucrose, glycerol, or other solutions, followed by ultracentrifugation and collection and analysis of fractions. In particular, the experiments require gradient fractionation followed by mass spectrometry to identify proteins present in individual fractions. Because mass spectrometry is a highly sensitive technique, it is essential that samples generated both within a single experiment and across several experiments be as similar as possible. The gradient station is a unique instrument that combines and automates making reproducible gradients and collecting very small, high resolution fractions which are essential for NHLBI studies.

Specifications

- Combined instrument for making reproducible gradients and fractionating them after ultracentrifugation;
- Automated, programmable gradient making capability;
- Compatibility with a large number of solutes;
- Simultaneous formation of six (6) gradients for optimal reproducibility;
- Automated high resolution gradient collection (fractionating) capability;
- Built-in monitoring of fraction volume and position;
- In-line UV monitoring and fraction collection with digital data collection; and,
- Small footprint to maximize limited bench space.

Interested parties should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement, not to exceed 10 single-sided pages (including all attachments) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to provide this equipment. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner.

All capability statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Jonathan Lear, Contract Specialist, at [email protected] in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by December 27, 2011, 9:00am, EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered.