Announcement of an Exempt Purchase

Vendor will provide a LabCyte Echo. This custom automation system will be used to automate a current piece of equipment. Features include plate racks, bar-code scanner, robotic arm, plate centrifuge, and scheduling software.

This purchase is exempt from the usual selection processes of the Procurement Code because the procurement expenditure is for performing sponsored research and other sponsored activities under grants and contracts funded by the sponsor or by sources other than State appropriations. (30 ILCS 500 / 1-13(b)(8)) The custom robotic system will be used to automate a current piece of equipment, the LabCyte Echo, which is an important part of the assay assembly process during high-throughput screening of compound libraries. The automation will drastically reduce the amount of manual labor involved in plate feeding and handling during prolonged screening campaigns, thereby boosting productivity and minimizing human error.