SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Scientific Support Services
- Notice Date
- 12/6/2016
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical 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-2017-043-JML
- Archive Date
- 12/28/2016
- Point of Contact
- Jonathan M. Lear,
- E-Mail Address
-
john.lear@nih.gov
(john.lear@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 the University of Chicago, 6030 South Ellis Avenue, Room 114, Chicago, IL 60637 to provide scientific support services to the NHLBI Division of Intramural Research (DIR) in accordance with the following information. BACKGROUND The Laboratory of Cell and Tissue Morphodynamics (LCTM) in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducts a program to study problems of biological and medical significance using microscopy and computational techniques. The LCTM employs cutting-edge live imaging and computational methods that enable better description of key cellular process of cell migration. Development of new and improved methods for study of cell migration is an active area of research. The forces necessary for cell migration arise from precisely regulated cytoskeletal dynamics in live cells and alignment of cytoskeletal components has been thought to be important for determining the direction of migration. Specifically, the ‘molecular clutch' hypothesis posits that the forces generated by actin retrograde flow activate the integrin transmembrane receptors for transmission of force to the extra cellular matrix. An important prediction of this hypothesis is that engaged and activated integrin receptors will align in response to the direction of the retrograde flow and the direction of the extra cellular matrix. Such ‘active alignment' of integrin transmembrane receptors may provide a directional sensing mechanism needed for cell migration. Over last three summers, LCTM members have employed fluorescence polarization microscopy at Marine Biological Laboratory (an affiliate of University of Chicago) to test this prediction. We have gained significant insights in the role of cytoskeleton and integrin transmembrane receptors. Further, LCTM members study cytoskeletal basis of three-dimensional cell migration. To study this question, LCTM members have acquired the confocal-based fluorescence polarization microscope from the OpenPolScope resource at MBL. This confocal PolScope has provided intriguing data about the relationship between alignment of actin network and shape of the cell migrating in three-dimensional matrix. PURPOSE The purpose of this acquisition is to develop and utilize novel methods for measurement of molecular order of actin network and integrin receptors during cell migration. The objectives are to: •Test the ‘molecular clutch' hypothesis is integrin activation and publish the findings. •Design imaging experiments and develop analysis algorithms to reveal molecular order in three dimensional specimens. •Analyze molecular order of actin network in cells migrating in three-dimensional collagen gels and publish the findings. The work will be part of the overall goal of the LCTM to develop and test new methods for study of cytoskeletal architecture during cell migration. The methods developed will be based on fluorescence polarization microscopy. The work will be presented in form of publications in a scientific journal. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE The period of performance will be one (1) year from the date of contract award. JUSTIFICATION The technical and scientific goals and deliverables required under this contract require an individual who is highly experienced in polarized light microscopy, computational analysis, and their biological applications. Dr. Shalin Mehta at the University of Chicago has unique expertise that is critical to the success of the proposed work - he has developed instantaneous fluorescence PolScope ("Dissection of molecular assembly dynamics by tracking orientation and position of single molecules in live cells," published in Proceedings of National Academy of Sciences, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1607674113). Instantaneous fluorescence PolScope reports orientation of fluorescently tagged molecules at the surface of cells with high accuracy and time resolution. It has provided intriguing data about the alignment of actin network and integrin receptors in cells migrating on a 2D surface. He has also developed confocal PolScope ("Imaging molecular order in three dimensions using confocal fluorescence polarization microscope equipped with universal compensator," manuscript in preparation), which has provided intriguing data about alignment of actin network in the fibroblasts migrating in 3D collagen matrix. He has developed computational algorithms for analysis of fluorescence polarization data applicable to multiple fluorescence polarization microscopes. He is currently developing computational methods for analysis of 3D orientation from fluorescence polarization microscopy in collaboration with Dr. Patrick La Riviere. He has contributed to the biological interpretation of the fluorescence polarization measurements to test biological hypotheses. 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. (1) For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, contracting officers may solicit from one source if the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, or industrial mobilization). ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541990, All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, and the Small Business Size Standard is $15.0M. This acquisition is being conducted under FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures, therefore the requirements of FAR Part 6, Competitive Requirements, are not applicable and the resultant award will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 05-92 (November 18, 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 December 13, 2016 at 12:00pm EST and must reference synopsis number NHLBI-CSB-HL-2017-043-JML. Responses shall be submitted to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, COAC Services Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6151, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Jonathan M. Lear. Responses may be submitted electronically to john.lear@nih.gov. 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.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NHLBI/NHLBI-CSB-HL-2017-043-JML/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: National Institutes of Health / NHLBI, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN04344336-W 20161208/161206235131-39cf90741e385a5543c271f1db42386a (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 |