SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Laboratory Technician Position in Laboratory of Ribonucleic Biochemistry
- Notice Date
- 5/24/2016
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- 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-CSB-(HL)-2016-137-KMA
- Archive Date
- 6/18/2016
- Point of Contact
- Kevin Alvarez,
- E-Mail Address
-
kevin.alvarez@nih.gov
(kevin.alvarez@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- INTRODUCTION THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisitions (OA), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a noncompetitive sole source basis to Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Inc., 100 Orau Way, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, to provide scientific support services to the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research (DIR) in accordance with the following information: BACKGROUND The fates and functions of RNA molecules in a cell are manifold. They may be translated, degraded, or in the case of retroviral RNA, even reverse transcribed into DNA and integrated into the genome. The lab studies how RNAs attain unique functions in the cell by their intimate associations with proteins as part of ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs). In particular, the lab's focus has been on quality control and RNA surveillance: How does a cell distinguish and respond to aberrant RNAs, whether produced internally or introduced virally? The lab's goal is to dissect mechanisms of RNP assembly and understand how particular RNA-protein interactions determine mRNA function and decay. Each stage in the maturation and cytoplasmic lifetime of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) is determined by the activity of tens to hundreds of proteins functioning in a network of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. Determining the protein composition of mRNPs containing specific mRNAs has been a major challenge and an impediment to understanding the relationship between RNP assembly and RNA functions. The lab has developed a universal method for the purification of RNPs assembled on tagged RNAs in vivo. The tag, in this case, is a RNA "hairpin" that binds the Pseudomonas phage 7 coat protein (PP7CP) with high affinity and specificity. Once expressed in mammalian cell lines, tagged RNAs can then be affinity-purified from cell extracts with PP7CP in a single step. When combined with advances in mass spectrometry technology, this approach is a powerful method to study mRNP composition and dynamics in vivo. PURPOSE The purpose of this acquisition is to procure the services of a laboratory technician for NHLBI's Laboratory of Ribonucleoprotein Biochemistry. This specialized technician is required by NHLBI to support the research of this laboratory. The technician will be performing various experiments and procedures in the laboratory. TASKS TO BE PERFORMED The contractor shall provide a laboratory technician who will assist in research in experimental methods used in the laboratory including the following: the standard laboratory procedures, DNA cloning, protein expression, purification, and characterization, mammalian cell culture, mass spectrometry, in vitro biochemical assays with purified proteins, isolation of RNA from mammalian cells, and analysis of gene expression by Northern blot and quantitative RT-PCR. Additionally, the technician may also help with other ongoing projects. The laboratory is pursuing several projects designed to understand the molecular mechanisms and it requires a combination of molecular and in vitro systems which the technician must use in the research projects. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance will be June 29, 2016 - June 28, 2017. JUSTIFICATION The sole source determination is based on the fact that this is a follow-on to an existing contract and Oak Ridge Associated Universities is currently providing a laboratory technician to assist with these services. If another contractor were to take over, then there would be a lapse in services in order to train the new contractor on the processes and procedures of the lab. This could result in a loss of data which would be detrimental to the current experiments being performed. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Subpart 13.106-1(b) Soliciting from a single source (for purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold) and only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, and the Small Business Size Standard is $15.0M. The acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable (FAR Part 6.001). The resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-88 (May 16, 2016). This synopsis is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. All responses must be received by June 3, 2016 at 9:00AM EST and must reference synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-(HL)-2016-137-KMA. Responses shall be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6127, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Kevin Alvarez. Responses may be submitted electronically to kevin.alvarez@nih.gov. Faxes will not be accepted. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. "All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency."
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- Record
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