SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- SMALL BUSINESSES SOUGHT for Development and Maintenance of a Multigenotypic Caloric Restricted Rodent Colony
- Notice Date
- 4/22/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 112990
— All Other Animal Production
- 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-11-152
- Archive Date
- 5/9/2011
- Point of Contact
- Mrs. Diane Loeb, Phone: 301 443-8886, Suzanne R Stinson, Phone: 301-443-4116
- E-Mail Address
-
DL294P@nih.gov, ss704b@nih.gov
(DL294P@nih.gov, ss704b@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- 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 NIA funded research programs using rodents to model 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 animal models suitable for the study of biological and behavioral processes in aging. Caloric restriction, in which the calories are restricted to maintain a stable adult body weight but all other nutritional needs are met, is a proven intervention to extend lifespan and improve health. Calorically restricted rodents are used to investigate the cellular and physiological biology of normal aging. A colony of aged, calorically restricted laboratory rodents, of defined genetic backgrounds and health status, is an integral part of the NIA's program of research on aging. In 2004, NIA awarded a 9-year contract for the development and maintenance of a colony of caloric restricted rodents. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The objective is to develop, maintain and distribute a standing colony of aged, genetically defined, calorically restricted rodents for use by investigators in studies of aging. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS This colony shall be developed and maintained within controlled and defined barrier environments where animals are monitored and characterized for disease status and markers of genetic purity. The expected duration of this colony is nine (9) years; the colony population at the end of each year of the nine year period should be approximately as follows: YEAR 1 400 YEAR 4 2800 YEAR 7 2800 YEAR 2 1600 YEAR 5 2800 YEAR 8 1600 YEAR 3 2800 YEAR 6 2800 YEAR 9 Near 0 This animal colony shall be divided into two, approximately equal, separate segments. Each segment shall be maintained behind a totally independent barrier, specific pathogen- and parasite free, for the entire contract period. Both segments shall specifically be helicobacter-negative. The Contractor shall acquire foundation stock for two inbred strains of mice from a stock center identified by the COTR 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 two inbred strains and one derivative hybrid strain. Animals will be entered into the aging colony at levels defined in the contract Statement of Work (SOW), currently a total of 1260 animal per year. The Contractor shall provide discrete production space for each colony segment within the barrier or isolation area for that segment. This space shall be defined within each unit, and the animals held therein until the scheduled removal or expiration of the animals. Facilities set aside for these colonies shall be provided with all equipment, materials, and supplies necessary to maintain these animals effectively within the barrier enclosure in a stable condition and environment. Since this is an aging colony, the Contractor must be prepared to house the animals for up to 3-4 years. Current ILAR (http://www.nap.edu/books/0309053773/html/index.html) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) guidelines (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/olaw/references/phspol.htm) for breeding, care and maintenance of laboratory rats shall apply where specifications have not been detailed. REPORTS/DELIVERABLES: (1) Post re-derivation Health and Genetic Monitoring Report; (2) Semi-Annual Progress Report; (3) Weekly Inventory Report; (4) Quarterly Health Monitoring Reports; (5) Genetic Monitoring Reports; (6) Individual Postmortem Reports - (7) Final Report ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The anticipated period of performance is nine years. OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 112990 with a size standard of $.75 Million is being contemplated. CAPABILITY STATEMENT/INFORMATION SOUGHT: Respondents to this notice must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement to include the following: (1) information regarding the respondents' (a) capability to perform the work as described above; (b) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (c) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (d) prior completed projects of similar nature; (e) corporate experience and management capability; and, (f) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information; (2) respondents' DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code. INFORMATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS: Respondents should provide responses accordingly: (1) submit information both electronically and by mail. No telephone or facsimile responses will be accepted; (2) format capability statements using Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF including attachments, resumes, charts, etc. Use single space, 12 font minimum and 8 ½ x 11 size paper; (3) organize material in such a manner that clearly identifies and address capability requirements and provide an executive summary; (4) capability statement should not exceed ten (10) single sided pages including references; (5) respondents must send two original copies via mail and one electronic copy via email; (6) responses should be received no later than May 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM Local Time; (7) include respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses; and (8) send responses to this notice via email to dl294p@nih.gov. The original statements mailed using the U.S. Postal Service should be sent to ATTN: Diane Loeb, National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions - NIDA Neuroscience COAC, NIA R&D Contracts Management Section, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8154, MSC 9661, Bethesda, MD 20892-9661. If using a courier service such as the UPS, Federal Express, etc., change the City, State and Zip Code to Rockville, MD 20852. (Please be aware that the U.S. Postal Service's "Express Mail" DOES NOT deliver to the Rockville, Maryland address.) 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).
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