SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- Scientific Support Services for Generation and Gene Expression Profiling of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Neuronal Models
- Notice Date
- 7/31/2018
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Mental Health, Contracts Management Branch, 6001 Executive Blvd, Rm 8154, MSC 9661, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-9661
- ZIP Code
- 20892-9661
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSA-2018-00392
- Archive Date
- 8/22/2018
- Point of Contact
- Kim Stapleton, Phone: 3014433775
- E-Mail Address
-
kim.stapleton@nih.gov
(kim.stapleton@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Background: The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Child Psychiatry Branch studies neurobiology of Sex Chromosome Aneuploidies (SCAs) and the way such conditions impact the human brain and behavior. The NIMH is establishing for the first time how SCAs impact the biology of human neurons, which is a foundational step in the link between altered sex chromosome dosage and altered brain structure/function. Support converting iPSCs to neuronal model cell types, and then transcriptomically profiling these models will help determine relevant changes in the brain. This is a follow-on acquisition to contract number HHSN271201700737P with the University of Oxford, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences. The required work will allow for continuity of cellular reprogramming and differentiation protocols, and well as closely integrated quality control and bioinformatic pipelines. The continuity is absolutely essential for the validity of our work and has to be in place for us to address the key scientific questions for this project. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to acquire scientific support services for the conversion of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) to neuronal models and the profiling of these cellular models with RNA-sequencing. Requirements: Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the tasks detailed in this document. The contractor will carry out the five phases of work in the following order: Generate 16 lines of neurogenin 2 (NGN2) transfected induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC cells), representing lines for 2 different individuals from each of the following 8 karyotype groups: XO, XX, XXX, XXXX, XY, XXY, XYY, XXYY. Three cryovials of cells will be provided for each of these 16 lines. Generation and quality assessment of bulk RNAseq data from neuronal cells generated using the NGN2 transfected iPSC cells from phase 1 above. Complete a trial generation of cerebral organoids under the Lancaster protocol from existing iPSCs in 1 participant from phase 1 above. Provide 3 cryovials of organoids for this participant. Given successful completion of step 3, the contractor will extend the Lancaster protocol to all other 15 participants and provide 3 cryovials of organoids for each. Given successful completion of steps 3 and 4, the contractor will generate and quality asses single cell RNAseq data from organoids for each of the 16 available lines. GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITIES The Government shall provide skin cell fibroblasts to the Contractor for performance of the required tasks. Fibroblasts shall be provided via postal mail immediately following contractor receipt of award. No PII is associated with the fibroblast samples. The contractor shall furnish its own facility, equipment, personnel, work hours and expertise to perform the required tasks and deliver required deliverables. DELIVERY OR DELIVERABLES The contractor will provide, the following deliverables from each of the five phases of work above: Three cryovials of NGN2-transfected iPSC cells from 2 different individuals from each of the following 8 karyotype groups: XO, XX, XXX, XXXX, XY, XXY, XYY, XXYY (16 x 3 cryovials in total). FASTQ and BAM files, with associated quality assessment reports, from bulk RNAseq analysis of neurons generated from each of the NGN2-transfected iPSC lines. Three cryovials of organoids from completion of a trial run of the Lancaster protocol on iPSCs in 1 participant from phase 1 above Three cryovials of organoids from available iPSC lines in the remaining 15 participants from phase 1 above. FASTQ and BAM files, with associated quality assessment reports, from single cell RNAseq analysis of organoids generated from each of the organoid lines generated in phase 4 above. Data Rights: The NIH Developmental Neurogenomics Unit shall have unlimited rights to and ownership of all deliverables provided under this contract including reports, recommendations, briefings, work plans and all other deliverables. This includes the deliverables provided under the contract and any optional task deliverables exercised by the contracting officer. In addition, it includes any additional deliverables required by contract change. The definition of "unlimited rights" is contained in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 27.401, "Definitions." FAR clause 52.227-14, "Rights in Data-General" is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this contract/order. Confidentiality of Information: No information or data of a personal nature are involved with this contract. Anticipated period of performance: The required period of performance shall be completed within 12 months from date of contract award. Other important considerations: Capability statement /information sought: Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products specificed in this notice. Also, information must be provided in sufficient details of the respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and other management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. Finally, respondents are also encouraged to provide a general overview of the respondent's opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any other information regarding innovative ideas or concepts that may be applicable. Submission Instructions: One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2" x 11" paper size, with 1" top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. The response must include the respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Kim Stapleton, Contract Specialist, NIH/NIDA at kim.stapleton@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before August 7, 2018 at 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time. "Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s)."
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- Record
- SN05012966-W 20180802/180731230759-ba53e0d3679be45a29dd6721d2041d5f (fbodaily.com)
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