SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Development and Maintenance of a Multigenotypic Aged Mouse Colony
- Notice Date
- 7/8/2009
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Mental Health, Contracts Management Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd, Rm 8154, MSC 9661, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9661
- ZIP Code
- 20892-9661
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-SBSS-09-086
- Point of Contact
- Teresa A. Baughman, Phone: (301) 443-1193
- E-Mail Address
-
baughmat@nida.nih.gov
(baughmat@nida.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Small Business Sources Sought Notice Development and Maintenance of a Multigenotypic Aged Mouse Colony "This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice." Background Current and projected experiments using rodents to model the aging processes and age-related diseases in humans require animals of defined genotype and controlled environmental and health status. Only with the meticulous, long-term control of genetic and environmental variables is it possible to maintain relevant animal models that may be used to study many of the biological and behavioral processes in aging. Therefore, a continuous supply of genetically defined, well characterized inbred and hybrid laboratory animals is essential for a program of research on aging. In 2004, NIA awarded a 9-year contract for the development and maintenance of a colony of genetically defined aged mice. The Statement of Work for that contract, HHSN260200400007C, stated that another 9-year contract for continuation of this project would be awarded at the start of the seventh year of that contract. This RFP is for development of that continuation contract. Purpose and Objectives. The objective is to develop, maintain and distribute a standing colony of aged, genetically defined laboratory mice for use by investigators in studies of aging. This colony is to be developed and maintained within controlled and defined barrier environments where animals are monitored and characterized for disease status and markers of genetic purity. Project requirements. Specifically, the Contractor shall develop, maintain and distribute a standing colony of aged mice of NIA-specified genotypes for use by investigators in studies of aging. The expected duration of this colony, and therefore of this contract, is nine years. During years 1 through 2, animals shall be entered into the colony, but few animals shall be removed from the colony except for the purposes of monitoring health and genetic purity. However, if the need should arise, animals may be distributed from the colony at anytime at the direction of the Project Officer. During years 3 through 7, animals shall continue to be entered into the colony and animals shall be distributed to investigators. This should be a period of stable operation with young animals entering the colony at approximately the same rate as older animals leave the colony due to distribution and normal attrition. The final two year period, years 8 and 9, will serve as the colony close-out period. Animals shall be maintained and disbursed, but entry of animals shall cease at the beginning of year 8 or when entries begin in a renewal contract colony. Thus the population in this contract colony will decline over the last two year period to a point of near zero or very few animals at the end of year nine. The colony population at the end of each year of the nine year period should be approximately as follows: YEAR 1 10,000 YEAR 4 72,000 YEAR 7 72,000 YEAR 2 48,000 YEAR 5 72,000 YEAR 8 40,000 YEAR 3 72,000 YEAR 6 72,000 YEAR 9 NEAR 0 The Contractor shall acquire foundation stock for four inbred strains of mice from a stock center identified by the Project Officer and shall re-derive the stock by caesarian section or embryo transfer under barrier conditions. After re-derivation, testing to confirm genetic purity and SPF health status shall be performed on the foundation colony, and breeding colonies will be established for the four inbred strains and two derivative hybrid strains. Mice will be entered into the aging colony at levels defined in the contract Statement of Work (SOW), currently a total of 4,150 mice per month (the hybrid strains account for approximately 5% of the total entry levels). The Contractor shall provide all production space needed for the colony, including at least two independent barriers to house the colony, with independent back-up and alarm systems. Since this is an aging colony, the contractor must be prepared to house the animals for up to 2-3 years. Mice shall be provided with sterilized food (formulation consistent with NIH31 open formula) and bedding, and environmental conditions (temperature, humidity range, light cycle, water treatment, etc.) as defined in the SOW. Mice shall be monitored weekly for signs of fighting or morbidity. Semi-annual genetic monitoring of the breeding colonies and quarterly health monitoring of the aging colonies shall be performed and reported to the Project Officer as well as be included in the semi-annual progress reports. Genetic monitoring shall be accomplished by a panel of microsatellite markers that distinguish the inbred strains. Health monitoring shall include external exams for parasites, microbiology, serology, and histology. The Contractor shall ship the mice to investigators upon authorization from the Project Officer or her representative, providing secure shipping crates, food and water sources, and climate-controlled transport. The Contractor shall invoice customers for the cost of the animals (determined by the Project Officer) and all shipping costs, and apply the remittance to the cost of the contract. The Contractor shall account for all received funds on the monthly invoices. The Contractor shall weekly provide an inventory of the aging colony in a format approved by the Project Officer. Anticipated period of performance. The anticipated period of performance is a total of nine (9) years. The estimated month of award is May 2010. Capability statement. NIA is interested in soliciting capability statements from all qualified Offerors demonstrating their ability to perform this effort. At a minimum prospective Offerors must document capabilities in the following areas. (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. We ask that the capability statement use 12 font minimum, 8 ½ by 11 paper size, not exceed 20 single sided in length (including reference material). Electronic format can be Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, or Microsoft Power Point including attachments, resumes, charts, etc. Organize material in such a manner that clearly identifies and address capability requirements and provide an executive summary. Please provide your DUNS number, organization name, address, technical and administrative points of contact (including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses), and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code. Please identify your size classification relative to North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code of 541712 (Size Standard of 500) which is being contemplated for this requirement. Include a statement whether or not you are a small business; HUBZone small business; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small business; women-owned small business; or small disadvantaged business in order to assist the government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An electronic copy of the capability statement must be received at the following e-mail addresses no later than July 23, 2009. Telephone and facsimile responses will not be accepted. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NIMH/HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-SBSS-09-086/listing.html)
- Record
- SN01868335-W 20090710/090708235550-87d5bf86af3503e2e9f28785064f033a (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
| FSG Index | This Issue's Index | Today's FBO Daily Index Page |