SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION {NASA} -CENTENNIAL CHALLENGES PROGRAM - VASCULAR TISSUE CHALLENGE - REQUEST FOR INFORMATION {RFI} - Vascular Tissue Response - Vascular Tissue Challenge Rules DRAFT14
- Notice Date
- 3/18/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- NASA/George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, Office of Procurement, Marshall Space Flight Center, Alabama, 35812, United States
- ZIP Code
- 35812
- Solicitation Number
- NNM16ZZP001L
- Archive Date
- 4/30/2016
- Point of Contact
- Melinda E Swenson, Phone: 2565440381
- E-Mail Address
-
melinda.e.swenson@nasa.gov
(melinda.e.swenson@nasa.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Vascular Tissue Challenge Rules DRAFT14 Vascular Tissue Response 1. SUMMARY The Centennial Challenges Program is NASA's flagship program for technology prize competitions (www.nasa.gov/challenges). The program is an integral part of NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, which is innovating, developing, testing, and flying hardware for use in NASA's future missions. The Centennial Challenges Program directly engages the public, academia, and industry in open prize competitions to stimulate innovation in technologies that have benefit to NASA and the nation. For more information about NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech. The Centennial Challenges program is seeking input on a Vascular Tissue challenge being considered for start in 2016. The challenge would require competitors to create a thick tissue with fully functioning vascular systems, similar to the tissue found in the heart, lungs, liver or kidney. The purpose of this RFI is to: (1) to gather feedback on the competition draft rules. Responses should be submitted in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format and are limited to five (5) pages in length. Responses should include (as applicable): name, address, email address, and phone number of the respondent, business, or organization, with point of contact for business or organization. This RFI is seeking feedback from potential challengers. Comments must be submitted in electronic form no later than 5:00 pm EDT, April 15, 2016 to Ms. Monsi Roman at e-mail address: HQ-STMD-CentennialChallenges@mail.nasa.gov. Use Vascular Tissue Challenge on the Subject line. NASA welcomes all segments of industry, academia, and government, including associations, innovators, and enthusiasts to reply to this RFI. This RFI is for informational/planning purposes only and the Government will not be responsible for any cost associated with preparing information in support of this RFI. This RFI is NOT to be construed as a commitment by the government to enter into any agreement or other obligation or to conduct a Vascular Tissue challenge. This notice is issued in accordance with the NASA Prize Authority, 51 U.S.C. § 20144. Responses may be made available for public review and should not include proprietary information. Submitted information will be shared within NASA and with contractor personnel associated with the NASA Centennial Challenges Program. All responses are to be for general access by government reviewers. For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. The point of contact is Ms. Monsi Roman, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges Program, NASA Marshall Space Flight Center. 2. BACKGROUND The ability to provide oxygen and nutrients to thick human tissue by adequate vascularization of layers of cells to ensure metabolic functions similar to native in-vivo tissues has not been reliably demonstrated. Developing this capability will enable new research initiatives that may bring real solutions to organ disease, skin burns and other medical concerns. NASA's objective for this challenge is to produce viable thick-tissue assays above and beyond the current state of the art technology that can be used to advance research on human physiology, fundamental space biology, and medicine taking place both on the Earth and the ISS National Laboratory. Specifically, innovations may enable the growth of de novo tissues and organs on orbit which may address the risks related to traumatic bodily injury, improve general crew health, and enhance crew performance on future, long-duration mission 3. CHALLENGE DESCRIPTION Competitors will be asked to produce an in-vitro vascularized tissue that is > 1 centimeter in thickness in all dimensions at the launch of the trial and maintains >85% survival of the required parenchymal cells throughout a 30-day period. Tissues must provide adequate blood perfusion without uncontrolled leakage into the bulk tissue to maintain metabolic functionality similar to their in-vivo native cells. Histological measurement of the quality and amount of functional performance will be required to determine survival of parenchymal tissue. Teams must demonstrate 3 successful trials with at least a 75% trial success rate to win an award. In addition to the in-vitro trials, teams must also submit a Spaceflight Experiment Concept that details how they would further advance some aspect of their tissue vascularization research through a microgravity experiment that could be conducted in the U.S. National Laboratory (ISS-NL) onboard the International Space Station. 4. DRAFT CHALLENGE RULES See attached document: NASA Vascular Tissue Challenge Rules, Draft 14 5. INFORMATION SOUGHT Feedback is sought on the draft challenge rules (attached), specifically any rule modifications that would make the competition more appealing or that would further encourage technology development. •What modifications to the rules would make the challenge more appealing to you? •Are there other barriers that can be addressed in the timelines, requirements, and formulation of these challenges? •Are there specific changes that could be made to make the rules more clear and concise? •Do you have any comments to the competition format? •Do you anticipate issues with the logistics of executing the challenge in individual labs? If so, what modifications to the rules would you suggest to address your concerns? •Are the evaluation criteria sufficient? If not, how would you change them? Responses can be submitted in Adobe PDF or Microsoft Word format and are limited to 5 pages in length. Responders should include: name, address, email address, and phone number of the respondent, business or organization with point of contact for business or organization. 6. ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE In the event that NASA does initiate this challenge, NASA will post a public notice in the Federal Register. At that time, all individuals or entities that wish to participate in the challenge must register as members of a team and enter into an agreement with the designated challenge management organization. Teams foreign and domestic may compete in the challenge, although teams that include foreign nationals who are not permanent residents of the United States may not receive prize money for these competitions. The sole exception is for U.S based educational institutions and entities, which may have up to 50% foreign national members on their teams. No team members may be from countries listed on the NASA list of designated countries. (The current list of designated countries can be found at http://oiir.hq.nasa.gov/nasaecp/). Teams cannot include any Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment. This includes any U.S. Government organization or organization principally or substantially funded by the Federal Government, including Federally Funded Research and Development Centers, Government-owned, contractor operated (GOCO) facilities, and University Affiliated Research Centers. NASA and other federal agencies may work with and provide technical support to participating teams as long as it is done on an equitable basis. That is, similar requests are dealt with in a similar fashion, be it access to facilities, testing, scientific consultation, or other services. This does not obligate NASA or other federal agencies to provide the support. These services may be at no cost or on a cost reimbursable basis as determined by the subject federal agency in accordance with law and policy. Registration and participation in a challenge does not entitle a participant to a NASA-funded prize. To be eligible to win a NASA funded prize, the competitor must (1) register and comply with all requirements in the rules and enter into a team agreement; (2) in the case of a private entity, shall be incorporated in and maintain a primary place of business in the United States, and in the case of an individual, whether participating singly or in a group, shall be a citizen or permanent resident of the United States; and (3) shall not be a Federal entity or Federal employee acting within the scope of their employment. 7. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: This RFI seeks feedback on the competition rules and structure and/or interest in competing in any or all Challenge phases. Comments must be submitted no later than 5:00 pm Eastern Time on April 15, 2016 to Ms. Monsi Roman at e-mail address: HQ-STMD-CentennialChallenges@mail.nasa.gov. Use Vascular Tissue Challenge on the Subject line. For general information on the NASA Centennial Challenges Program see: http://www.nasa.gov/challenges. The point of contact is Ms. Monsi Roman, Program Manager, Centennial Challenges Program, Marshall Space Flight Center at e-mail address: HQ-STMD-CentennialChallenges@mail.nasa.gov.
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