The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) Office of Acquisition (OA), on behalf of the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to BD BioSciences, 2350 Qume Drive
San Jose, California 95131-1807 to procure the following:

1. C6 Flow Cytometer
2. Installation and New User Training Service

The sole source determination is based on the fact that National Institute of Health (NIH) is the nation's leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency conducting and supporting medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives. NIBIB is an Institute within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) devoted to merging the physical and biological sciences to develop new technologies that improve health. NIBIB's goal is to accelerate the pace of discovery and speed the development of biomedical technologies that prevent and treat illnesses.

NIBIB's Biological Molecular Imaging group (BMIG) is performing a heavy load of molecular and cellular biological experiments to fulfill its research goals - (1) target identification and probe development; (2) protein engineering and site-specific labeling; (3) therapeutic response monitoring; and (4) reporter gene imaging. Flow cytometry is a biological technique which has broad preclinical and clinical applications. NIBIB will use the instruments mainly for target identification, probe screening and therapy effect monitoring.

Specifications:
1. Compact flow cytometer with dimensions of 11"H X 21.5" W X 16.5" D with fluid bottles and weighs less than 35 lbs;
2. Recommended sheath fluid is filtered, deionized laboratory grade water;
3. Uses many sample tube types including 12 X 75 mm tubes and various microcentrifuge tubes;
4. Uses a 24-bit digital signal processor generating data over a range of 7.2 decades or 16,777,2115 channels;
5. Uses dim and bright signals to be displayed on the same scale;
6. No air-over-fluid pressure required;
7. Quick exchange of filters with several optional optical filters, including: 510 nm, 540nm, 565 nm, 610nm, 630 nm, and 780 nm; and
8. Laser Module allows the choice of three laser configurations: 1) three colors off the blue laser and one color off the red laser; 2) two colors off the blue laser and 2 colors off the red laser; and 3) four colors off the blue laser.

Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 334516, with size standard of 500. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, simplified acquisition procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6 B Competitive Requirements are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001).and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-53 (August 4, 2011).

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this synopsis, by September 12, 2011, 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct future competitive procurement.

Inquires to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(EB)-2011-330-JES, may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisition, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6129, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Jennifer Swift. Response may be submitted electronically to [email protected]. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative.

Note: In order to receive an award from the NHLBI, contractors must have a valid registration in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov, and ORCA https://orca.bpn.gov/login.aspx.