SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- DNA Methylation Analysis
- Notice Date
- 8/19/2010
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541711
— Research and Development in Biotechnology
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Rockledge Dr. Bethesda, MD, Office of Acquisitions, 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7902
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7902
- Solicitation Number
- NHLBI-PB-(HL)-2010-257-DDC
- Archive Date
- 9/8/2010
- Point of Contact
- Deborah - Coulter, Phone: (301) 435-0368
- E-Mail Address
-
dc143b@nih.gov
(dc143b@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This Sources Sought Notice (SS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The purpose of this SS is to identify qualified small business concerns [including Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB] that are interested in and capable of providing the below Pad Reactor System and accessories. The NHLBI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this Sources Sought notice, the NHLBI may issue a Request for Quote (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NHLBI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought notice or the NHLBI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. The NHLBI is seeking capability statements from all eligible small business concerns [particularly Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB)] under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541711 with a size standard 500 employees. Based on the responses received from this SOURCES SOUGHT announcement, the proposed acquisition may be solicited as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. All eligible small business concerns responding to this Sources Sought Announcement must have the capabilities to provide services as outlined in the Statement of Work. Brief History and Purpose of Project Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and serious illness in the United States. In 1948, the Framingham Heart Study -- under the direction of the National Heart Institute (now known as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; NHLBI) -- embarked on an ambitious project in health research. At the time, little was known about the general causes of heart disease and stroke, but the death rates for CVD had been increasing steadily since the beginning of the century and had become an American epidemic. The objective of the Framingham Heart Study was to identify the common factors or characteristics that contribute to CVD by following its development over time in a large group of participants who had not yet developed overt symptoms of CVD or suffered a heart attack or stroke. The Framingham Heart Study continues to make important scientific contributions by enhancing its research capabilities and capitalizing on its inherent resources. New diagnostic technologies, such as echocardiography (an ultrasound examination of the heart), carotid-artery ultrasound, bone densitometry (for monitoring osteoporosis), and computerized tomography of the coronary arteries, are evaluated and integrated into ongoing protocols. While pursuing the study's established research goals, the NHLBI and the Framingham investigators are expanding their research into other areas such as the role of genetic factors in CVD. Framingham investigators also collaborate with leading researchers from around the country and throughout the world on projects in stroke and dementia, osteoporosis and arthritis, nutrition, diabetes, eye diseases, hearing disorders, lung diseases, and genetic patterns of common diseases. Description This project seeks to characterize DNA methylation throughout the genome. Studies of DNA methylation reveal that DNA methylation is closely linked to gene expression and it is also a prominent contributor in a variety of complex disorders. Background Epigenetics refers to genomic modifications that do not involve alterations in DNA sequence, but are responsible for functional derangement. Such modifications include DNA methylation, which plays a critical role in the maintenance of cell functions, and consequently, in promoting disease. DNA methylation, whether due to genetic or environmental influences, leads to changes in gene expression, which in turn, confer phenotypic changes predisposing to disease. These epigenetic influences have been well established in cancer research (4), but are far less well characterized in cardiovascular research. Contractor Requirements A.Contractor shall have a proven track record in DNA methylation with a publication history in the space and necessary instruments and technology in place to execute this study. B.Contractor shall provide services to characterize DNA methylation at CpG sites using the Human Methylation 450k DNA analysis Bead Chip. C.The Contractor shall provide high quality DNA methylation results with high-value content including: a.At least 400,000 methylation sites at single nucleotide resolution b.Includes 3’, 5’ and promoters regions without bias against those lacking CpG Islands c.CpG islands and shores d.Non-CpG methylation sites indentified in human stem cells e.Disease associated regions identified through GWAS D.Contractor will utilize the EZ DNA Methylation kit from Zymo Research for bisulfate conversion and will utilize all recommended BS-conversion controls E.Quality control measures will be applied by the Contractor through the use of controls to measure sample independent and sample dependent QC metric. Both the number of CpG and the intensity will be measured by the contractor. F.Contractor WILL NOT be responsible for DNA isolation G.Contractor must be able to complete the 576 sample using <6.0ug of DNA from each sample. H.Contractor will specify any special packaging, marking, or shipping instructions for DNA isolation and sample shipment to Contractor. I.Each DNA sample received will be identified by the Contractor using the identifiers provided by NHLBI. Government Responsibilities A.Using blinded replicates, NHLBI will inspect the results provided by the Contractor and review them for fulfillment of the quality control measures stipulated above. Data that do not fulfill quality metrics will be identified by NHLBI. B.NHLBI will provide to the Contractor plates with standard concentrations of DNA and identifiers for each plate. In addition, NHLBI will provide a list of identifiers for each DNA sample within each plate. Reporting Requirements and Deliverables A.Methylation results will be returned by Contractor to NHLBI in a standard GenomeStudio project format (or similar). The Genome Studio output will have beta values (methylation state of the locus), raw intensities for A (unmethylated) and B (Methlyated) bead types and detection p-value for each locus. Raw data will be reported. B.Return of results by the Contractor will be accompanied by summary quality control measures for each chip and for the project overall. C.Methylation data will be returned to NHLBI within 15-18 weeks of receipt genomics DNA samples D.Contractor will maintain the DNA plates in the event repeat analysis is required. At the end of the project, all remaining DNA materials will be returned to the NHLBI. Period of performance The proposed period of performance for the service is September 15, 2010 – January 31, 2011. Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement, not to exceed 20 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above and in the draft SOW. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. All capability Statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Deborah Coulter Contract Specialist, at coulterd@nhlbi.nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by August 24, 7:30 AM, EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NHLBI/NHLBI-PB-(HL)-2010-257-DDC/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: United States
- Record
- SN02248042-W 20100821/100820000628-cbe23f5969951c6e91983c1c2305a8a4 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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