Notice for NOAA Solicitation Brand Name Eppendorf epMotion 5075t Robotic System for NGS Genomics Needs

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce, Acquisition and Grants Office (AGO), Western Acquisition Division, Simplified Acquisition Procedures Branch – Seattle, intends to issue a brand name procurement under Simplified Acquisition Procedures for an Eppendorf epMotion 5075t robotic system. This notice serves to inform the public of the agency’s intention to procure this specific brand to meet critical operational needs at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC).

The Genetics and Evolution Program at the NWFSC requires the Eppendorf epMotion 5075t to support high-throughput Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) genomics work in the Molecular Genetics Laboratory. The laboratory undertakes a variety of molecular genetic approaches that contribute directly to NOAA’s mission, and the requested instrument will automate library preparation for NGS. This automation is essential for both ongoing research and new projects funded under the Inflation Reduction Act. To ensure scientific continuity, the system must be compatible with existing laboratory protocols and reagents, and it must come with a comprehensive warranty and service contract to prevent service interruptions.

Eppendorf North America, Inc. is the only authorized distributor of Eppendorf products in North America and the sole provider certified to service Eppendorf systems within the United States. The Eppendorf epMotion 5075t is an ISO 9001, 13485, and 14001 certified instrument, which ensures the highest level of quality and reliability for NOAA's needs. The CleanCap version of this system integrates specialized components such as a ThermoMixer module for heating, cooling, and mixing samples, UV light and HEPA filters for maintaining a sterile environment, and Free Jet™ dispensing pipettes that enable contact-free sample handling to minimize cross-contamination. The system’s precision, boasting less than 2% CV at 1 μL, meets the NWFSC’s exacting requirements for pipetting accuracy.

Extensive market research was conducted to identify other liquid handling robotic systems available on the market. However, no other brands or products were found that could meet the unique needs of the NWFSC. The Eppendorf epMotion 5075t, with its proprietary features and compatibility with existing lab protocols, is the only system that can fulfill the laboratory’s requirements.

This notice is not a solicitation for competitive proposals. However, any vendor who believes they can supply a product that meets NOAA’s technical specifications may submit a capability statement, including product details and evidence of compatibility with NOAA’s requirements, by the response date. Any such responses will be considered for determining if competition is possible.

For questions or to submit capability statements, please contact Jacob Gray at jacob.gray@noaa.gov. All correspondence sent via email must contain a subject line that includes "143041-24-0234." To ensure receipt, attachments must be less than 20 MB in total. It is the offeror's responsibility to confirm receipt with the government before the due date and time. Capability statements should be submitted by email ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment

Responses are due by 12:00 EST on 11 SEP 2024.