Multiplex Assay Plates

Request for Information (RFI)
Multiplex Assay Plates

General Information:

This is an RFI as defined in FAR 15.201(e) to ascertain whether a commercial item exists that provides the capabilities described herein.   

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI will be treated as business confidential information.  Nonetheless, submitters should properly mark their responses if the information is confidential.  Responses to the RFI will not be returned.  Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract.  Responders are solely responsible for all expense associated with responding to this RFI.

RFI Response and due date: 03 May 2023

Instructions to Responders:

Responses from all capable and qualified sources are encouraged to respond to this request.  

White papers should adhere to the following formatting and outline instructions:

1.   All submissions shall be made electronically and be in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF.

2. Cover Page (1page)
•    Title 
•    Organization
•    Responders technical and administrative points of contact (names, addresses, phone, fax number and email addresses)
•    Topic area(s) addressed
•    NAICS Code

3.   Interested parties are asked to respond to this RFI and submit a capabilities statement that supports the focus of this RFI as detailed below.  Please review the place of performance requirements. Please submit written responses via email in Microsoft Office 2000 or 2007 format.  All responses should be complete: in 12-point font; and not to exceed 3 pages total, including graphics, tables, and appendices.

No hardcopies shall be accepted. No written solicitation document is available at this time. Telephone requests will not be honored, and no bidders list shall be maintained. No inquiries regarding any potential future acquisition activities shall be entertained.

Potential offerors are requested to direct all questions via email to the Point of Contact listed below. Responses are due to the Point of Contact, Ms. Rebecca Wisner at email:  rebecca.c.wisner.civ@health.mil no later than 10:00AM ET, 03 May 2023  

Requirement & Specification
1.    Consumable assay/kits shall be compatible with the Meso Scale Discovery Sector Imager 2400 and QuickPlex 120 SQ instruments.

2.    Shall have the capability to analyze high level and low level analytes within a sample simultaneously with five logs of dynamic range, to facilitate measurement differences between stimulated and non-stimulated cells or samples.

3.    Shall have high sensitivity: shall be capable of detecting as little as 100,000 molecules of analyte/sample.

4.    Shall provide high sensitivity at low limits of detection wherein Lower Limit of Detection (LLOD) is approximately 0.05 to 1 pg/mL for specific assays.

5.    Shall have a high multiplexing capability up to 10 individual assays per well.

6.    Shall possess customizable patterned arrays.

7.    Electrodes shall be integrated into the bottom of the plate.

8.    Plates shall use electrochemiluminescent labels for ultra-sensitive detection.

9.    The detection process shall be initiated at electrodes which shall be located in the bottom of the microplate so that only labels near the electrode are excited and detected.

10.    Shall provide carbon surface for direct attachment of in-house components (customization capability).

11.    Kits/assays shall be compatible with an instrumentation system that does not rely on an internal fluidics system.

12.    Detection labels shall emit light at 620 nm in order to eliminate problems with color quenching.

13.    Plates shall allow multiple excitation cycles of each label in order to amplify the signal to enhance light levels and improve sensitivity.

14.    Most Assays/Kits for detection of non-human primate and human samples shall be validated.