The required microfluidic test station is a desktop tool capable of testing microfluidic devices with constant flow rate and pressure without damaging the device. The required test station consists of a sample stage, microfluidic pump and delivery system, microscope, imaging system with software to provide 2D/3D images, measurement and live video. The required microfluidic test station will serve as critical testing equipment for soft lithography fabrication, especially for multilayer fluidic devices with micro and/or nanometer channels.

Specific requirements include:

1. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
The microfluidic test station is intended to be used by researchers to test their microfluidic/nanofluidic device after completing the fabrication to verify the functionality thus further the research and development of fluidic device design and fabrication.

2. TOOL CONFIGURATION
a. The tool shall be a stand-alone desktop system and include the following components:
(1) A stage to support various substrate size up to 100 mm round and square;
(2) A microscope with zoom range up to 200x and capable for top-side and bottom-side LED illumination;
(3) One or more microfluidic pump and delivery system capable to deliver liquid with constant flow and gas with constant pressure.
(4) Imaging system with monitor and software capable of imaging, scanning, live video, 2D/3D measurement and data storage.
b. The tool shall be able to deliver liquid or gas to the fluidic device without damaging or altering the device.
c. The tool shall be able to control and maintain minimum 0.1 microliter/minute flow rate when delivering liquid to device during testing.
d. The tool shall be able for programmable fluid delivery.

After the results of this market research are obtained and analyzed and specifications developed for the Microfluidic Test Station, NIST may conduct a competitive procurement and subsequently award a Purchase Order. If at least two qualified small businesses are identified during this market research stage, then any competitive procurement that resulted will be conducted as a small business set-aside.

NIST is seeking responses from all responsible sources, including large, foreign, and small businesses. Small businesses are defined under the associated NAICS code for this effort, 334516, as those domestic sources having 500 employees or less. Please include your company's size classification and socio-economic status in any response to this notice.

Companies that manufacture Microfluidic Test Stations are requested to email a detailed report describing their abilities to [email protected] no later than the response date for this sources sought notice. The report should include achievable specifications and any other information relevant to your product or capabilities. Also, the following information is requested to be provided as part of the response to this sources sought notice:

1. Name of the company that manufactures the system components for which specifications are provided.

2. Name of company(s) that are authorized to sell the system components, their addresses, and a point of contact for the company (name, phone number, fax number and email address).

3. Indication of number of days, after receipt of order that is typical for delivery of such systems.

4. Indication of whether each instrument for which specifications are sent to [email protected] are currently on one or more GSA Federal Supply Schedule contracts and, if so, the GSA FSS contract number(s).

5. Any other relevant information that is not listed above which the Government should consider in developing its minimum specifications and finalizing its market research.

Point of Contact
Paula Wilkison, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 975-8448, email [email protected]