SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Development and Maintenance of Long Term Colony of Hybrid Rats
- Notice Date
- 11/10/2011
- 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 Drug Abuse, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4211 - MSC 9559, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20892
- Solicitation Number
- NIHAGSBSS2012165
- Point of Contact
- Sara M. McLaurin, Phone: 3014439154
- E-Mail Address
-
mclaurinsm@nida.nih.gov
(mclaurinsm@nida.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 The National Institute on Aging (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 relevant animal models that may be used to study many of the biological and behavioral processes in aging. A continuous supply of genetically defined, well characterized inbred and hybrid laboratory animals is essential for a program of research on aging. In 2005, NIA awarded a nine year contract to develop and maintain a colony of genetically-defined aged Brown Norway (BN) and F344xBN F1 hybrid rats. Since contract initiation, the Contractor has acquired BN and F344 breeding stock, re-derived the stock and provided the NIA with documentation of the cesarean derivation and genetic history of the foundation stock for the aging colony. The breeding and aging colonies have been developed and rats have been distributed to the research community as requested. Presently, the Contractor maintains a colony of approximately 22,000 rodents housed in two barriers. The purpose of this acquisition is to continue services that are currently being provided by the Harlan Laboratories under contract number HHSN260200500006C until the renewal contract colony is fully developed and all ages are available to the research community. Rats will be maintained and provided to the research community as requested until the animals are gone or the termination date of this contract is reached, whichever comes first. The analysis requested as part of this contract will assist the NIA in determining the appropriate level of animals to maintain. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The purposes of this acquisition are to provide an analysis of shipping patterns within contract number HHSN260200500006C and to continue the maintenance and distribution of a standing colony of aged, genetically defined BN and F344xBN F1 hybrid rats for use by investigators in studies of aging while the renewal contract colony is being developed. This colony must be maintained within controlled and defined barrier environments where the animals are monitored and characterized for diseases status and markers of genetic purity. The development of the colony required acquisition of foundation stock, re-derivation of the stock to ensure that the animals conformed to the required health status, and development of the breeding colonies. This phase takes approximately three (3) years. Animals are entered into the aging colony monthly so that there is a continuous supply available. The NIA seeks to maintain the existing colony until the renewal contract colony has all ages available for the research community. In addition, the analysis of shipping patterns will assist the NIA in determining the appropriate level of animals to maintain. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS The primary tasks for this acquisition include: A) Analyze shipping patterns and B) Maintain and distribute the standing colony of aged, genetically defined BN and F344xBN F1 hybrid rats. REPORTS/DELIVERABLES: The following reports will be required: A. Semiannual Progress Reports; B. Weekly Census Reports; C. Quarterly Health Monitoring Reports; D. Reports of the results of the semiannual genetic monitoring of the breeding colonies; E. Postmortem Reports; and F. Final Report. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: The anticipated period of performance is three 12-month performance years from August 1, 2012 through July 31, 2015. OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: (1) The government is expected to use procedures in FAR Part 15, Contracting by Negotiations. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code will be 112990 ($0.75 million); and (2) The contractor must have a current supply of rodents in barriers to prevent contamination of the colony with disease organisms that would negatively impact the research for which the animals are provided. Precautions include filtering of the air going into the barriers, positive pressure in the barrier rooms to prevent mixing of air between barriers, requirements for staff to shower in and out of the barriers, and sterilization of all materials going into the barriers. No animals are returned to the barriers after leaving the barriers. For this reason, the existing colonly cannot be transferred. CAPABILITY STATEMENT/INFORMATION SOUGHT. a. Capability Statement - Respondents to this notice must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement to include the following: (1) information regarding respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, background with rodent care and development, as well as 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; (2) provide any catalog/list prices for services described in this notice; (3) 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(s); and (4) any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the OPDIV's acquisition requirements. b. Information Submission Instructions - Respondents should provide responses accordingly: (1) submit information both electronically and by mail. No telephone and 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 NOVEMBER 25, 2011 at 2:00 PM EDT; (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 mclaurinsm@nida.nih.gov. The original statements mailed using the U.S. Postal Service should be sent to ATTN: Sara McLaurin, 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).
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NIDA-01/NIHAGSBSS2012165/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contracting Office Address:, Contracts Management Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd, Rm 8154, MSC 9661, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9661, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN02621632-W 20111112/111110234158-87f996701ad1fe240c275761cd06c554 (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 |