ERDC-CERL intends to purchase a Flow Cytometer with sorting capabilities to support ongoing basic and applied research programs and expand research competencies at the Engineering Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (ERDC-CERL). The system must have the following capabilities:

1. General Flow Cytometer System Requirements:
a. Utilize a microfluidic platform with disposable chips, which prevent sample and instrument contamination.
b. Require no system cleaning between runs.
c. Suitable for analyzing class II microorganisms.
d. Capable of non-destructive sorting (low flow and pressure).
e. Accept up to three lasers (6 color detectors).
f. Unit must be compact enough to fit inside a bio-safety cabinet (depth < 50 cm).
g. Designed to be compatible with a droplet generator and a single cell dispenser.

2. Optics Specifications:
a. Two laser system, 488 nm and 561 nm with detection wavelengths at 543/22 nm and 607/24 nm.
b. Upgradable to a third 405 nm laser.
c. Measurement parameters consisting of forward scatter (FSC) and side scatter (SSC) at 6 PMTs (up to 10 parameters).
d. Size sensitivity FSC < 0.5 m, and SSC < 1.0 m.
e. Fluorescent sensitivity < 200 MESF FITC.
f. Data resolution at 4 decades, 18 bit ADC.
g. Pulse analysis consisting of height, area, and width.

3. Fluidics Specifications:
a. Handle flow speeds up to 500 mm/sec.
b. Microfluidic chips made of acrylic (PMMA) materials.
c. Dose not require specific sheath buffer, any media can be used.
d. Minimum sample volume and sheath volumes of 20 L and 4 mL respectively.

4. Analysis and Sorting:
a. Flow shift sorting method.
b. Operational pressure of 0.3 psi and flow of < 1 m/sec.
c. Detection speed of 4,000 events/sec.
d. Sorting speed of 100 targets per second.

5. PC and Software:
a. Laptop PC with Windows 7 or 8, 64 bit.
b. Own format and FCS 3.0.

6. Onsite Installation and User Training:
a. Delivery and installation at ERDC-CERL within 60 days after award.
b. Necessary reagents and microfluidic chips for installation and training are included.
c. Training on both hardware and software after completion of installation.
d. Installation and training is to take 2 days total.
e. Unlimited participants may be trained.

7. Service Contract:
a. Personnel support via telephone during business hours.
b. One-year service agreement included.

On-chip Biotechnologies has been identified as the only acceptable source for this requirement. On-chip's Sort flow cytometer, manufactured by On-chip Biotechnologies, is a unique instrument in that it uses a microfluidic platform where pumps and valves provide air pressure but never contact the sample or sheath fluid. All fluids (sample, sheath, and waste) remain within the chip during sorting and analysis, which prevents contamination of the instrument and samples. This configuration is needed to work with class II microorganisms (Bacillus and Pseudomonas sp.), which are currently being used in the CERL Microbiology and Chem-Bio Materials Laboratories. After analysis, the microfluidic chip can simply autoclave and be disposed of in conventional waste streams. In addition, the On-chip Sorter causes no damage to cells due to reduced flow speeds (<1 m/s) and pressures (<0.3 PSI) as compared to conventional cell sorters that flow at significantly higher rates (>10 m/s) and pressures (>45 PSI). Increased pressures and flow rates caused high shear stress and strong electronic fields that typically damage cells. Because the instrument will be used to screen genetically engineered memory circuits, maintaining cell viability is essential for subsequent experimentation after the sorting process.

The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 334516, which has a size standard of 500 employees. This is not a small business set aside, as this Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. Any interested party that believes they can fulfill this requirement should submit a capability statement to be reviewed. All submissions will be considered, however there is no guarantee that submissions in response to this notice will in any way alter the Government's acquisition strategy.

Please provide responses to this notice NLT 09:00 AM CST, 24 February 2016 to:

[email protected]

Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses to this notice will not be considered as a response to any solicitation, a request to be added to a prospective offerors list, or to receive a copy of any solicitation. A determination by the Government not to compete the contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.