SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Award of Sole Source to Brentwood Biomedical Research Institute
- Notice Date
- 8/16/2012
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity, ATTN: MCMR-AAA, 820 Chandler Street, Frederick, MD 21702-5014
- ZIP Code
- 21702-5014
- Solicitation Number
- W81XWH-12-T-0326
- Response Due
- 8/29/2012
- Archive Date
- 10/28/2012
- Point of Contact
- Erin Jessica Maddox, 410-417-0028
- E-Mail Address
-
US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity
(erin.j.maddox@us.army.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- In accordance with FAR 5.202, the notice is to award a sole source procurement to Brentwood Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) for non-commercial required by the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD). The following is the Justification for Other than Competition: 1.Contracting Activity: The Contracting Activity responsible for this action is the US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) in support of the US Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense (USAMRICD). 2.Description of Action: This approval is being requested for a commercial item acquisition to procure histopathological analysis services by Brentwood Biomedical Research Institute (BBRI) of Los Angeles, California. The non-severable services include time course and mechanism of neuronal damage associated with chemical agent-induced seizures in rodents. Justification provided below approves the acquisition of a cost-reinbursement type contract. The resulting contract will be for a period of fifteen-months. 3.Description of Supplies/Services: This procurement requires histological analysis of neuropathological effects of chemical agent exposure in young animals. BBRI will be provided with perfused brain tissue from rats exposed to chemical. BBRI will then section this tissue, stain the sections with Fluoro-Jade B and count the number of injured cells in the hippocampus, neocortex, thalamus and piriform cortex using unbiased stereology. In addition, the BBRI will determine the mode of neuronal death in these regions by light and electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry. The time course and spatial distribution of caspase activation in the brains of chemical agent-exposed rodents will also be determined by the Contractor. BBRI has the equipment, staffing and expertise in place to complete these services. The Government reserves the right to inspect the contractor's work to verify the performance and to ensure compliance with all federal, state and local regulations, laws and ordinances. 4.Authority Cited: The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2)(iii)(A) only one responsible source and no other supplies will satisfy agency requirements. 5.Reasons for Authority Cited: This is a follow-on service requirement to continue support of a research grant that was reviewed by a panel of expert scientific reviewers and selected for award as an interagency agreement between USAMRICD and BARDA. Two of the proposed tasks (tasks 7 and 8) on the grant were prepared by researchers at BBRI who have over 10 years expertise in epilepsy research and in the identifying mechanisms of seizure-induced neuronal death in the immature brain. BBRI scientists have extensive experience and publications in the mechanisms of seizure-induced neuronal death in the immature brain, neuronal injury and in differentiating neuronal necrosis from neuronal apoptosis. The panel of reviewers specifically mentioned in their written evaluation of the grant, that the researchers at BBRI bring a "wealth of knowledge on seizure-based animal models, the study from an expert in juvenile/pregnant animal models". 6.Efforts to Obtain Competition: No further efforts will be performed to obtain competition as there is no other source to continue the research support as stated above. 7.Actions to Increase Competition: As it is the policy of USAMRAA to promote the use of competitive procedures whenever and wherever possible, future acquisitions for histopathological analysis services not characteristically specific to BBRI and will be procured through full and open competition. 8.Market Research: An interagency agreement was established between USAMRICD and BARDA following an expert panel review of a research proposal entitled "Developmental toxic effects of whole body exposure and percutaneous exposure to chemical warfare nerve agents (CWNA) in rats: effects on brain and behavior". The proposal was selected for funding and included two tasks that had intellectual input from researchers at BBRI. Their expertise in animal models of epilepsy was specifically referenced in the written comments from the review panel and may have contributed to its award. Funding was provided to the USAMRICD from BARDA to include funds specified for the tasks to be performed by BBRI. Since BBRI was involved in the research planning and proposal preparation phase and contributed intellectually to the proposed research under tasks 7 and 8, BBRI is considered for sole source. Task 7 includes evaluation of biochemical makers including GABA receptor trafficking following whole body exposure in neonatal and perinatal rats. BBRI has extensive experience and publication record in the evaluation of seizure induced changes on GABA and glutamate receptors. This includes immuno-cytochemical localization of GABA receptor subunits at the subcellular level, using both immunocytochemical/confocal microscopy and immunocytochemistry/electron microscopy which is one of the services needed to complete task 7. BBRI researchers also contributed intellectually and have the expertise needed to complete task 8, which includes the determination of the time course and mechanisms of neuronal damage associated with GB-induced seizures in perinatal rats. BBRI scientists also have extensive experience and publications in the area of neuronal injury and in differentiating neuronal necrosis from neuronal apoptosis. 9.Interested Sources: BBRI is the only source capable of completing the follow-on servives as indicated above. No other sources have expressed interest in this requirement and no other sources are known that can satisfy this research support. A notice of intent to sole source this action was posted to FedBizOpps on July 29, 2012 with the comment period ending on August 17, 2012. While any response to the notice shall be considered prior to issuance of an award, no responses are expected to be received. 10.Other Facts: a. BBRI is currently collaborating with USAMRICD to evaluate the effects of organophosphates and chemical warfare agents in the adult rat brain. For comparison between young and older animals, it is important to be able to compare studies using the same staining techniques and quantification methods, as well as interpretation of the effects, which can best be done if in the same laboratory using consistent methods, stains, staff, and software for quantification. b.BBRI has expertise in both seizure-induced brain damage and in the developing brain and has established laboratories capable of completing this work within the time frame required. Any responsible company can submit capability statements verifying the work can be done in accordance with the requirement above. All statements will be reviewed. All responses must be received by 2:00 p.m. eastern standard time on 29 August 2012. All responses should be sent to Erin Maddox at erin.maddox@amedd.army.mil.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USA/USAMRAA/DAMD17/W81XWH-12-T-0326/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: US Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity ATTN: MCMR-AAA, 820 Chandler Street Frederick MD
- Zip Code: 21702-5014
- Zip Code: 21702-5014
- Record
- SN02842917-W 20120818/120817000610-5d51a6fd5484b713f66ed0df2bb5e866 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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