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Multidrop Combi Microplate Dispenser with Cassette

Waiver type - Procurement: Nonavailability

Agency: NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (7529) • Product Service Code (PSC) : 6640 | Last Modified: 08/07/2023

Procurement Summary

A liquid handler is required to dispense small volumes of parasite cultures and various buffers into microplates for chemical screens in antimalarial drug discovery projects critical to the mission of the LMVR. The liquid handler must be able to dispense 0.5 – 2500 µl of aqueous solutions including parasite cultures in 0.5µl increments at the lower volumes, with the capacity to dispense into 6- to 1536-well microplates. It should also be programmable for volume range and column selection, have automatic height adjustment for different plate types, and be able to store up to 100 customized programs for dispense settings. We require a handler that can dispense up to 8 different solutions simultaneously and allow backflush of reagents to the reagent bottle to minimize loss of expensive reagents. The dispensing cartridge must be autoclavable to allow dispense of sterile parasite cultures. The ThermoFisher Multidrop Combi is the only fully configured liquid handler that can dispense 6- to 1536-microplates with up to 8 different solutions and conserve precious reagents by allowing back-flush. No other vendors have products that meet our specifications.

Waiver Rationale Summary

the Multidrop Combi Microplate Dispenser offered the only fully configured liquid handler that can dispense 6- to 1536-microplates with up to 8 different solutions and conserve precious reagents by allowing back-flush. It is the only system that is capable of obtaining liquid-handling in miniaturized microplate formats and is manufactured in Singapore. Based on the findings detailed above, The feasibility of foregoing the requirement or providing a United States-manufactured substitute has been considered, and no substitutes were found, and no domestic quotes received. The ThermoFisher brand Multidrop Combi Microplate Dispenser are not mined, produced, or manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. Therefore, it is hereby determined, consistent with FAR 25.103(b)(2) that these items are non-available.

Did / Will the solicitation include one of the standard BAA provisions announcing the agency’s intention to provide a price preference for domestic end products and construction material?

Yes

Was a sources sought or Request for Information issued?

No

OMB Determination

Consistent with Policy

Product

LABORATORY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

NAICS

334516 - Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Date Submitted

07/28/2023

Procurement Instrument Identifier (PIID)

Solicitation ID

RFQ-NIAID-23-2182054

Procurement Stage

Post-solicitation

Expected Maximum Duration of the Proposed Waiver

Between 6 months and 1 year

Waiver Coverage

Individual Waiver

Funding Agency

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH