LOW-FIELD BENCHTOP NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE (NMR) INSTRUMENT

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT, A MARKET SURVEY FOR WRITTEN INFORMATION ONLY. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. NO REIMBURSEMENT WILL BE MADE FOR ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH PROVIDING INFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT OR ANY FOLLOW-UP INFORMATION REQUESTS. NO TELEPHONE CALLS WILL BE ACCEPTED REQUESTING A RFQ PACKAGE OR SOLICITATION. THERE IS NO RFQ PACKAGE OR SOLICITATION. TO PROTECT THE PROCUREMENT INTEGRITY OF ANY FUTURE PROCUREMENT, IF ANY, THAT MAY ARISE FROM THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, INFORMATION REGARDING THE TECHNICAL POINT OF CONTACT WILL NOT BE GIVEN AND NO APPOINTMENTS FOR PRESENTATIONS WILL BE MADE.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services (OAGS), is issuing this sources sought announcement on behalf of the Human Foods Program (HFP), Office of Chemistry and Toxicology (OCT), Division of Analytical Chemistry (DAC), Spectroscopy and Mass Spectrometry Branch (SMSB) to:

a) identify vendors capable of providing the equipment and service as detailed in this notice, and

b) vendors capable of providing a domestic product offering. Responses from small and other than small businesses are appreciated and accepted.

NAICS Code: 334516 – Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Small Business Size Standard: 1,000 employees

Background

The HFP/OCT/DAC/SMSB requires a low-field benchtop NMR instrument to support food safety research. The instrument will be used to identify chemical compounds in food packaging and food products, particularly substances such as fluorotelomer alcohols (FTOH) associated with PFAS. High-field NMR instruments require specialized infrastructure and training. In contrast, low-field benchtop NMR instruments are compact, cost-effective, and easier to operate, making them suitable for field laboratories and routine screening.

Objective

To acquire one (1) newly manufactured low-field benchtop NMR instrument with minimum 80 MHz field strength, capable of ¹H, ¹³C, and ¹⁹F NMR, 2D NMR, solvent suppression, relaxation experiments (T1/T2), and customizable pulse sequences. The instrument must include an integrated data system, training, and a one-year warranty.

Scope of Requirement

The vendor shall provide a benchtop NMR instrument with the following features:
- Minimum 80 MHz field strength
- Compatible with standard 5 mm NMR tubes
- ¹H, ¹⁹F, and ¹³C NMR capabilities
- 2D NMR experiments (e.g., gs-COSY, gs-TOCSY, gs-JRes, gs-ROESY)
- Solvent suppression and relaxation (T1, T2)
- Adjustable pulse sequences
- Sensitivity ≥ 200:1 (1% ethylbenzene)
- Integrated data system
- One-year Mestrelab Mnova software license
- Not refurbished or previously used
- On-site or remote installation and training for 3-4 end users
- One-year warranty with technical support

Deliverables

- Delivery of the instrument and all components to the FDA/HFP Laboratory at 5001    Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20740
- Installation and training (remote or on-site)
- 12-month warranty from date of installation
- Delivery within six (6) months of award

Requested Information from Vendors

Please provide the following information:

- Company's name, mailing address, Cage Code, and Unique Entity Identifier (UEI)

- Recommended North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code that your company utilizes for in support of the following equipment: low-field benchtop NMR instrument.

- What is your company size? If small, what is your socio-economic status?

- Identify any GSA Schedule contract or other current government-wide contract (e.g., GWAC or BPA) that your company currently holds and offers these products/services under.

- Domestic manufacturing status.

- Technical specifications for the proposed solution.

Disclaimer and Important Notes

This is not a Request for Proposal (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract. Responses will be used solely for market research. The FDA will not provide feedback or evaluations of submitted capabilities. Proprietary information should not be submitted.

Submission Instructions

Responses are due by 1:00 PM Eastern Time on August 20, 2025, and shall be submitted via email to:

Iris Johnson
Contracting Officer
Email: Iris.Johnson1@fda.hhs.gov
Subject: Sources Sought Notice Number: SSN_HFP-2025-129420

 – LF Benchtop NMR Instrument