SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Compilation of a Data Set that Contains Measures of Estradiol’s Effects on Brain Function in Humanized Female, Met-Knock-In Mice
- Notice Date
- 8/6/2014
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Station Support/Simplified Acquisitions, 31 Center Drive, Room 1B59, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
- ZIP Code
- 20892
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SBSS-FY14-545
- Archive Date
- 8/28/2014
- Point of Contact
- Shaun C. Miles, Phone: 3014515042
- E-Mail Address
-
shaun.miles@nih.gov
(shaun.miles@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Station Support Simplified Acquisitions, 31 Center Drive, Room 1B59, Bethesda, MD 20892. Introduction: 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. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Background Information: The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure. Genetic variation and its interactions with hormonal state are important contributors to the expression of reproductive-related mood disorders. A uniquely human single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene coding for brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a neuroregulator whose effects are highly convergent with those of sex steroids in neuroprotection, neurogenesis, synaptogenesis, and neural growth and differentiation, may be particularly relevant; indeed, recent evidence has documented clear BDNF genotype-by-hormone interactions in both female transgenic rodents and women. Purpose and Objectives for the Acquisition: To evaluate specific neurobiological mechanisms underlying these gene-by-hormone interactions and their implications for the development of depression in women, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) wants to obtain the data from a contractor's lab that are related to the effects of hypogonadism and estradiol replacement on measures of behavior and brain function in humanized female BDNF knock-in mice. This data set will include measures to define the effects of stress, BDNF genotype, and estradiol on hippocampal gene expression, morphology, and synapse formation, using cell culture models, electron microscopy, and immunocytochemistry. Project requirements: The Contractor shall compile a data set and provide a complete data set to Behavioral Endocrinology Branch (BEB). The data set will be used to compare with existing data on BDNF and estradiol interactions in women. The compilation of the data set shall include the following: results of gene expression profiles in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, synaptic plasticity markers, glutamate and GABAA receptor measures, epigenetic enzyme concentrations, behavioral data, and chromosome immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analyses of acetylated (activating) and methylated (repressive) histone marks of key genes from BDNFVal66 and BDNFMet66 ovariectomized female mice with and without estradiol treatment, The effects of chronic and novel stress on these measures shall also be included. Anticipated period of performance: The anticipated period of performance for this acquisition is expected to be from September 1, 2014 through August 31, 2015. Capability Statement: A submitted capability statement shall reflect and meet the Contractor experience requirements as follows: 1. Key Personnel - Minimum of 20 years of experience in reproductive neuroscience techniques. 2. Key Personnel - Ph.D. Degree required. 3. Availability of sufficient BDNF knock-in mice to perform required experiments. Expertise in care of and experiments with BDNF "humanized" mice, knowledge of hormone manipulation paradigms to be employed and knowledge of behavioral. Genomic, and neuroscience methods necessary to complete specific aims of proposed study Contractors that believe they possess the ability to provide the required services to Compile a Data Set that Contains Measures of Estradiol's Effects on Brain Function in Humanized Female, Met-Knock-In Mice should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contract Specialist. Contractors must provide their Company Name, DUNS number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. Interested organizations are required to identify their type of business, applicable NAICS Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number. All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought Notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Shaun Miles, Contract Specialist, at shaun.miles@nih.gov in MS Word format within 7 calendar days of the date of this announcement. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your 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 review of the responses received, pre-solicitation and solicitation notices may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. The solicitation release date is pending.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NIDA-2/HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SBSS-FY14-545/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN03454211-W 20140808/140807022946-52a69f3e981b939217487ec29957482e (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 |