Attune Xenith Flow Cytometer

REQUEST FOR QUOTATION (RFQ) / COMBINED SYNOPSIS-SOLICITATION Solicitation Number: NIH-RFQ-26-PCA-NCI-02843 Notice Type: Combined Synopsis/Solicitation Title: Attune Xenith Flow Cytometer or Equal Posted Date: July 16, 2026 Response Date: July 21, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern Time Set-Aside: None NAICS Code: 334516 Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing PSC Code: 6640 Laboratory Equipment and Supplies 1. GENERAL INFORMATION This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial products prepared in accordance with the format in FAR Subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice, and in conjunction with FAR Part 12. 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 Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Pediatric Oncology Branch (POB), intends to acquire one (1) spectral flow cytometry system, including automation, software, installation, startup, training, warranty, and manufacturer-supported service, in accordance with the requirements set forth herein. 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 Pediatric Oncology Branch conducts laboratory, translational, and clinical research focused on developing new therapies for children and young adults with cancer, including CAR-T, TCR-engineered, NK-cell, ?d T-cell, and other immune-based treatments. The Government requires replacement of an existing BD Fortessa flow cytometer, which is approaching end-of-life status, with a modern spectral flow cytometry platform capable of advanced immune cell analysis and characterization of patient-derived samples. The instrument will serve as a shared resource supporting six Pediatric Oncology Branch laboratories and multiple ongoing NIH intramural research studies. 2.2 Objective The objective of this acquisition is to obtain a commercial spectral flow cytometry system capable of supporting advanced immunophenotyping and functional immune cell analysis of patient-derived and preclinical samples, while providing high throughput, automation, and compatibility with existing laboratory workflows. 3. SALIENT CHARACTERISTICS / MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS The Government seeks one (1) Thermo Fisher Invitrogen Attune Xenith Flow Cytometer or equal. To be considered for award, any quoted product must meet all of the following minimum salient characteristics: 3.1 Instrument Requirements The system shall: Support spectral flow cytometry capability with full-spectrum fluorescence detection and spectral unmixing. Support conventional compensation-based flow cytometry workflows. Include a minimum of six excitation lasers, including: ultraviolet (UV), violet, blue, yellow-green, red, and near-infrared (NIR). Include a minimum of 51 fluorescent detectors and 6 scatter detectors. Utilize acoustic-assisted hydrodynamic focusing technology. Provide high-speed sample acquisition suitable for shared-resource operation. Be capable of analyzing tumor, tissue, blood, and cellular therapy samples. Be compatible with an automated sample loading system capable of processing both 96-well and 384-well plate formats. Include the CytKick Max Automated Sample Loader, or an equal automated sample loading system fully compatible with the quoted instrument and capable of equivalent functionality. Include integrated instrument control and analysis software for: instrument control, data acquisition, spectral analysis, quality control monitoring, and data export. Include touchscreen operation and automated maintenance functions. Provide remote diagnostics and manufacturer-supported service support. Include all hardware, software, licenses, accessories, and components necessary for complete and fully functional operation. 3.2 Services Requirements The vendor shall provide: Delivery to the Government site identified in this solicitation; Installation and operational startup; User training; Manufacturer warranty coverage; and Manufacturer-supported service associated with the delivered system. 3.3 Compatibility / Operational Requirements The quoted system must be suitable for use as a shared resource supporting multiple laboratories and must support high-parameter immune profiling using limited pediatric clinical specimens. Vendors quoting an equal product must clearly demonstrate how the quoted system meets all minimum requirements and supports equivalent operational capability. 4. DELIVERY / PLACE OF PERFORMANCE Delivery, installation, startup, and training shall be performed at: National Institutes of Health Building 10 CRC, Room 1-3872 10 Center Drive Bethesda, MD 20892 The required delivery/performance period is 12 weeks after date of award or sooner, inclusive of delivery, installation, startup, training, and Government acceptance. 5. CONTRACT TYPE The Government intends to award a Firm-Fixed-Price Purchase Order. 6. BASIS 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 6.1 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 a point-by-point crosswalk to each salient characteristic. Failure to clearly demonstrate compliance with all minimum requirements may render the quotation unacceptable. 6.2 Past Performance The Government will evaluate the vendor s record of recent and relevant past performance for similar laboratory instrumentation or comparable scientific equipment acquisitions. The Government may consider information obtained from the vendor, CPARS, prior Government experience, and other available sources. 6.3 Price Price will be evaluated for fairness and reasonableness. The Government may make award to other than the lowest-priced quotation if a higher-rated quotation is determined to provide the best value. 7. QUOTATION INSTRUCTIONS Vendors shall submit a complete quotation package that includes the following: 7.1 Volume I Technical Quote The technical quote shall include: Manufacturer name and model number; Description of the quoted system; Product literature/specifications; Point-by-point response to each salient characteristic; Description of included software, accessories, automation, warranty, and service; Delivery lead time; Installation and training approach; Identification of any exceptions to the solicitation requirements. 7.2 Volume II Past Performance Provide up to three examples of recent and relevant contracts or purchase orders for similar laboratory instrumentation or scientific equipment, including: customer name, contract/order number, description of supplies/services, dollar value, period of performance, point of contact with email and phone number. 7.3 Volume III Price Quote The price quote shall include: unit price, extended price, total quoted price, any shipping charges, any installation/startup/training 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. 7.4 SAM Registration Offerors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov at the time of award. 8. SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Quotations shall be submitted electronically to: Contracting Officer: Linda Smith Email: linda.smith2@nih.gov and; Procurement Technician: Danielle Tines (c) Email: danielle.tines@nih.gov Quotations are due no later than: July 21, 2026, 11:00 AM Eastern Time Late submissions may be rejected and not considered for award. 9. CLAUSES AND PROVISIONS The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition, in addition to any others required by law or agency policy: FAR Provisions FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors Commercial Products and Commercial Services FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation Commercial Products and Commercial Services (The specific evaluation factors are identified in this solicitation.) FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications Commercial Products and Commercial Services FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance FAR Clauses FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Products and Commercial Services FAR 52.232-25, Prompt Payment FAR 52.232-40, Providing Accelerated Payments to Small Business Subcontractors HHSAR Clauses HHSAR 352.203-70…