SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Colonization and Internalization Studies-Tomatoes and Cantaloupe - SOURCES SOUGHT
- Notice Date
- 12/13/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, Office of Acquisitions and Grants Services - Rockville, 5630 Fishers Lane, Room 2129, Rockville, Maryland, 20857-0001, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20857-0001
- Solicitation Number
- FDA-SS-1176399
- Archive Date
- 1/11/2017
- Point of Contact
- Priscilla V. Harrison, Phone: 240-402-7609
- E-Mail Address
-
priscilla.harrison@fda.hhs.gov
(priscilla.harrison@fda.hhs.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- SOURCES SOUGHT FDA-SS-1176399 FDA-SS-1176399 Sources Sought Synopsis Colonization and Internalization Studies Tomatoes and Cantaloupe This is a SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS and is not a presolicitation announcement. The purpose of this Market Research and Sources Sought Notice is to gain knowledge of potential qualified Small Business, HUBZone, 8(a), Service Disabled Veteran owned, and Women owned Small Business firms. Responses to this Sources Sought Synopsis will be used by the Government in making appropriate acquisition decisions. Background: Nontyphoidal salmonellae are the leading cause of hospitalization due to bacterial foodborne illnesses in the United States. Despite the implementation of produce safety practices, foodborne outbreaks of fresh, ready-to-eat produce continues to result in significant outbreaks, illnesses and deaths. Much work has focused on the potential factors involved in post-harvest contamination. Not as much is known about pre-harvest contamination events, specifically if Salmonella is capable of colonizing and surviving on various plants while still in the field and, if so, at what stage of plant development, what region or part of the plant is most vulnerable to colonization, and how long is this pathogen able to persist on the plant after colonization. There is also not much known about the ability of this pathogen to internalize in the plants and transfer to the edible portions of the plant or developing fruit and thus to internally contaminate the fruit before harvest. These are critical questions to gain a greater understanding of pre-harvest contamination and to aid in the development of better Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) that will work to prevent or greatly reduce the number of foodborne outbreaks due to the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables. Statement of Need: Center for Devices and Radiological Health has a requirement to conduct colonization and internalization studies of tomatoes and cantaloupes by Salmonella spp. To properly conduct these studies live, fully-virulent pathogens (i.e. surrogates are not acceptable) must be applied to the plants of interest to study their interactions. This cannot be done in an uncontrolled, open-field environment where the pathogen may migrate to unknown areas. Also, full-sized plants of the same cultivar used in at-risk areas need to be studied rather than micro or dwarf plants which are not used for commercial harvest. Thus there is an absolute requirement to use a Phytotron with a BSL-3, fully enclosed greenhouse, This type of facility is large enough to accommodate full-sized plants and the number of plants that need to be studied. The facility shall be capable of containing any virulent pathogens utilized by the BSL-3 greenhouse without the worry of escape to the surrounding environment. There is also a need for capable personnel who are knowledgeable in the cultivation of vine/stalk fruits and vegetables (e.g. tomatoes and cantaloupes), microbiology, and molecular biology. Expertise in the fields of public health, food safety, environmental microbiology, horticulture specifically with Solanaceous (tomato, pepper) cropping systems, plant pathology and water quality, are all critical to the completion of this analysis. Should your firm be interested in this requirement, please only electronically submit your company's Capabilities Package in no more than 10 pages of 8.5" X 11", using at least 10 point font with 1 inch margins, and pages numbered consecutively. CAPABILITY STATEMENT QUESTIONNAIRE To aid the Agency in understanding the current industry approaches to this requirement, the contractors are asked to respond to all the following questions: 1. Does your laboratory have a BSL-3 compatible fully-enclosed greenhouse large enough to accommodate full-sized plants and the number of plants that need to be studied? 2. Does your facility consist of controlled access for personnel, HEPA air filtration, and equipment necessary for the disposal of contaminated soil, plants and water, with the capability to control temperature, humidity, daylight hours, and irrigation volume and timing, etc.? 3. Does your company have the necessary personnel and expertise in the areas of public health, food safety, environmental microbiology, horticulture specifically with Solanaceous (tomato, pepper) cropping systems, plant pathology and water quality? The Capabilities Package should include at a minimum: i. Contractor Name ii. Address iii. Point of Contact with phone number(s) and email address iv. DUNS number v. NAICS code(s) vi. Anticipated subcontractors and teaming arrangements, if any. Delineate between work to be accomplished by the prime, sub-contractors, and teaming partners; and percentage of work to be accomplished by the prime. vii. Resume(s) of potential program manager(s) with management/oversight experience related to the capabilities and requirements described above. viii. Answers to Sources Sought Questions Firms responding should indicate whether they are, or are not: Small business _____yes, or _____no, HUBZone small business _____ yes, or _____no, Service-disabled veteran-owned small business _____yes, or _____no, Women-owned small business concerns _____yes, or _____no. Veteran-owned small business _____yes, or _____no, Small disadvantaged business _____yes, or _____no, Respondents are further requested to indicate their status as a foreign-owned/foreign-controlled firm, and any contemplated use of foreign national employees on this effort. Any response that does not include this information will not be considered. The Government will review your response to determine if your firm has the experience, knowledge and capability to perform the services as specified above. This request for information does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will be issued. Nor does this request for information constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise that any procurement action that may be issued for the Government's requirements. No entitlement to payment of direct or indirect costs or charges by the Government will arise as a result of the submission of contractor's information. The Government shall not be liable for or suffer any consequential damages for proprietary information not properly identified. Proprietary information will be safeguarded in accordance with the applicable Government regulations. All contractors doing business with the Government are required to be registered with the System for Award Management (SAM). NOTE: THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT CONSIDERED A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL BUT A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. No solicitation document is available. No contract will be awarded on the basis of responses received to this notice. Information must be submitted by email to Priscilla Harrison by 10:30 AM (EST), on Tuesday, December 27, 2016. Questions of any nature must be addressed in writing as TELEPHONE INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE HONORED. Contracting Office Address: 5630 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20852 Primary Point of Contact: Priscilla V. Harrison Priscilla.Harrison@fda.hhs.gov Phone: (240)402-7609
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/FDA/DCASC/FDA-SS-1176399/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: College Park, Maryland, 20740, United States
- Zip Code: 20740
- Zip Code: 20740
- Record
- SN04349815-W 20161215/161213234138-431024a902f0e903e813cdfd5892a1c2 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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