Furnish and Deliver Automated PCR Setup Workstation

Invitation to bid to furnish and deliver an Automated
PCR Setup Workstation for the Biology Department
State Of Louisiana
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, Louisiana
Cover Page
Issuing Agency:
Southeastern Louisiana University
Purchasing Department
SLU 10800
Hammond, LA 70402-0800
Director of Purchasing: Richard Himber
Procurement Specialist: Misty Betz
Telephone: (985) 549-5414
Requisitioned By: Dr. Kyle Piller
Telephone: (985) 549-2191
Release Date: April 27, 2026
Deadline for Fax Inquiries: April 30, 2026
Fax To: 985-549-3810
Attn: Misty Betz
Bid Opening Date: May 13, 2026
Bid Opening Time: 4:00 p.m., Central Time
Bid Opening Location:
Southeastern Louisiana University
Purchasing Department
Property Control & Supply Building
2400 North Oak Street
Hammond, Louisiana
This ITB is available in electronic form at
https://wwwcfprd.doa.louisiana.gov/OSP/LaPAC/dspBid.cfm?search=department&term=
42 It is available in PDF format or in printed form by submitting a written request to the
Procurement Specialist listed above. It is the Bidder's responsibility to check the Office
of State Purchasing LaPAC website frequently for any possible addenda that maybe
issued. Southeastern is not responsible for a bidder's failure to download any addenda
documents required to complete an Invitation to Bid.

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State Of Louisiana
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, Louisiana
The Southeastern Louisiana University (SLU) Purchasing Department will receive sealed
bids until 4:00 P.M. on the bid opening date specified in the solicitation document. No bid
responses will be considered by the SLU Purchasing Department after 4:00 P.M.
Beginning at that time, bids shall be publicly opened and read aloud to those present in the
SLU Purchasing Department.
Delivery Address:
Mailing Address: Southeastern LA University
Southeastern LA University Purchasing Department
Purchasing Department Property Control & Supply Bldg.
SLU 10800 2400 North Oak St.
Hammond, LA 70402 Hammond, LA 70402
Bids submitted are subject to LA R.S. 39:1551-1736; Purchasing Rules and Regulations;
Executive Orders; General Conditions; any Special Conditions; and Specifications listed in
the solicitation document.
The purpose of this solicitation is to set forth the requirements and specifications of
Southeastern Louisiana University. The contents of this solicitation and the Bidder/
Vendor/ Contractor's bid response shall become contractual obligations if a contract
(purchase order) ensues.
Instructions to Bidders
1) Bid Forms: Per LA R.S. 39:1556, all written bids, unless otherwise provided for,
must be submitted on, and in accordance with, forms provided, properly signed in
ink or electronic signature by an authorized representative of the bidding entity.
Bids submitted in the following manner will not be accepted: (1) Bid contains no
signature indicating intent to be bound; (2) Bid filled out in pencil; (3) Bid sent by
facsimile equipment or email. Price alterations to bid responses received before bid
opening time will be considered provided the written price alteration has been
received and timestamped before bid opening time. Any other alterations of the bid
response form or foreign conditions attached thereto may cause rejection of the bid
response without further consideration.
2) Standard of Quality: Any product or service bid shall conform to all applicable
Federal and State laws and regulations and specifications contained in the
solicitation document. Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation document, any
manufacturer's name, trade name, brand name, or catalog number used in the
specifications is for the purpose of describing the quality level and characteristic
required. Bidder should specify the brand and model number of the product

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offered in his bid. Bids not specifying brand and model number shall be
considered as offering the exact products specified in the solicitation document.
3) Descriptive Information: Bidders proposing an equivalent brand or model should
submit with the bid response information (such as illustrations, descriptive
literature, and technical data) sufficient for the University to evaluate quality,
suitability, and compliance with the specifications of the solicitation document.
Failure to submit descriptive information may cause bid to be rejected. Any
change made to a manufacturer's published specification submitted for a product
shall be verifiable by the manufacturer. If item(s) bid does not comply with
specifications (including brand and/or product number), bidder should state in what
respect the item(s) deviate. Failure to note exceptions on the response form will
not relieve the successful bidder(s) from supplying the actual products requested.
4) Bid Opening: Bidders may attend the bid opening, but no information or opinions
concerning the ultimate contract award will be given at the bid opening or during
the evaluation process. Bids may be examined 72 hours after request is made.
Information pertaining to completed files may be secured by visiting the SLU
Purchasing Department during normal working hours. Written bid tabulations will
not be furnished.
5) Louisiana Preference: Preference is hereby given to products produced,
manufactured, harvested, grown or assembled in Louisiana which are equal in
quality to products produced, manufactured, harvested, grown or assembled
outside of Louisiana. The bidder shall state his right to claim the ten percent (10%)
preference in his bid response and the bidder should state the respective Louisiana
location where each qualifying item is produced, manufactured, harvested, grown
or assembled.
6) Notice of Special Programs Available
for Small Business: https://www.opportunitylouisiana.com/small-business/special-
programs-for-small-business
7) Signature Authority: In accordance with LA Revised Statute 39:1594 (Act 121), the
person signing the bid must be: (1) A current corporate officer, partnership member
or other individual specifically authorized to submit a bid as reflected in the
appropriate records on file with the Secretary of State; or (2) An individual
authorized to bind the vendor as reflected by an accompanying or as provided
upon request a corporate resolution or affidavit. By signing the bid, the bidder
certifies compliance with the above.

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General Conditions
The SLU Purchasing Department reserves the right to award items separately, grouped or
on an all-or-none basis and to reject any or all bids and waive any informalities.
1) Prices: Unless otherwise specified in the solicitation, bid prices shall be complete,
including transportation and handling prepaid by the bidder to destination - SLU,
Hammond, LA. Bids other than FOB destination may be rejected. Bid prices
should be quoted in the unit of measure stated. Bid prices shall be firm for a
minimum of thirty (30) calendar days, unless otherwise specified by SLU in the
solicitation document.
2) Payment Terms: Cash discounts for less than 30 days may be offered, but will not
be considered in determining awards. Bids containing "payment in advance" or
"COD" requirements may be rejected. Payment is to be made within 30 days after
receipt of properly executed invoice or delivery, whichever is later.
3) Delivery: Bids may be rejected if the delivery time indicated is longer than that
specified in the solicitation document.
4) Taxes: Bidder is responsible for including all applicable taxes in the bid price. The
University is currently exempt from Louisiana State Sales and Use Taxes, and local
parish and city taxes. An exemption certificate for state sales and use tax can be
provided upon request.
5) New Products: Unless specifically called for in the solicitation document, all
products for purchase must be new, never previously used, and the current model
and/or packaging. No remanufactured, demonstrator, used or irregular product will
be considered for purchase unless otherwise specified in the solicitation document.
The manufacturer's standard warranty will apply unless otherwise stated in
solicitation.
6) Default of Contractor: Failure to deliver within the time specified in the solicitation
document will constitute a default and may cause cancellation of the contract.
Where the University has determined the contractor to be in default, the state
reserves the right to purchase any or all products or services covered by the
contract on the open market and to charge the contractor with cost in excess of the
contract price. Until such assessed charges have been paid, no subsequent bid
from the defaulting contractor will be considered.
7) Contract Cancellation: The University shall have the right to cancel any contract, in
accordance with Purchasing Rules and Regulations, for cause, including but not
limited to, the following: (1) failure of the vendor to deliver within the time specified
in the contract; (2) failure of the product or service to meet specifications, conform
to sample quality, or to be delivered in good condition; (3) misrepresentation by the
contractor; (4) fraud, collusion, conspiracy or other unlawful means of obtaining any
contract with the state; (5) conflict of contract provisions with constitutional or
statutory provisions of state or federal law; (6) any other breach of contract.

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8) Applicable Law: All contracts shall be construed in accordance with and governed
by the laws of the State of Louisiana.
9) Equal Opportunity: By submitting and signing this bid, bidder agrees that he will not
discriminate in the rendering of services to and/or employment of individuals
because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap, disability,
veteran status, or any other non-merit factor.
10) By submitting a response to this solicitation, the bidder or proposer certifies and
agrees that the following information is correct: In preparing its response, the bidder
or proposer has considered all proposals submitted from qualified, potential
subcontractors and suppliers, and has not, in the solicitation, selection, or
commercial treatment of any subcontractor or supplier, refused to transact or
terminated business activities, or taken other actions intended to limit commercial
relations, with a person or entity that is engaging in commercial transactions
in Israel or Israeli-controlled territories, with the specific intent to accomplish a
boycott or divestment of Israel. The bidder also has not retaliated against any
person or other entity for reporting such refusal, termination, or commercially
limiting actions. The state reserves the right to reject the response of the bidder or
proposer if this certification is subsequently determined to be false, and to terminate
any contract awarded based on such a false response.
11) Louisiana Revised Statute 39:1753.1 requirements shall apply to any equipment
component which enables any form of connectivity.
12) Piggyback: Other Louisiana Governmental Agencies may purchase at the same
terms and conditions if agreed upon by awarded vendor.
13) Prohibition of Companies That Discriminate Against Firearm and Ammunition
Industries: In accordance with La.R.S. 39:1602.2, the following applies to any
competitive sealed bids, competitive sealed proposals, or contract(s) with a value of
$100,000 or more involving a for-profit company with at least fifty full-time
employees: Unless otherwise exempted by law, by submitting a response to this
solicitation or entering into this contract, the Bidder, Proposer or Contractor certifies
the following:
a. The company does not have a practice, policy, guidance or directive that
discriminates against a firearm entity or firearm trade association based
solely on the entity's or association's status as a firearm entity or firearm
trade association;
b. The company will not discriminate against a firearm entity or firearm trade
association during the term of the contract based solely on the entity's or
association's status as a firearm entity or firearm trade association.
The State reserves the right to reject the response of the Bidder, Proposer or
Contractor if this certification is subsequently determined to be false, and to
terminate any contract awarded based on such a false response or if the
certification is no longer true.

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Bid Response Form
Bidder's Name:
Mailing Address: Telephone Number:
City, State, Zip Code: Fax Number:
Email Address:
Scope: To Furnish and Deliver an Automated PCR Setup Workstation for the
Biology Department
I/we do hereby acknowledge receipt of the following addenda (if any):
Addendum number and date:
Addendum number and date:
Other Requirements:
Bidder shall include the cost of transportation and handling in the unit price of item
offered -- F.O.B. University, Hammond, LA.
If bidding other than the specified make and model, then the bidder should attach
illustrations and descriptive literature of the item(s) offered to the bid response form
for evaluation purposes.
The attached Instructions to Bidders/General Conditions shall be a part hereof.
To the Vendor:
Whenever brand name specifications or catalogue numbers are used to describe
the standard of quality, performance and other characteristics, the use of such
specifications shall not restrict unless otherwise specified, the submission of
equivalent products.
This solicitation is a sealed bid and must be returned by mail or delivered in person.
Bid response forms cannot be faxed and any fax responses shall be rejected.
Terms: Net 30 Prox., F.O.B., Hammond, Louisiana.
Taxes: Any taxes, other than state sales and use tax, shall be included within the bidder's
unit price. The University is currently exempt from state sales and use tax.
Signature to the Bid Response Form shall be construed of acceptance of the Invitation to
Bid in its entirety.
Authorized Officer Signature:
Printed Name:
Title: Date:

Bid Response Page
Item Description Qty Price Total
No.
1. Automated PCR Setup 1
Workstation
2. Warranty 1
3. Training 1
Total Bid Amount
Name of Company:
Date:
Bidder's Initials:
See Next Page for Specifications

Specifications
Item: Automated PCR Setup Workstation
Item Description: A high-precision automated liquid handling workstation designed for
PCR assay preparation, sample aliquoting, and reagent dispensing to support molecular
biology workflows.
Specific Features
1. Liquid Handling System
1.1. The system must be an enclosed automated liquid handling workstation with a
high-density deck (9 mm spacing) and a minimum of eight (8) independent
pipetting channels. It shall accommodate a broad pipetting volume range,
supporting transfers from as low as 1 L up to at least 1000 L, ensuring
flexibility for a variety of laboratory applications.
1.2. Additionally, the system must be capable of performing simultaneous multi-
channel pipetting with a high degree of positional accuracy, maintaining a
precision of 0.1 mm or better to ensure reliable and reproducible results. The
platform shall also support dynamic and non-uniform pipetting patterns, allowing
for advanced liquid handling workflows and complex experimental protocols.
2. Deck and Workspace Configuration
2.1. The system must include a high-density deck configuration capable of
supporting multiple carriers, pedestals, and labware positions.
2.2. The system must include, at a minimum:
2.2.1. Multi-position carrier bases compatible with high-density configurations
2.2.2. Dedicated pedestals for:
2.2.2.1. Deep well plates
2.2.2.2. Filter tip racks
2.2.2.3. Reagent containers (including 50 mL formats)
2.2.2.3.1. Multi-position reagent reservoir carriers
2.3. The system must support modular deck configuration to accommodate complex
PCR workflows.
3. Contamination Control and Pipetting Technologies
3.1. System must include ALL of the following advanced technologies:
3.1.1. Air Displacement Pipetting (no system liquid or tubing)
3.1.2. Real-time aspiration monitoring to detect:
3.1.2.1. Insufficient volumes
3.1.2.2. Air aspiration
3.1.2.3. Tip blockage
3.1.3. Pressure-based aspiration/dispense monitoring system capable of:
3.1.3.1. Recording pressure curves
3.1.3.2. Creating traceable audit logs for each transfer
3.1.4. Anti-droplet control system to prevent dripping with volatile liquids

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3.1.5. Precision tip attachment system requiring minimal mechanical force and
ensuring reproducible positioning
3.1.6. Dual liquid level detection system (capacitive and pressure-based)
4. Automation and Accessories
4.1. The system must include the following integrated components and accessories:
4.1.1. Temperature control module (heater/cooler) compatible with PCR
workflows
4.1.2. Plate adapters compatible with both 96-well and 384-well PCR plates
4.1.3. Automated labware transport system (gripper mechanism) capable of
handling plates within the system footprint
4.1.4. Barcode identification system including:
4.1.4.1. 1D plate barcode reader
4.1.4.2. 2D barcode reader
4.1.5. Pipetting verification and calibration kit
4.1.6. System controller (computer workstation) with operating system and
control interface
5. Software
5.1. The system must include a fully integrated, advanced liquid handling control
software platform capable of:
5.1.1. Method development and workflow programming
5.1.2. Real-time monitoring and error handling
5.1.3. Audit trail generation and data traceability
5.1.4. Custom protocol development for PCR setup workflows
5.2. The software must support graphical workflow design and automation scripting
capabilities.
6. Installation
6.1. The vendor shall provide comprehensive on-site installation and system
validation to ensure the equipment is fully operational.
7. Training
7.1. The vendor must deliver operator training for laboratory personnel to support
proper and efficient use of the system, along with all necessary documentation
and user manuals for ongoing reference and support.
8. System Integration and Validation
8.1. The vendor must provide:
8.1.1. Installation Qualification (IQ) and Operational Qualification (OQ)
8.1.2. Pipetting volume verification and performance validation
8.1.3. System acceptance testing upon installation
8.2. The system must be delivered fully configured and ready for operational use.
9. Performance Requirements
9.1. The system must be designed to ensure high reproducibility and accuracy in
PCR setup workflows, delivering consistent and reliable results across runs. It
shall incorporate features that minimize the risk of cross-contamination, thereby

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maintaining sample integrity. Additionally, the system must support high-
throughput sample processing to enable efficient handling of large volumes of
samples in laboratory operations.
10. Warranty and Support
10.1. Warranty must include:
10.1.1. Minimum 12-month coverage
10.1.2. Preventive maintenance support during the warranty period
10.1.3. Access to application support for method development and
troubleshooting
11. Delivery Requirements
11.1. Vendor must provide inside delivery (white-glove service) including:
11.1.1. Delivery to final installation location
11.1.2. Unpacking and debris removal
11.1.3. Coordination with university personnel
12. Evaluation Criteria
12.1. Bids will be evaluated based on several key factors, including the extent to
which the proposed equipment meets the required specifications and the overall
technical capability of the solution. Consideration will also be given to the
proposed delivery timeline to ensure timely implementation, as well as the total
cost of the bid. In addition, the vendor's experience, reliability, and ability to
provide ongoing support will be taken into account as part of the overall
evaluation process.
Contact information
Dr. Kyle Piller
Director for Environmental Research
Department of Biological Sciences
Southeastern Louisiana University
Hammond, Louisiana
(985) 549-2191
kyle.piller@selu.edu
Vendor must include all expenses (this includes shipping and discounts) in the
unit price.
See following pages for insurance requirements.