384-well Viaflo Head

1.0 DESCRIPTION

This is a Combined Synopsis/Solicitation for commercial products and commercial services conducted in accordance with RFO FAR Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Products and Commercial Services, using the simplified procedures applicable to commercial products and commercial services. This notice constitutes the solicitation. Quotations are requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), Mechanistic Toxicology Branch (MTB), intends to acquire one 384-channel liquid-handling pipetting head with a 5–125 µL operating volume range for use with existing 96/384 liquid-handling equipment located at NIEHS.

The Government is seeking a commercially available 384-channel pipetting head that meets the functional, performance, compatibility, and operational requirements described in the attached Requirements Document. The Government will consider quotations for products offered by all responsible sources that demonstrate compliance with all stated requirements.

The Government's requirement is based on the functional and performance characteristics necessary to support the intended scientific application and compatibility with the Government's existing liquid-handling equipment and laboratory workflow. The requirement is not restricted to a particular manufacturer, make, or model.

The Government requires a 384-channel liquid-handling pipetting head capable of supporting high-throughput liquid handling on 384-well culture plates within the required 5–125 µL volume range. The equipment will support ongoing translational toxicology research involving human-based microphysiological systems and advanced 3D cell models, including liver-focused research conducted through an NIH-funded collaboration with NCATS under a Complement-ARIE grant award.

The required pipetting head shall be compatible with the existing 96/384 liquid-handling equipment at NIEHS and shall increase laboratory capacity for high-throughput liquid handling within the specified volume range. The equipment shall provide reliable and reproducible liquid handling suitable for the Government's intended laboratory applications.

The requirement includes the 384-channel pipetting head and applicable installation, configuration, technical support, and user training necessary to place the equipment into operational service, as specified in the applicable quotation. Installation and training shall be coordinated with NIEHS laboratory personnel and shall provide sufficient instruction to enable designated personnel to operate the equipment effectively.

The equipment shall operate independently of NIEHS information technology systems and shall not require integration with NIEHS enterprise information technology infrastructure or IT support.

Acceptance shall be based on the Government's determination that the delivered pipetting head has been delivered, installed or configured as applicable, is compatible with the existing NIEHS 96/384 liquid-handling equipment, and successfully performs the required liquid-handling functions within the specified 5–125 µL volume range. NIEHS laboratory staff will verify functionality in coordination with appropriate technical scientific support.

The Government anticipates awarding a firm-fixed-price purchase order to the responsible offeror whose quotation conforms to the solicitation requirements and whose price is determined fair and reasonable.

The Government will consider quotations from all responsible sources capable of meeting the complete requirements. An offeror may propose any manufacturer's product that meets or exceeds the stated salient physical, functional, compatibility, and performance characteristics.

Required delivery date: September 30, 2026

Delivery Location:

NIEHS

Rall Building 101, Laboratories E144-146

111 T.W. Alexander Drive

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

The applicable NAICS code is 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing. The applicable PSC is 6630 – Chemical Analysis Instruments.

Please see the attached Requirements Document for the detailed technical and performance requirements.

Please see the attached requirements document titled “75N98026Q01256 – Requirements Document” for additional information.

2.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND QUOTATION INFORMATION

The Government is seeking a commercially available 384-channel liquid-handling pipetting head capable of satisfying the technical, functional, compatibility, operational, installation, and training requirements identified in this solicitation and the attached Requirements Document.

Offerors may propose products manufactured by any responsible manufacturer. However, the proposed product must satisfy all mandatory requirements stated in the solicitation and Requirements Document.

Each quotation shall identify:

• Manufacturer name;
• Product name and model number;
• Manufacturer part number;
• Country of manufacture of the proposed end product;
• Proposed product configuration;
• Operating volume range and 384-channel configuration;
• Compatibility with the Government's existing 96/384 liquid-handling equipment;
• Installation and training included in the quoted price, as applicable;
• Delivery schedule; and
• Sufficient technical documentation to demonstrate compliance with each mandatory requirement.

Offerors shall provide sufficient technical information for the Government to determine whether the proposed product meets or exceeds each applicable requirement. Documentation shall clearly identify the proposed product's physical, functional, performance, and compatibility characteristics.

The Government will evaluate proposed products based on their demonstrated ability to satisfy the stated functional, physical, performance, compatibility, and operational requirements. The Government will not evaluate products based on manufacturer identity, brand familiarity, or similarity to a particular manufacturer's commercial configuration except to the extent necessary to determine compliance with the stated requirements.

BASIS FOR AWARD

The Government intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order resulting from this solicitation. The Government will evaluate quotations based on:

• Technical Acceptability – The proposed product must meet all mandatory requirements identified in the Requirements Document. The Government will consider the offeror's technical description, manufacturer documentation, and other information submitted with the quotation.
• Price – The Government will evaluate the total quoted price, including all required equipment, components, delivery, installation, training, and other costs necessary to satisfy the requirements.
• Responsibility – The selected offeror must be determined responsible in accordance with applicable RFO requirements.

The Government intends to make award to the responsible offeror whose quotation meets all mandatory requirements and whose total evaluated price is determined fair and reasonable.

The Government intends to consider quotations from all responsible sources, including manufacturers, authorized distributors, and other qualified commercial sources capable of providing the complete required system, associated components, installation, and training.

The Government reserves the right to make no award if no quotation is determined to meet the Government's requirements or if the Government determines that cancellation of the solicitation is in the Government's interest.

RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS

This is a Request for Quotation (RFQ) for commercial products and commercial services issued pursuant to RFO FAR Part 12 and applicable simplified acquisition procedures.

All responsible sources capable of meeting the Government's requirements may submit a quotation. The Government will consider products manufactured by any manufacturer that satisfy the requirements stated in this solicitation and the attached Requirements Document.

Quotations shall contain sufficient information for the Government to determine the technical acceptability of the proposed product or system.

At a minimum, quotations shall include:

1. Offeror's legal business name and contact information;
2. Manufacturer name;
3. Product name and model number;
4. Manufacturer part numbers;
5. Description of the proposed product/configuration;
6. Technical literature or other documentation demonstrating compliance with each mandatory requirement;
7. Completed compliance matrix identifying where the quotation demonstrates compliance with each requirement;
8. Unit prices and total price;
9. Delivery schedule;
10. Installation and training included in the quotation;
11. Warranty information, if applicable;
12. Any exceptions or deviations from the solicitation requirements; and
13. Country of manufacture of the proposed end product.

Offerors shall clearly identify the proposed manufacturer and model and shall provide sufficient technical information for the Government to determine whether the proposed product meets all applicable requirements.

Failure to identify an exception or deviation may result in the Government evaluating the quotation based on the information provided.

All quotations must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist identified in the solicitation no later than the date and time specified in the solicitation.

Offerors shall reference Solicitation No. 75N98026Q01256 in the subject line and in all correspondence.

All responses must be sent via email to Contract Specialist, Jordan Neal, at Jordan.Neal@nih.gov, copying Contracting Officer, Alice Pagán Pereira, at Alice.Pagan@nih.gov by no later than 12:00 pm (noon) Eastern Time on Tuesday, September 29, 2026.

To be eligible for award, the contractor must be registered in System for Award Management (SAM.gov) in accordance with applicable requirements. Reference: 75N98026Q01256 on all correspondence.