SAM # 75N98026Q00920

NIH Solicitation for Bruker Biospin NMR and Q-Band EPR Equipment Upgrades or Equal

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), Laboratory of Chemical Physics, is soliciting quotations for Bruker Biospin NMR and Q-Band EPR equipment upgrades or equivalent solutions to enhance research capabilities and replace aging instrumentation. - Government Buyer: - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) - Laboratory of Chemical Physics - OEM Highlight: - Bruker Biospin Corporation is the referenced OEM for all major equipment - Products Requested (Brand Name or Equal): - CryoPlatform (water cooled), Part Number: BH1410, Quantity: 6 - Helium-based cryogenic platform for high-resolution NMR CryoProbes - CryoProbe Sample Protection Accessory, Part Number: BH0551, Quantity: 6 - Emergency variable temperature and sample lift gas supply accessory for NMR probes - LABSCAPE PRODIAGNOSE, Part Number: LS_PRODIAGNOSE, Quantity: 1 - Remote diagnostics and health monitoring platform for NMR systems - EPR Q-Band Pulse Amplifier 100 W (back), Part Number: B190040, Quantity: 1 - High-power solid-state amplifier for pulsed EPR spectroscopy - EPR Q-Band 100 W SSA, E580 Connection Kit, Part Number: B190253, Quantity: 1 - Connection kit for Q-Band amplifier integration - EPR Probe QLP-1.6, Part Number: B190013, Quantity: 1 - Q-Band loop-gap resonator probe for pulsed EPR spectroscopy - CP2.1 MNI 600S3 H&F-P/C/N-D-03 Z, Part Number: Z176227, Quantity: 1 - (No description provided) - EPR Compact-Q Full System w/o Resonator, Part Number: B190335, Quantity: 1 - Complete Q-Band EPR system (excluding resonator) - Services Requested: - On Site Labor Days (Part Number: A1452), Quantity: 8 - Local Zone Charges (Part Number: BGZONE 13), Quantity: 6 - Flat Zone Charge (Part Number: BGZONE 12), Quantity: 1 - Notable Requirements: - Brand name or equal: Vendors may propose equivalent products but must provide manufacturer name, model number, and technical documentation to demonstrate compliance with salient characteristics - Delivery, installation, operational startup, manufacturer warranty, and manufacturer-supported service are required - Technical acceptability, past performance, and price will be evaluated - All products must meet minimum technical specifications as detailed in the attachments

Description

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with FAR Part 12, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and in conjunction with FAR Subpart 12.6.  This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; quotations are being requested, and a separate written solicitation will not be issued.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) , intends to acquire new Bruker Biospin Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Q-Band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Equipment Upgrades to expand research capabilities and replace end-of-life instrumentation or equal.

SEE ATTACHMENT for Bruker Biospin NMR Product List

This acquisition is being conducted as an open market purchase. The government intends to award a firm-fixed-price purchase order resulting from this solicitation.

2. Description of Requirement

2.1 Background

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Laboratory of Chemical Physics (LCP), conducts advanced research in biomolecular structure, conformational dynamics, and molecular mechanisms using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The advanced NMR and EPR instrumentation in the LCP support mission-critical biomedical research. 

The federally conducted research programs focus on: 

Structural and dynamic characterization of proteins and nucleic acid  Mechanisms of phosphorylation and regulation in intrinsically disordered proteins  Transient conformational states associated with ligand and substrate binding  Sparsely populated excited states of proteins associated with macromolecular recognition, allostery, assembly and fibril formation  Long-range distance measurements in biomolecules using pulsed Q-band EPR techniques 

This research supports NIH’s mission to advance fundamental knowledge of biological systems and to improve understanding of disease mechanisms relevant to diabetes, metabolic disorders and related conditions, and neurodegenerative conditions associated with protein fibril formation and aggregation leading to a variety of amyloidosis. High-field 600-MHz NMR spectrometers equipped with cryogenic probe technology and Q-band pulsed EPR spectrometers capable of Double Electron-Electron Resonance (DEER) measurements are essential infrastructure for this research. These complementary methods provide distance measurements and structural and dynamic information that is not obtainable by other biophysical techniques. NMR provides atomic resolution information that allows almost every atom in a protein to be probed. While one of the main sources of structural information provided by NMR relates to interproton distances separated by less than 5-10 Å, pulsed Q-band EPR spectroscopy, particularly Double Electron–Electron Resonance (DEER) enables distance measurements between pairs of paramagnetic centers ranging from 20-160 Å. When combined with rapid mixing/freeze-quenching methods, DEER measurements can provide critical insight into kinetics and mechanisms of conformational transitions. 

2.2 Objective

To obtain NMR and Q-Band Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Equipment Upgrades to expand research capabilities and replace end-of-life instrumentation 

3. Product Specifications/Features/Salient Characteristics Required Minimum Specifications

See Attachment.

3.1 Services Requirements

The vendor shall provide:

Delivery to NIH Main campus in Bethesda, MD. Installation and operational startup. Manufacturer warranty coverage; and Manufacturer-supported service associated with the delivered system.

4. Delivery, installation, startup shall be performed at:

National Institutes of Health

Bldg. 5, Room B1-3001

Bethesda, MD 20892

5. Basic For Award

The government intends to award to the quoter whose quotation represents the best value to the government, considering the following evaluation factors:

Technical acceptability Past performance Price

5.1 Technical Acceptability

Technical acceptability is the most important factor. The government will evaluate whether the quoted product meets all salient characteristics and minimum requirements of this solicitation.

For any “equal” product, the vendor must provide sufficient technical documentation to demonstrate equivalency, including product literature, specifications, brochures, and point-by-point crosswalk to each salient characteristic. Failure to clearly demonstrate compliance with all minimum requirements may render the quotation unacceptable.

5.2 Past Performance

The government will evaluate the vendor’s record of recent and relevant past performance. The government may consider information obtained from the vendor, CPARS, prior government experience, and other available sources.

5.3 Price

Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. The government may make an award to other than the lowest-priced quotation if a higher-rated quotation is determined to provide the best value.

6. Quotation Instructions

Vendors shall submit a complete quotation package that includes the following:

Volume I – Technical Quote

The technical quote shall include:

Manufacturer name and model number. Description of the quoted system. Point-by-point response to each salient characteristic. Description of included software, accessories, automation, warranty, applicable service. Delivery lead time; Installation.

Volume II – Past Performance

Provide up to three examples of recent and relevant contracts or purchase orders for

Customer name, Dollar value, Period of performance, Point of contact with email and phone number.

Volume III – Price Quote

The price quote shall include:

Unit price, Extended price, Total quoted price, Any shipping charges, Warranty information, Any other separately priced items.

The total quoted price shall include all costs necessary to provide a complete and fully functional system meeting the requirements of this solicitation.

SAM Registration

In order to receive an award, offerors/contractors must maintain an active SAM registration for all awards throughout the entire contract/order lifecycle, from offer submission to final payment. Failure to maintain an active SAM registration can affect the award or result in non-payment. Lack of valid registration in SAM will make an offeror/contractor ineligible for award.

Small Business Subcontracting Plan

In accordance with FAR 52.219-9, other-than-small-business (large business) offerors must submit a Small Business Subcontracting Plan with their quote.

This requirement does not apply to small business concerns. If the offeror represents itself as a small business under the designated NAICS code for this procurement, no subcontracting plan is required.

Other-than-small-business offerors who determine that zero subcontracting opportunities exist for this microscope procurement are still required to submit a formal Small Business Subcontracting Plan. The plan must state 0% goals and include a detailed, written justification outlining why subcontracting is not feasible (e.g., fully integrated in-house manufacturing). Failure to submit a plan with the required justification will render the quote non-responsive.

7. Submission Instructions

Quotations shall be submitted electronically to:

Tina Robinson@ robinsti@mail.nih.gov

Quotations are due no later than:

August 13, 2026, prior to 9:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time

Late submissions may be rejected and not considered for award.

8. Clauses and Provisions

The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition, in addition to any others required by law or agency policy:

52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors—Commercial Products and Commercial Services 52.240-90 Security Prohibitions and Exclusions—Representations and Certifications 52.203-17 Contractor Employee Whistleblower Rights 52.203-19 Prohibition on Requiring Certain Internal Confidentiality Agreements or Statements 52.204-13 System for Award Management — Maintenance 52.209-6 Protecting the Government’s Interest When Subcontracting with Contractors Debarred, Suspended, or Proposed for Debarment 52.209-10 Prohibition on Contracting with Inverted Domestic Corporations 52.212-4 Terms and Conditions—Commercial Products and Commercial Services 52.219-8 Utilization of Small Business Concerns 52.219-9 Small Business Subcontracting Plan 52.219-16 Liquidated Damages—Subcontracting Plan 52.222-3 Convict Labor 52.222-19 Child Labor—Cooperation with Authorities and Remedies 52.222-35 Equal Opportunity for Veteran 52.222-36 Equal Opportunity for Workers with Disabilities 52.222-37 Employment Reports on Veterans 52.222-40 Notification of Employee Rights Under the National Labor Relations Act 52.222-50 Combating Trafficking in Persons 52.222-54 Employment Eligibility Verification 52.223-23 Sustainable Products and Services 52.225-5 Trade Agreements 52.225-6 Trade Agreements Certificate 52.226-8 Encouraging Contractor Policies to Ban Text Messaging While Driving 52.232-33 Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer—System for Award Management 52.232-40 Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors 52.233-3 Protest After Award 52.233-4 Applicable Law for Breach of Contract Claim 52.240-91 Security Prohibitions and Exclusions 52.244-6 Subcontracts for Commercial Products and Commercial Services

9. Brand Name of Equal Information

This requirement is issued on a brand name or equal basis. The referenced brand name product is the Bruker Biospin Corporation products provided on the attachment.

Any quotation offering an “equal” product must include sufficient descriptive material to permit the government to determine whether the product offered meets all salient characteristics identified in the solicitation. The burden is on the vendor to establish equivalency.

The government is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the quotation. If the vendor is providing an equal  product(s), please supply descriptive data for evaluation purposes to determine the validity of how it is equal. The following FAR provision applies to this solicitation FAR 52.211.6 Brand Name or Equal.

(a) If an item in this solicitation is identified as “brand name or equal,” the purchase description reflects the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the government’s needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that “equal” products must meet are specified in the solicitation/attachment.

(b) To be considered for award, offers of “equal” product, including “equal” products of the brand name manufacturer, must -

(1) Meet the salient physical, functional or performance characteristics specified in this solicitation. (2) Clearly identify the item by - (i) Brand name, if any: and (ii) Make or model number (3) Include descriptive literature such as illustrations, drawings, or a clear reference to previously furnished descriptive data or information available to the contracting officer/specialist; and (4) Clearly describe any modifications the offeror plans to make in a product to make it conform to the solicitation requirements. Mark any descriptive material to clearly show the modifications.

(c) The contracting officer/specialist is not responsible for locating or obtaining any information not identified in the offer.

(d) Unless the offer clearly indicates in its offer that the product being offered is an “equal” product, the offer shall provide the brand name product referenced in the solicitation/attachment.

10. Important Notice

This solicitation is issued as a competitive RFQ. The government reserves the right to:

  make award without discussions.   request clarification if needed   reject any or all quotations; and

Quoters are advised that the government may share your information with non-government personnel who are assisting with the evaluation of quotes. The exclusive responsibility for source selection will reside with the government. By submitting your quote, you will be consenting to disclosure of your quote to non-government personnel for purposes of evaluation.

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