Microencapsulation Fluidics System

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 a commercially available microencapsulation fluidics system, including the required microfluidic modules, pumping and droplet-generation components, computer and software, installation, and training.

The Government is seeking a commercially available system that meets the functional, performance, and operational requirements described in the attached Requirements Document. The Government will consider quotations for the named product as well as products offered by other manufacturers 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 is not restricted to a particular manufacturer, make, or model.

The Government requires a specialized microencapsulation fluidics platform capable of combining liquid-form alginate with human cell suspensions under controlled conditions and generating droplets that form alginate capsules around suspension cells. The system will support the formation of three-dimensional (3D) microtissues, organoids, spheroids, and other advanced cell models for translational toxicology applications.

The required system shall provide controlled microfluidic pumping and droplet-generation capabilities suitable for the Government's intended application. The system shall permit reliable and reproducible combination of alginate and human cell suspensions and generation of appropriately sized droplets under controlled operating conditions.

The requirement includes the system hardware, applicable control equipment, computer and software necessary for operation, installation, and user training. Installation and training shall be performed at the NIEHS facility and shall include sufficient instruction to enable designated laboratory personnel to operate the system and perform the required microencapsulation procedures.

The system shall operate independently of NIEHS information technology systems and shall not require integration with NIEHS enterprise information technology infrastructure.

Acceptance shall be based on the Government's determination that the delivered system has been installed and configured in accordance with the solicitation requirements and is capable of performing the specified microencapsulation process. Acceptance may include demonstration of successful formation of alginate-encapsulated human cell-containing microtissues using Government-provided materials.

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 or system that meets or exceeds the stated salient physical, functional, 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 “75N98026Q01255 – Requirements Document” for additional information.

2.0 TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS AND QUOTATION INFORMATION

The Government is seeking a commercially available microencapsulation fluidics system capable of satisfying the technical, functional, 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 system 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 numbers for major components;
• Country of manufacture of the proposed end product;
• Proposed system configuration;
• Applicable computer and software components;
• Installation and training included in the quoted price;
• Delivery schedule; and

Sufficient technical documentation to demonstrate compliance with each mandatory requirement.

Offerors proposing a product other than the Government's identified reference product shall provide sufficient technical information for the Government to determine whether the proposed product meets or exceeds each applicable requirement.

The Government will evaluate proposed products based on their demonstrated ability to satisfy the stated functional, physical, performance, 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 system 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, software, 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 for major system components;
5. Description of the proposed system 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 provide sufficient information demonstrating compliance with a mandatory requirement may result in the quotation being determined technically unacceptable.

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. 75N98026Q01255 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: 75N98026Q01255 on all correspondence.