Contracting Office Address:
Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Room 1E128, Bethesda, MD 20892, UNITED STATES.

Description:

National Cancer Institute (NCI), Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) of the Center for Cancer Research (CCR) plans to procure on a sole source basis a high quality Celigo® S Imaging Cytometer System as described below, from Nexcelom Biosciences, LLS. 360 Merrimack St., Lawrence, MA 01843-1740

The response close date of this notice for this requirement is in accordance with FAR 5.203(a)(1). This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.106-1(b)(1) using simplified acquisition procedures for commercial acquisitions and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541512 and the business size standard is $27.5M.

This will be awarded as a severable firm fixed price type contract. The award will be in the aggregate.

It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement.

BACKGROUND

The Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) of the CCR, NCI, is performing translational researches on brain tumors, especially on the most malignant form - glioblastoma, using biological, biochemical, pathological, and immunological methods to develop novel therapeutics for the patients with brain tumors. The Principal Investigator (PI) of NOB, is seeking the pre-clinical and clinical research approach to understand pathological and genomic pathways for targeting brain tumors. An equipment for analysis of cell proliferation and sensitivity to anti-cancer reagents is basic and necessary for this translation research, which should be able to perform:

1. Rapid, label free cell proliferation assay with whole well imaging and direct cell counting;
2. Automated imaging and analysis of CSC sphere: provide counts and size measurement
3. Ready to use tumorspheroids growth inhibition, migration and invasion assay
4. 4-channel fluorescence for multiplexed assay: kinetic apoptosis and viability assay

The Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) of the CCR, NCI is requesting to purchase such a high quality image cytometer system - Celigo S Image Cytometer, the sole manufacturer and exclusive distributor.
The following characteristics are required to fulfill the NCI NOB requirement:

- An optical system comprised of an F-Theta lens and galvanometric mirrors for imaging all SBS format multi-well plates from 6-wells to 1536-wells plates and a variety of tissue culture vessels.
- A combination of brightfield and 3 fluorescent channels for imaging up to 4 channels suitable for multiplexing applications.
- A well imaging capability with even illumination and consistent image contrast from well edge to well edge allowing accurate cellular quantification and characterization for cell-based assays.
- Ready-to-use brightfield and fluorescent applications relevant to cell-based assays development.
- Brightfield applications including cell counting, confluence measurements, growth curves and proliferation, cell morphology analysis, cytopathic effects, cell culture QC, cell line development, colony formation and colony growth monitoring, 3D spheroid analysis for tumorspheres and embryoid bodies, cell migration and wound healing.
- Fluorescent applications including cell health, cell viability, apoptosis, DNA synthesis and proliferation, cell cycle, fluorescent marker analysis, transfection and transduction efficiencies, multi-color fluorescent colony analysis and 3D spheroids fluorescent analysis.
- The ability to provide measurements for adherent and suspension cells without the need for trypsinization or sample preparation.
- Flexibility of utilization with multiple imaging modes (full well or partial well) and several focusing mechanisms.
- An easy-to-use user interface for everyday use by laboratory personnel that does not require an image analysis expert.
- A data management system supported by a database hosted either locally or within a networked server infrastructure.
- The ability to be integrated within an automation platform for the development of automated workflows.

Additionally, NCI NOB requires installation and training which includes:

TRAINING

There will be 2 days training for up to 3 users performed at customer site.

TYPE OF ORDER

This is a Severable Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order.

SPECIAL ORDER REQUIREMENTS

PRODUCT FEATURES/SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS

The following product features/characteristics are required for this piece of equipment:

• Capable of rapid microplate-based in situ cellular analysis. The Celigo is the fastest imager available today. It is capable of imaging whole wells of an entire 96 well plate in two colors in less than 9 min and in less than 6 min for one color.
• Enables bright field and fluorescence analysis of cells in their natural state based on high-speed full well or partial well imaging. The Celigo is able to accept and image whole wells of entire 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 384 and 1536 well plates as well as T-25 and T-75 flasks. A combination of brightfield and 3 fluorescent channels for imaging up to 4 channels suitable for multiplexing applications.
• Compatible with non invasive in situ analysis of various adherent and non-adherent cell types based on morphology and/or fluorescence labeling. The Celigo does not require adherent cells to be trypsinized and do automated imaging and analysis of CSC sphere to provide counts and size measurement.
• Enables high throughput applications including label free cellular analysis, morphology based assays and fluorescence cell based assays. The Celigo incorporates three LED light sources (377nm, 483nm, 531nm, or 628nm) for alignment free, long life, illumination. The fluorescence illumination enables full well coverage of 6-well to 1536-well standard SBS well plate formats. Using Camera binning and software control, the system is setup to acquire images between 1 to 8 μm/pixel resolutions.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 3:00PM EDT, on July 18, 2019. All responses and questions must be in writing and faxed (240) 276-5433 or emailed to William Neal, Contracting Officer via electronic mail at [email protected]. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid, current Entity Record, including current Representations and Certifications, in the System for Award Management (SAM) through SAM.gov. Reference: 75N91019Q00087 on all correspondence.