SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Sources Sought - Monoclonal Antibody Production
- Notice Date
- 1/28/2013
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- Contracting Office
- Bureau of Reclamation-DO-Acquisition Operations Group PO Box 25007, 84-27810 Denver CO 80225
- ZIP Code
- 80225
- Solicitation Number
- R13PS80196
- Response Due
- 2/15/2013
- Archive Date
- 1/28/2014
- Point of Contact
- Robert Brackett 3034452442 rbrackett@usbr.gov;
- E-Mail Address
-
Point of Contact above, or if none listed, contact the IDEAS EC HELP DESK for assistance
(EC_helpdesk@NBC.GOV)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is requesting information on potential commercial sources to provide custom antibody services to produce a monoclonal antibody that binds to quagga mussel larvae (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis). The specific area of interest and minimum baseline performance are listed below. Area of Interest. Here in the USA, quagga mussels and their closely related cousins, zebra mussels, are aquatic invasive bivalve species that cause considerable damage to submerged infrastructure involved in the conveyance, treatment, storage, and use of water. Affected sectors include the drinking water industry, hydroelectric power, industrial cooling facilities, agricultural irrigation, and recreational use of water. The mussel life cycle includes a microscopic larval stage (veliger) that is typically detected using cross-polarized microscopy. A veliger-specific antibody that can be coupled with a fluorescent tag will greatly simplify microscopic detection and identification of these veligers. Minimum Baseline Performance. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is seeking a company (Contractor) that will produce a monoclonal antibody that binds to quagga mussel larvae. Since the target for this project is not a typical immunogen, it is expected that the contractor will have experience generating antibodies against Dreissena spp. (quagga and zebra mussels) and generating monoclonal antibodies to a wide diversity of intact organisms, agents, and proteins. All hybridoma cell lines, monoclonal antibodies, ascites fluid, culture supernatants, and other products directly funded by Reclamation remain the sole and exclusive property of Reclamation and will be shipped to Reclamation or its named collaborator upon request. Preliminary work in generating a polyclonal antibody indicated that adult mussel protein elicited the strongest immune response. Therefore, Reclamation or its collaborator will provide protein extracted from adult mussel mantle tissue. The contractor must be able to meet or exceed the provision of the following services and products: a.Use the provided protein as an immunogen, using a protocol that favors a high affinity IgG response. b.Monitor serum antibody titers throughout the immunization period and provide serum samples to Reclamation or its collaborator for testing and evaluation. c.Create hybridomas through fusion of antibody-producing cells (from highest titer immunization) and at least two myeloma cell lines. d.Test at least 525 fusion cultures for antibody specific to the immunogen and expand all antibody-positive cultures. The contractor is expected to maintain both master and working cell banks. e.Subclone at least 10 antibody-positive cultures. If both fusion partner cell lines produce equal amounts of antibody, cultures from both cell lines will be expanded. If hybridomas from the two cell lines do not produce equal amounts of antibody, all cultures will be derived from the cell line producing the highest antibody concentration. f.Provide all antibody-positive subclones to Reclamation or its collaborator. g.Determine antibody isotypes for each positive clone. h.Perform cross-reactivity ELISA testing of selected clones using proteins provided by Reclamation or its collaborator. i.Provide frozen storage for the products from each stage of the process for at least six months following completion of the project. Stored products will include original fusion cocktails from both cell lines, all developed cell lines, all antibody-positive cell cultures, and back-ups of cell cultures. j.Mass produce antibody for five clones using in-vitro procedures and culture volumes of at least 150 mL. k.Provide Reclamation or its collaborator with cell culture supernatant. l.Purify the final antibody using Protein-A or Protein-G based procedures. m.Coordinate, consult, and work closely with Reclamation or its collaborator throughout the course of the project. This will be an interactive and flexible process and the contractor is expected to be available for regular consultation and advice at all stages of the project. The contractor will also provide assistance in analysis and interpretation of results at each stage of the process. n.Maintain accurate and thorough records of cell lines, clones, and antibody production, following Good Manufacturing Practice guidelines and standardized QA/QC requirements for cell culture-based processes. o.Provide periodic written and/or oral reports summarizing the work performed, progress of hybridoma development, problems and plans to resolve these problems, and results of ELISA screening at each stage of the process. p.Provide final antibody within eight months of receiving the protein antigen. In the past 7 years, Reclamation and other federal agencies have sponsored and conducted significant research in and workshops on the development of new laboratory analytical methods for the detection of zebra and quagga mussels (Kevin Kelly, PI). While these new analytical methods are largely at the research level, this effort has demonstrated the potential of molecular methods to selectively and sensitively detect for the presence of zebra and quagga mussels. Reclamation seeks to apply these molecular-based methods to further improve our capability to monitor for zebra and quagga mussels. Additional information on Reclamation Zebra and Quagga Mussel Research Program can be viewed at http://www.usbr.gov/mussels/research/. This request is to gather information from interested parties and is deemed essential as part of our collaborative, deliberate planning process for future acquisition planning if the information submitted indicates a strong commercial capability exists for Reclamation's intended applications or for research and development efforts with qualified industry representative(s) to develop and commercialize the capability sought. Interested parties should reply no later than February 15, 2013. Please include in your response a brief summary statement of your company's capability, experience, and past performance when applicable as it relates to the above description of services. Please also include your company's DUNS number and socio-economic status (small business, woman-owned business, service disabled veteran owned, etc.). Please submit information to Rob Brackett, Contracting Officer, Denver Acquisitions Operations Group at rbrackett@usbr.gov. This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. 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. Response to the RFI will not be returned.
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