SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Inter-Laboratory Evaluation of Proteomic Method
- Notice Date
- 4/10/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- Contracting Office
- RTP Procurement Operations Division (D143-01) Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
- ZIP Code
- 27711
- Solicitation Number
- PR-NC-06-10420
- Response Due
- 4/26/2006
- Archive Date
- 5/26/2006
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL SERVICES PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION. PROPOSALS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED. The solicitation number is PR-NC-06-10420, and the solicitation is being issued as a full and open competition Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 05-07. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 541380, which has a size standard of $10.0 million to qualify as a small business, is applicable. A minimum of 3 and a maximum of 7 firm, fixed-price contracts are anticipated to result from the award of this solicitation. This procurement is for the assessment of a test method protocol employing surface enhanced laser desorption and ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS) of plasma proteins as a means to screen chemicals for estrogenic activity. The Government contemplates executing a round-robin (ring test) with participation from a minimum of three (3) and maximum of seven (7) contract laboratories. This round-robin approach is a critical step in achieving the Government?s need for evaluating the performance of the test method protocol as it relates to correctly classifying samples as estrogenic or non-estrogenic. The successful contractors shall have proven experience in SELDI-TOF MS or matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization - time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) as well as direct access to an instrument capable of analyzing Ciphergen Biosystems, Inc?s. (Fremont,CA) proprietary ProteinChip? arrays. The government will supply the specific test method protocol to be used in the analysis of supplied samples (Appendix 1). A positive (estrogen-treated) fish plasma sample and a neutral (control) fish plasma sample will be provided for an initial demonstration of analyst capability. Ten (10) neutral (control) fish plasma samples will be provided to establish normal reference protein response ranges and limits by the contractor. In addition, twenty-seven (27) fish plasma sample ?unknowns? furnished with code numbers will be provided for analysis and interpretation. A normalization standard (salmon plasma) will be provided. Protein masses (m/z) to be used as estrogen responsive biomarkers will be provided. A quality assurance / quality control program shall be in place and approved by EPA prior to performance at the contractor?s laboratory and shall address, at a minimum, the following topics: sample storage; instrument calibration, accuracy and precision; physical processing of samples; and data reporting. Again, the contractor(s) shall submit a copy of their quality assurance/quality control protocols to the EPA Project Officer prior to analysis of samples. Contractors shall supply all equipment, software, supplies, reagents and standards with the exception of those provided for by the Government. The contractor(s) shall be required to prepare and analyze all plasma samples provided for this evaluation following the specific analytical procedures supplied in Appendix 1. (See the EPA Procurement website http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd.) This includes a demonstration of analyst capability as described in Section 15 of the protocol (Appendix 1). Upon receipt by the contractor(s), all samples must be maintained at -70?C until analysis. Analysis shall be conducted using weak cation exchange (CM10) ProteinChip arrays. Prepared ProteinChip arrays are to be analyzed using a Ciphergen SELDI Protein Chip Reader and the spectral data acquired using Ciphergen Biosystems ProteinChip software complete with Biomarker Wizard software. Analysis of raw data including mass calibration, baseline subtraction, total ion current normalization and peak cluster detection should be performed using Ciphergen ProteinChip software complete with Biomarker Wizard software. The contractor(s) shall provide all files listed in Section 14.10 of the attached protocol in an electronic format using Ciphergen ProteinChip software for spectral results and Microsoft EXCEL for significance calculations. A report containing the demonstration of analyst capability, and a written evaluation and interpretation of the data analysis and detailing the classification of the twenty-seven (27) unknown coded plasma samples as matching ?estrogen-responsive? or ?non-estrogenic? profiles shall be provided as deliverables. All results of QA measures shall also be provided as a deliverable including laboratory notes discussing problems encountered as an appendix to the final report. Original records such as laboratory notebooks and printouts from analytical devices shall be retained by the contractor for at least three (3) years following the submission of the final report, as they may be requested by EPA. Results shall be reported to the EPA Project Officer no later than 90 days after contract award. The contractor(s) shall provide a price for analysis and reporting of thirty-nine (39) samples (one (1) positive and ten (11) neutral samples plus twenty-seven (27) unknown samples) including all QA requirements and including the cost of shipping the samples from Gulf Breeze, Florida to the contractor?s analytical facility. The following FAR provisions apply to this solicitation: 52-212-1, Instructions to Offerors?Commercial Items; 52.212-2, Evaluation--Commercial Items. Evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of provision 52.212-2 are as follows: A. TECHNICAL CRITERIA: 1. Demonstrate previous experience with SELDI-TOF mass spectrometry; 2. Demonstrate previous experience with MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry; 3. Demonstrate capability of analyzing Ciphergen Biosystems proprietary ProtenChip arrays; 4. Provide evidence of a laboratory QA/QC program; 5. Provide a copy of QA/QC protocols as stated in the SOW; 6. Demonstrate experience with similar size/scope projects; 7. Demonstrate ability to meet the deadlines for the project; 8. Provide detailed information on Record Management Program. B. PAST PERFORMANCE: Submit a list of 3 customers for whom like or similar sample analysis have been performed within the past 2 years. Include specific points of contact and phone numbers. Past performance will be evaluated on 1) quality of product or service; 2) timeliness of performance (ability to adhere to deadlines); and overall customer satisfaction. C. PRICE. Award will be made to the offeror(s) whose offer is the lowest priced offer meeting all of the technical requirements. Offers must satisfactorily meet all of the technical requirements to be considered "technically acceptable." All offerors are to include with their offers a completed copy of provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications--Commercial Items. The following FAR clauses apply to this acquisition: 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions--Commercial Items; 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders--Commercial Items and the following additional FAR clauses which are cited in Clause 52.212-5: 52.222-3 Convict Labor; 52.222-21, Prohibition of Segregated Facilities; 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity, 52.222-35, Affirmative Action for Special Disabled and Vietnam Era Veterans; 52.222-36 Affirmative Action for Handicapped Workers; 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans and Veterans of the Vietnam Era; 52-232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration; 52.222-41, Service Contract Act of 1965, As Amended; 52.222-42, Statement of Equivalent Rates for Federal Hires. Any applicable wage determination(s) will be made a part of the resultant contract. All technical questions are to be forwarded via email to the Contracting Officer at the following email address: hill.jennifer@epa.gov. Offerors should review the Statement of Work and other information posted with this Request for Quotation on EPA's website at the following address: http://www.epa.gov/oam/rtp_cmd. Click on the CURRENT SOLICITATIONS section and click on the solicitation for viewing applicable documents. Near the top of the page COMMERCIAL BUY CLAUSES AND FORMS sections are provided for your convenience. Please submit two copies of the technical proposal and price proposal to Jennifer B. Hill, Contracting Officer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP Procurement Operations Division (D143-01), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711 if using the US Postal Service. Courier delivery address is U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Attn: Jennifer B. Hill, RTP Procurement Operations Division (D143-01), 4930 Page Road, Durham, NC 27703. All offers are due by April 26, 2006, 12:00 p.m., ET. No telephonic or faxed requests will be honored.
- Web Link
-
The Environmental Protection Agency
(http://www.epa.gov/oam/solicit)
- Record
- SN01025102-W 20060412/060410221032 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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