SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- DNA Sequencing Services
- Notice Date
- 2/19/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Office of Acquisitions, Office of Management, 530 Davis Drive, Durham, North Carolina, 27713, United States
- ZIP Code
- 27713
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIEHS-SBSS-16-0217
- Archive Date
- 3/19/2016
- Point of Contact
- Kristina K. Filardo, Phone: 9195410753, Jennifer Smith, Phone: 919-541-0424
- E-Mail Address
-
filardok@niehs.nih.gov, smithj3@niehs.nih.gov
(filardok@niehs.nih.gov, smithj3@niehs.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. 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. The NAICS code for the project is: 541380 - Testing Laboratories Background The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/index.cfm), located in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, is one of 27 research institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (http://www.nih.gov/). The mission of the NIEHS is to reduce the burden of human illness and disability by understanding how the environment influences the development and progression of human disease. In support of this mission, NIEHS seeks to establish a reliable, rapid and cost-effective Sanger Method capillary-based DNA sequencing services contract which supports investigators within the intramural research program at NIEHS. This sequencing information will provide vital information to ongoing investigations regarding environmental disease mechanisms and the genetic component involved in causes, outcomes, and progression of environmental diseases. This contract will provide high quality DNA sequencing of individual samples and accompanying bioinformatics support. The majority of the biological samples will be plasmid DNA and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) generated samples from a variety of species that include, but are not limited to, human, rodent and recombinant DNA isolated from various tissue sources and cell lines. The contractor shall provide sample storage and preservation which are critical for subsequent nucleic acid analysis. Information needed to assist the contractor in their ability to perform the service correctly will be provided prior to sequencing; data analysis will be performed by NIEHS. The Government contemplates awarding a single time and materials (T&M) type contract to the successful offeror. Work To Be Performed: The contractor shall supply all necessary labor, materials, equipment, facilities and supplies under the terms of this contract, to perform the following tasks: 1 The contractor shall perform high-throughput DNA resequencing using robotic automation and sample barcode tracking, sufficient to support a volume of approximately 100,000 sequencing samples per year; with an estimated range of 5,000 - 10,000 per month and an average of 8,000 per month. 2 The contractor shall provide sequence data from user-provided 96 well plates or PCR strip tubes containing PCR amplifiable material, which may be genomic DNA or plasmid DNA. The requirement for PCR amplification prior to cycle sequencing will be specified, at the time of sample submission, by the sample submitter for each sample within given plate or tube. The contractor shall verify (by gel electrophoresis) success of PCRs required to produce the DNA template for successful sequencing. Note: Samples requiring PCR for the production of the DNA template for sequencing will be provided additional time for this process. The contractor will not be required to isolate genomic DNA from cells or tissues. Successful PCR amplifications require production of a single DNA band of the appropriate size. 3 Contractor shall normalize DNA template(s) for PCR amplification and sequencing when requested by the submitter. 4 Samples which fail to produce data due to capillary failure or other contractor technical problems are repeated immediately. Note -Successful sequencing runs cover the desired region in length for PCR products, at least 500 bases for plasmid DNA while achieving a quality score for each base of > 20. 5 The contractor shall employ staff trained in bioinformatics to perform successful primer production for new sequencing projects. 6 The contractor shall provide a reliable method of sample transport both to and from NIEHS campus and contractor's laboratory/facility. This may be achieved by: in-house courier, local contracted courier, or through FedEx or UPS. 7 The contractor shall provide all necessary sample collection material for the shipment of samples, including but not limited to: sample collection plate or vial, refrigerated sample storage method of samples prior to sequencing analysis, appropriate pre-paid shipping containers, and a sample record tracking system/method. 8 When submitting samples, the investigator shall provide plate key or tube label information containing sample names with sample identifiers at the time of submission. Multiple sequencing runs may be requested per template as specified by user. 9 Data shall be returned to the investigator via the Internet or by email as attachments within two (2) working days of receipt of plasmid DNA samples and within five (5) working days of receipt of genomic DNA. This will require generation of the DNA template by PCR, then DNA sequencing of that product. Data shall be generated using appropriate software compatible in both PC and Apple formats for data analysis as specified by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). Except as explicitly authorized by NIEHS, the contractor shall maintain the confidentiality of all sequencing data generated by this contract. The Contractor shall not publish or use the data and results for any purpose other than those expressly authorized by the COR. Note: Turnaround time for data is calculated according to receipt of samples at contractor's facility. The contractor shall notify NIEHS of receipt of materials on the same day as receipt. 10 The contractor shall promptly identify to the COR any concerns or barriers to performance within 24 hours of identification of problem. The contractor is responsible for production and implementation of solutions within 24 hours of COR contact. 11 The contractor shall provide any requested information and respond to the COR's comments and suggestions within 24 hours of contact. 12 The contractor shall provide Monthly Status Reports listing the following information: a)number of samples received, including date received; b)number of samples successfully sequenced, including date data was sent to NIEHS; c)number of samples unsuccessfully sequenced, including the cause of failure along with the date that notification was sent to NIEHS investigator d)number of samples requiring PCR amplification; e)number of samples requiring DNA normalization; f)status of Quality Control data, including the month's success and error rate. 13 The contractor shall provide quarterly written reports summarizing sequencing activities. 14 All reports and other electronic deliverables must be Section 508 compliant. 15 The contractor shall provide secure backup of all data essential to the contract, including but not limited to all DNA sequencing data generated, sample tracking and storage information, and Quality Control information. 16 The contractor shall have no access, and shall not attempt access, to any type of personal identifiers or other form of identifying information with the human samples provided. 17 The contractor shall return or destroy, as instructed by the COR, all DNA from investigators no sooner than 180 days after completing sequencing or as agreed upon and approved by the COR. Remaining unused primers will be returned to the COR for long term storage. Note: This includes primers produced and synthesized by the contractor for use in the performance of this contract. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The anticipated start date of the award is September 27, 2016. The planned total period of performance is three (3) years. CAPABILITY STATEMENT Interested small businesses should submit information regarding their: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and 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; (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts or grants, references, and other related information. The capability statement should be concise, but must contain sufficient detail for the Government to adequately assess your organization's experience and capabilities. Standard company brochures will not be considered a sufficient response. Capability statements should not exceed ten (10) pages in length, including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc., presented in single-space using 12-point font. Organizations responding to this announcement must also submit the following business information: •DUNS number •Organization Name and Company Address •Point of Contact (including name, title, addresses, telephone number, and Email address) •Do you have a Government approved accounting system? If so, please identify the agency that approved the system. •Business size pursuant to the applicable NAICS code •Socio-economic status pursuant to the applicable NAICS code (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, VOSB, SDVOSB, WOSB, or SDB) Capability statements must be submitted electronically in Adobe pdf or Microsoft Word to the email address of the Primary Point of Contact listed below and must be received by March 4, 2016 at 3:00pm EST. Documents submitted by email or fax will not be accepted. DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTICES 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 small business 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, a solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a future solicitation. CONFIDENTIALITY No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in a respondent's response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Small businesses that believe they possess the necessary capabilities to meet these requirements are encouraged to contact the Primary Point of Contact listed herein.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NIEHS/HHS-NIH-NIEHS-SBSS-16-0217/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: TBD, United States
- Record
- SN04025831-W 20160221/160219235038-c21bf149b678372dfbd29b3d3c8571dd (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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