SPECIAL NOTICE
B -- Provide Assistance to NOAA Scientist with Conducting Studies of Gene Expressions Effects in Zebra Fish Model System
- Notice Date
- 3/22/2010
- Notice Type
- Special Notice
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Western Region Acquisition Division, 7600 Sand Point Way, Northeast, Seattle, Washington, 98115-6349
- ZIP Code
- 98115-6349
- Solicitation Number
- WRAD-10-0270-NFFP7500-10-08938
- Archive Date
- 4/21/2010
- Point of Contact
- Maria L Mendoza, Phone: (206)526-6671
- E-Mail Address
-
Maria.L.Mendoza@noaa.gov
(Maria.L.Mendoza@noaa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This publication serves as notice of intent to procure services for the Department of Commerce (DOC), National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service, Environmental Conservation Division located in Seattle, WA 98112 on a sole source basis with University of Washington. The government intends to acquire services using FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The Center provides scientific and technical support to NMFS for the management, conservation, and wise use of the Northwest region's marine and anadromous resources. The potential impacts of chronic algal toxin exposure have long been a concern. One HAB toxin, domoic acid (DA), is a potent neurotoxin that interacts with the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). Although the clinical signs of acute DA toxicity have been well defined, virtually nothing is known about the impacts of chronic, low-level toxin exposure, primarily due to the difficulties associated with long-term exposure studies. We know that vertebrates such as fish, seabirds, marine mammals, and humans are exposed to DA on a regular basis at levels below those that cause outward signs of toxicity, yet we have no idea how these chronic sub-acute exposures may impact these organisms. In the present study, we use global gene expression in whole brain and morphological aberrations in major organ systems as endpoints to examine the effects of chronic exposure. The overall goal of this project is to develop a general model for the characterization of gene expression effects in the vertebrate CNS and morphological damage in major organs associated with long-term, low-level toxin exposure. Proposed vendor shall perform the following: 1. The contractor will receive and store all zebrafish brain samples from the year-long exposure study. Samples will be delivered to the contractor on a regular basis throughout the study and must be stored at -80C. 2. The contractor will perform all RNA extractions and provide quality assurance/control of RNA samples (130 samples in year one and 130 samples in year two). 3. The contractor will analyze all samples for differential gene expression using microarray technologies that have been developed for zebrafish and for our specific exposure regimes and sample types (brains). 4. The contractor will provide qRT-PCR to validate microarray results for all brains individually (20 brains X 13 time points X 5 genes = 1300). 5. The contractor will provide "hands on" and "in person" bioinformatics services/tutorials for data analysis to National Marine Fisheries Service, Environmental Conservation Division when requested. This requires using the contractor's bioinformatics tools, computers, and software. We anticipate using this type of service up to 8 times over the two years of the project. Proposed vendor shall deliver the following: 1. Collection, proper storage and analysis of zebrafish brains collected over the year-long study. 2. Regular meetings and progress reports to National Marine Fisheries Service, Environmental Conservation Division regarding data quality and results. 3. Management and proper storage of the enormous amount of data obtained from the microarray analyses. 4. Hands on personal tutorials on how to best manipulate the data using the contractors "state of the art" computers and bioinformatics tools. 5. Data manipulation and summaries such as tables, figures, and other analytical outputs as requested. 6. Regular interactions and guidance on the processing and interpretation of the data. The UW personnel who will work on this project have worked with our group over the last 6 years to develop and validate the requested analyses for these unique exposure studies in zebrafish. We have two previous studies in which these same analyses have been performed at the UW facility. It is imperative that the same laboratory analyze the samples in the present study so that we can properly compare new results with previous results. This is a critical component to the success of this study. The Functional Genomics Laboratory at the University of Washington is fully equipped with state of the art equipment and software for microarray analyses, bioinformatics, and biostatistics. In addition to "state of the art" facilities, the scientists committed to this work have extensive experience in microarray analyses, bioinformatics, and data interpretation. These scientists have worked with our team before on pilot studies to troubleshoot and develop the protocols for our specific zebrafish brain samples. Results from these preliminary studies have provided the "proof of concept" needed to assure success of this type of long-term effort (this is a year long exposure period with 13 tissue sampling time points throughout the study). They have validated protocols ready to go for our brain samples and have helped develop the most statistically robust sample design for this study. The UW Functional Genomics Laboratory currently houses all of our previous data. It is imperative that we work with this group to insure the proper storage, quality and access to all of the data associated with these studies. The Government intends to negotiate a firm fixed price contract with the period of performance commencing approximately April 2010 with no option periods. The NAICS code for this procurement is 541690 with a corresponding size standard of $7.0M. It is anticipated that work will commence on April 2010 to Sept 2010. This notice represents the only official notice. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals; however, all submittals received by the due set forth in this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. It is the Government's belief that only University of Washington can provide these services. However, other potential sources with the expertise and required capabilities to provide these services may submit such data which demonstrates the technical requirements stated above no later than 10 calendar days from the date of the posting of this announcement. This data must include sufficient information to allow NOAA to evaluate the proposal relative to the technical requirements stated above. Responses shall be faxed to Maria Mendoza at (206)527-7513 or provided by e-mail to maria.l.mendoza@noaa.gov. This is a simplified acquisition estimated value not to exceed $100,000.00. ****The Western Regional Acquisition Division, requires that all contractors doing business with this Acquisition Office be registered with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) as of October 1, 2003. After this date, NO award can be made unless the vender is registered in CCR. For additional information and to register in CCR please access the following web site: http://www.ccr.gov. In order to register with the CCR and to be eligible to receive an award from this acquisition office, all offerors must have a Dun & Bradstreet Number. A Dun & Bradstreet number may be acquired free of charge by contacting Dun & Bradstreet on-line at www.dnb.com/eupdate or by phone at (800) 333-0505. All contractors are required to complete online Representations and Certifications at http://www.orca.bpn.gov to be eligible to receive an award.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/DOC/NOAA/WASC/WRAD-10-0270-NFFP7500-10-08938/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: SEATTLE, Washington, United States
- Record
- SN02098429-W 20100324/100322234105-f053e2198262b28a23c56b1671f64029 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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