In accordance with §11-35-1560 (A) of the SC Consolidated Procurement Code, it is the intent of the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to award without competition, a sole source contract in accordance with Regulation 19-445.2105 (B) (5) to Inventia Scientific Corporation for the purchase of the Rastrum Platform.
Purpose and Objectives: The Department is requesting the purchase of the Rastrum Platform by Inventia Scientific Corporation to advance the understanding of genetic causes and co-morbidities related to connective tissue diseases, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS).
Traditionally, the Department’s research has relied on 2D cell culture methods, which have provided insights into cellular behavior in a flat environment. However, it has become imperative to explore cellular behavior in three-dimensional (3D) contexts to better mimic the in vivo conditions and understand how various extracellular matrices influence phenotypes associated with connective tissue diseases such as hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), ultimately leading to the development and testing of therapeutics.
Sole Source Justification: The Rastrum bioprinting platform by Inventia is uniquely suited to meet the Department’s specific needs of their research for several key reasons:
1.High Reproducibility in 3D Matrices: The Rastrum’s proprietary bioprinting technology enables consistent, reproducible creation of 3D matrices. This consistency is crucial for generating reliable data when studying the impact of matrix environments on cell behavior, especially in the context of EDS where the extracellular matrix (ECM) plays a pivotal role in disease manifestation.
2.Customizable Matrices: The ability to tailor matrices, including customizing the density and composition of collagen and other ECM components, is vital for our research. Hypermobile EDS is characterized by alterations in collagen, and the Rastrum allows us to systematically explore how different matrix compositions affect cellular phenotypes in hEDS, which we cannot achieve with conventional 2D culture methods.
3.Development of Novel In Vitro Models: The Rastrum will be instrumental in developing new in vitro models of hypermobile EDS. These models will serve as a complement to our existing in vivo models, offering a platform to more rapidly test hypotheses and generate data while minimizing the confounding variables inherent in animal models.
4.High-Throughput Screening: The ability to perform high-throughput experiments with varying matrix compositions is another unique advantage of the Rastrum system. This high-throughput capability will accelerate our research by allowing for the rapid testing of various ECM conditions in a controlled manner.
5.Integration with Genomic Data: By combining the cellular models developed using the Rastrum with our genomic data, we aim to uncover new insights into the pathology of hypermobile EDS. This integration will enhance our ability to link genetic variants with their downstream effects on cellular behavior in a more physiologically relevant 3D environment
No other manufacturer currently has a system that can meet all the department’s requirements listed above.
Inventia Life Science is the sole manufacturer and distributor of the RASTRUM platform.
QUESTIONS: Shall be addressed to the email address of the Procurement Officer indicated below.
PROTESTS (MAY 2019): If you are aggrieved in connection with the intended award of this contract, you may be entitled to protest, but only as provided in §11-35-4210. To protest an intended award of a contract pursuant to §11-35-1560, you shall (i) notify the chief procurement officer in writing of your intent to protest within five (5) business days of the date this intent to award is posted, and (ii) if the appropriate chief procurement officer has been timely notified of your intent to protest, you may submit your actual protest within fifteen days of the date this notice of intent to award is posted. Days are calculated as provided in §11-35-310(13). Both protests and notices of intent to protest must be in writing and must be received by the appropriate Chief Procurement Officer within the time provided. The grounds of the protest and the relief requested must be set forth with enough particularity to give notice of the issues to be decided.
Any protest or notice of intent to protest must be addressed to the Chief Procurement Officer, Materials Management Office, and submitted in writing (a) by email to: protest-mmo@mmo.sc.gov or (b) by post or delivery to: 1201 Main Street, Suite 600, Columbia, SC 29201
This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Any responsible sources who wish to identify their interest and capability to provide these services must notify this Contracting Specialist at byrdg@musc.edu prior to the contact deadline: September 25th, 2024, at 12:00 AM EST. Telephone responses will not be accepted. Upon receipt of the interested parties’ notification, the Contracting Officer will determine whether to conduct a competitive procurement or proceed with sole source negotiations.