SAM #75N98026Q01214

NIH OLAO Sole-Source Procurement: MESO QuickPlex SQ 120MM Plate Reader

This opportunity is for the National Institutes of Health Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (NIH OLAO), under the Department of Health and Human Services, to procure a specialized laboratory instrument for clinical research. - Government Buyer: - National Institutes of Health (NIH) - Office of Logistics and Acquisition Operations (OLAO) - Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - OEMs and Vendors: - Meso Scale Discovery (MSD), a division of Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC - Products/Services Requested: - MESO QuickPlex SQ 120MM Plate Reader - Laboratory analytical instrument - Utilizes proprietary electrochemiluminescence (ECL) detection technology - Compatible only with MSD microwell plates and immunoassay kits - No part numbers or quantities specified - Other referenced MSD instruments: MESO SECTOR S 600MM, MESO QuickPlex Q 60MM - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Sole-source procurement justified under FAR 6.302-1 (only one responsible source) - Instrument must support clinical research in rare biochemical diseases - Only MSD's proprietary technology meets the technical requirements - Exclusivity: Only MSD's plates and kits are compatible with the instrument - No administrative or procedural details included.

Description

FAR 6.302-1 – Only One Responsible Source

Solicitation Number  

75N98026Q01214

Title

MESO QuickPlex SQ Plate Reader 

Description of Requirement

The National Institutes of Health intends to award a contract to Meso Scale Discovery on a sole-source basis pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services Will Satisfy Agency Requirements, for the acquisition of a MESO QuickPlex™ SQ 120MM.

The MESO QuickPlex™ SQ 120MM Pursuant to FAR 6.302-1, the Government intends to solicit and award a Purchase Order on a sole-source basis because the Government's minimum technical requirements can only be satisfied by the Meso Scale Discovery.

The MESO® SECTOR S 600MM, MESO QuickPlex™ SQ 120MM, and MESO QuickPlex

Q 60MM laboratory analytical instruments are manufactured and sold solely by Meso Scale Discovery (MSD), a division of Meso Scale Diagnostics, LLC. of Rockville, MD. The imagers are compatible only with microwell plates and immunoassay kits sold by MSD and vice versa.

MSD utilizes electrochemiluminescence to detect binding events on patterned arrays. There are no other technologies that enable multiplexed measurement using electrochemiluminescence for detection. And there are no other suppliers that provide an electrochemiluminescence detection system that is not reliant on beads or flow cells. The MSD® assay platform is unique in its method for detection as outlined below:

• Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) Detection – MSD’s ECL detection utilizes proprietary SULFO-TAG™ labels that emit light upon electrochemical stimulation initiated at the electrode surfaces of MULTI-ARRAY® and MULTI-SPOT® microplates through biomolecular interactions between the analyte and labeled reporter at the surface.

• Sample Throughput – The SECTOR® S 600MM instrument can read plates in 1 to 1.5 minutes regardless of the multiplexing level. As an illustrative example, the S 600MM instrument can read approximately 50 96-well, 10-spot plates (measuring 10 analytes per each well) per hour resulting in 48,000 measurement per hour.  

• Non-fluidic, high-reliability instruments – All assay processing and readout steps take place in MSD’s disposable plate-based format. No sample is transferred from the plate to the instrument and hence there are no complicated fluidics that may be prone to clogging and other failures. MSD’s instrumentation has been highly praised by customers for exceptional reliability.

The HBGS requires a sensitive, high-throughput analytical platform to support biochemical profiling, multiplex biomarker measurement, and experimental validation relevant to rare biochemical diseases. This activity is directly tied to the Clinical Research activities in the Human Biochemical and Genetics Section (HBGS), which conducts active, protocol‑driven patient‑based investigations, consistent with NIH definitions of clinical research. The MESO QuickPlex SQ 120MM provides the capabilities necessary for these applications through MSD’s proprietary electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology, which is only available from Meso Scale Discovery and not offered by any other vendor. The instrument enables rapid multiplex analysis, reading up to 50 plates per hour with high sensitivity and reliability, which is critical for processing diverse patient-derived samples and supporting both research and diagnostics in the Section. 

The continuation of this project will continue to simulate a clinical trial with our pulmonary fibrosis patients. 

Accordingly, the Government intends to award a sole-source contract to Meso Scale Discovery, Inc. pursuant to FAR 6.302-1.

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. However, interested parties that believe they can meet the Government's requirements may submit a capability statement demonstrating their ability to provide the required supplies and meet all specified technical and operational requirements.

The Government will consider all timely capability statements received and determine whether the acquisition should proceed as a sole-source procurement or be competed.

The Government anticipates making an award approximately five (5) calendar days after the closing date of this notice, unless the Government determines that another responsible source is capable of meeting the requirement.

Capability statements shall be submitted electronically to davisroshonna@mail.nih.gov no later than 9:00 a.m. EDT on September 24, 2026.

Please reference Notice No. 75N98026Q01214 in the subject line of the response.

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