Cell Stretching System (AMBIS 2201843)

This is a Sources Sought notice for domestically manufactured products only. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.

Per the Buy American Act and Executive Order 14005, the National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious Disease (NIAID) is seeking information for domestically manufactured products only, Per the requirements under the Buy American Act and requirements relating to Executive Order 14005 entitled: “Ensuring the Future is Made in All of America by All of America’s Workers”, in the event that a nonavailability waiver request submitted through the Made in America Office (MIAO)’s Digital Waiver Portal is required."

Respondents must certify in capabilities statement that products are manufactured in the United States. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all U.S manufactured products that are equal to the following product: WE ARE SEEKING CELL STRETCHING SYSTEM THAT OFFERS ADVANCED CELL AND TISSUE MECHANICAL CONDITIONING PLATFORM. The essential specifications and capabilities needed are:

1. Integrated Platform: A cell stretching system that allows for biomimetic mechanical strain application to cells and tissues with ease and precision.

2. Software Control: Intuitive control of stretching protocols using sophisticated software to ensure accurate experimental conditions.

3. Compact Design: A device that is compact in design for easy integration into existing cell culture workflows and suitable for use in a standard cell culture incubator, saving valuable lab space. The instrument footprint should be around 280 x 102 x 65 mm, with a control unit footprint of 110 x 64 x 60 mm.

4. External Controller: A convenient external controller that can be magnetically attached to the exterior of a cell culture incubator for space-saving and accessibility.

5. Parallel Experimentation: The capability to run multiple experiments in parallel, with chambers available in various formats to mechanically condition many cultures simultaneously.

Capability Statement/Information Sought All capable vendors should respond with a brief capability statement demonstrating an equal product that is manufactured in the United States by January 12, 2024, by 11:00 AM EST. Capabilities statement must also include the following information: 1) organization name, address, point of contact, email address, website address, telephone number, UE ID# with an active SAM.gov registration, and a tailored capability statements addressing the particulars of this effort, with appropriate documentation supporting claims of capability.

Submission Instructions Interested businesses who consider themselves qualified to provide an equal product that is manufactured in the United States for the above-listed product are invited to submit a response to this Sources Sought Notice by January 12, 2024, by 11:00 AM EST. All responses under this Sources Sought Notice must be emailed to directly to, Kimberly Rubio: kimberly.rubio@nih.gov with the Sources Sought ID# SS-NIAID-24-2201843 in email the subject line.

Disclaimer and Important Notes This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).