This is a pre-solicitation / notice of intent synopsis to award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Gatan, Inc., 780 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, PA 15086-7521 to provide the K2 Summit System to the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research (DIR) Laboratory of Macromolecular Interactions (LMI).

BACKGROUND

The Laboratory of Macromolecular Interactions, part of the Cell Biology and Physiology Center of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, is involved in the study of the structure and function of protein complexes critical for human health, in particular mechanosensitive elements of the cytoskeleton. As part of the research, the laboratory uses high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy, which enables staff to visualize the three-dimensional structures of these complexes. The laboratory is thus requesting the purchase of the K2 Summit System direct electron detector, which will enable staff to improve the resolution of their structures substantially and thereby achieve much more detailed mechanistic insight into function.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this requirement is for a contractor to provide the K2 Summit System to the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research (DIR), Laboratory of Macromolecular Interactions (LMI).

PROCUREMENT

The contractor shall provide the following equipment:

- K2 Summit System, Qty. 1
- K2 Summit Installation with 895 camera, X-ray testing and basic operator training, Qty. 1
- Kit / Housing for the K2 and 895 combo designed for the TF20, Qty. 1
- UltraScan US 4000 MP Software Suite upgrade to GMS 2.0 (includes online and offline copy of DigitalMicrograph, for Windows 7, 64 bit)

DELIVERY DATE

The estimated delivery date shall be within ninety (90) days after receipt of order.

JUSTIFICATION

The sole source determination is based on the fact that the K2 Summit System is exclusively manufactured by Gatan, Inc. and is unique in its ability to count individual electrons, as opposed to the traditional integration of their analog signal. Specifically designed for electron counting, the K2 Summit System has unprecedented sensitivity and Detective Quantum Efficiency (DQE), the most important measures by which to judge a high resolution EM camera.

The counting ability of the K2 gives a significant performance boost at low-resolution spatial frequencies versus other direct election detectors. This is important for accurate alignment of small objects to recover the high-resolution information in reconstructions. F-actin (a particular focus of the Laboratory of Macromolecular Interactions) falls into the category of a small object on the single-particle EM scale, and thus the K2 is particularly well suited to determining high-resolution reconstructions of actin filaments versus other direct detectors.

INSPECTION AND ACCEPTANCE REQUIREMENTS

Upon arrival of equipment to destination, the package must be undamaged. In the installation of the equipment, all parts must be functional and running in proper order.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c) as set forth in FAR Part 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 334516, Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing, and the Small Business Size Standard is 500 employees. However, this acquisition is not set-aside for small businesses. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13.5, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001). The resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-76 (August 25, 2014).

This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by September 26, 2014 at 9:00am EST and must reference synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(HL)-2014-276-JML. Responses shall be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6151, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Jonathan M. Lear. Responses 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. "All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency."