Acquisitions Management Operations Branch, NIAID, 6003 Executive Blvd, Solar Building, Room 1C38, Contracts Section, Bethesda, MD 20892-7605

66 -- AEROSOL MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUE PACKAGE SOL n/a DUE 051598 POC Roger Remsburg, PA,301-402-2284/ Carolyn Sentz, Contracting Officer,301-402-2284 The National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases,6003 Executive Blvd., Rockville,Md 20852,Solar Bldg..,Rm 1c38. Intends to procure the aerosol management technique package from Becton Dickinson Immunocytometry. Becton Dickinson is the manufacturer of the flow cytometers as well as the aerosol management technique. The aerosol management techique package is an upgrade for currently functional flow cytometers in the lab. During operation, flow cytometers, by design generate thousands of aerosolized electro-statically charged droplets. Therefore, the possibility of droplets containing live cells becoming aerosolized into the ambient laboratory air space is of continuous concern for investigators, laboratory personnel, and flow cytometers. On many occasions, samples (live cells, thousands per second) of sometimes unknown biological or chemical hazardous nature are analyzed or sorted with these flow cytometers. The aerosol management technique package must be designed and delivered to function asa biohazardous aerosol containment product. To function in this capacity this product must: (1) Prevent backflush of sample (live cells) from the sample uptake tube (backdrip control). (2) Prevent aerolsolized droplets from escaping from the sample collection chamber including laser interrogation and droplet formation chamber. (3) 1 and 2 must be accomplished by fully intergrating these capabilities into the existing fluidics control and other instrument features including collection chamber,sample cooling capabilities, existing vacuum control, ect. (4) The final requirement is the establishment of a continuous negative air pressure within the sample collection, laser interrogation and droplet formation chambers using vacuum pumps along with hepa filter air processing. Closing date for submission of written responses is forty-five (45) days after the date of this notice-no request for quotation exist-responses will not be considered as either request for quotations or proposals,cost or pricing data need not be submitted-respondents will not be notified as to the evaluation of information submitted-However, all sources meeting the minimum qualifications will be solicated if requests for quotations are issued. (0091)

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