THIS REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI)/SOURCES SOUGHT/RFI IS ISSUED SOLELY FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. THE SUBMISSION OF PRICING, CAPABILITIES FOR PLANNING PURPOSES, AND OTHER MARKET INFORMATION IS HIGHLY ENCOURAGED AND ALLOWED UNDER THIS RFI IN ACCORDANCE WITH (IAW) FAR 15.201(e). DISCLAIMER This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes only and does not constitute a solicitation. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked as proprietary will be handled accordingly. IAW FAR 15.201(e), 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 expenses associated with responding to this RFI. SOURCES SOUGHT/RFI DESCRIPTION This is NOT a solicitation announcement. This is a Sources Sought/RFI only. The purpose of this Sources Sought/RFI is to gain knowledge of potential qualified sources and their size classification relative to NAICS 339112 (size standard of 1,000 Employees). Responses to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice will be used by the Government to make appropriate acquisition decisions. After review of the responses to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice, further RFIs and/or a solicitation or other announcements may be published. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), VISN 22 Long Beach Network Contracting Office is seeking sources capable of providing Cell Counter for the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and that can address the draft salient characteristics described below. Brandname Information: Manufacturer & Part Number(s): Life Technologies Corporation, AMQAF2000 Type: Countess™ 3 FL Automated Cell Counter, 1 instrument Equal to product name: Cell counter Manufacturer & Part Number(s): Life Technologies Corporation, AMEP4951 Type: EVOS™ Light Cube, GFP 2.0 Equal to product name: Microscope Manufacturer & Part Number(s): Life Technologies Corporation, AMEP4955 Type: EVOS™ Light Cube, Texas Red 2.0 Equal to product name: Microscope Salient Characteristics: Must have Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 5.5 inch Must have maximum Weight: 8 lbs. Must have Camera: 5 megapixels Must be used with Application: Cell Culture and Analysis Workflows Must Be Compatible with EVOS Microscopes models Light Cube GFP 2.0 and Light Cube, Texas Red 2.0 Must have: Counting chamber compatible with reusable slides Must have Detection Method: Brightfield, Fluorescence Must Holds: 2 samples per slide Must have Magnification: 2.5X Must have Measurement range: 1 x 104 to 1 x 107 cells/mL Must have Optics: 3 Channels (Brightfield and 2 slots for EVOS LED light cubes) Must Display: Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) (1280 x 800 pixels) Must have Memory: Onboard, Universal Serial Bus (USB) drive Must have Software: Countess 3/3 FL Cell Counter Software Must have Certifications/Compliance: Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Must have Frequency: 50/60 Hertz Must have Voltage: 100/240 Volt Must have Warranty: 1-year Standard Must have image analysis software driven by a neural network-based machine-learning algorithm for rapid automated cell counting of primary and immortalized cell lines Must allow brightfield or fluorescence cell counting with three-channel flexibility (brightfield and two optional fluorescence channels) Must have precisely quantify peripheral blood mononuclear cells and inflammatory cell subsets in patient blood samples with high sensitivity Must have ensuring reliable detection despite variability in immune responses following myocardial injury Must have fully automated system streamline sample processing with minimal manual intervention, reducing operator error and increasing efficiency Must have integrated automated data analysis capabilities, including the ability to determine live cell percentages, further enhance accuracy Must have built-in calibration features ensure consistent, reproducible results across multiple runs, maintaining long-term accuracy and standardization. Must have Texas Red and GFP light cubes enables visualization of acridine orange (AO)/ propidium iodide (PI) stains, providing a superior method for distinguishing viable and non-viable cells compared to traditional staining techniques Must accept up to two EVOS light cubes, selectable from fifteen fluorescent channels; compatible with both disposable and reusable cell counting chamber slides Must count live and dead cells, measures viability, reports average cell size, calculates percent cell aggregates, and saves data with a single touch, in about 20 seconds Must have no cleaning, routine maintenance, or calibration; high-resolution capacitive touchscreen and simple user interface provide quick startup and requires minimal training Must perform automated counting of single cells and isolated nuclei for Ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing and gene expression applications in single-cell analysis workflows The list of draft characteristics is intended to be descriptive, not restrictive, of the supplies and/or services that are required. If your company is interested and capable of providing the required supplies/services, please provide the information indicated below. Response to this notice should include company name, address, point of contact, size of business pursuant to the following questions: (1) Submit your capabilities statement illustrating how your organization can/cannot meet the list of draft salient characteristics described below. For instances where your company cannot meet the draft salient characteristic(s), please explain. For instances where your company can meet the draft salient characteristic(s), please show how your company meets/exceeds each requirement. (2) Please review the list of draft salient characteristics and provide any additional feedback or suggestions. If none, please reply as N/A. (3) Please indicate the size status and representations of your business, such as but not limited to: Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB), HUBZone, Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB), Large Business, etc. (4) Is your company considered small under the NAICS code identified in this RFI? (5) Are you the manufacturer, authorized distributor, and/or can your company provide a solution to the required supplies/services described in the list of draft salient characteristics? (6) If you are a large business, do you have any designated/authorized distributors? If so, please provide their company name, telephone, point of contact and size status (if available). (7) If you re a small business and you are an authorized distributor/reseller for the items identified above, do you alter, assemble, or modify the items requested in any way? If you do, state how and what is altered, assembled, or modified. (8) Limitations on Subcontracting: How does your business ensure compliance with the limitations on subcontracting as outlined in 13 CFR § 125.6? (9) Are the items you are identifying/providing considered Commercial of the Shelf (COTS) items as defined in FAR Part 2.101 under commercial items? (10) Non-Manufacturer Rule: If applicable, can you confirm your business complies with the Non-Manufacturer rule? Specifically, does your company: Provide a product from a small business manufacturer or processor? Not exceed 500 employees? Primarily engage in the retail or wholesale trade and normally sell the type of item being supplied? Take ownership or possession of the item(s) with its personnel, equipment or facilities in a manner consistent with industry practice? (11) Please indicate whether your product conforms to the requirements of the Buy American Act? If you are unsure, please state the country of origin for each item. (12) What is your lead time to deliver all items? (13) Does your proposed equipment have FDA clearance (if needed)? Please specify what FDA clearance(s) have been obtained. (14) Does your company have a Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) GSA/NAC/SAC/BPA/NASA SEWP or any other Federal Government contract? If so, please provide the contract number(s). (15) If you are an FSS GSA/NAC/SAC/BPA/NASA SEWP or any other Federal Government contract holder, are all the items/solutions you are providing information about available on your schedule/contract? Please state if all or some items are available on the contract. (16) General pricing of your products/solution is encouraged. Pricing will be used for the purpose of market research only. It will not be used to evaluate for any type of award. (17) Please provide your SAM.gov Unique Entity ID number. Responses to this notice shall be submitted via email to Emiljan.Golemi@va.gov. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Responses must be received no later than Wednesday, July 23, 2025, by 4:00 PM PST. All responses to this RFI/Sources Sought will be used for planning purposes only. Responses to this RFI/Sources Sought Notice are not considered a request to be added to a prospective bidders list or to receive a copy of the solicitation. If further RFIs and/or a solicitation or other announcement is issued because of the information provided from this RFI, all interested parties must respond to the specific posting separately in accordance with the specifications of that announcement.
