SOURCES SOUGHT
Q -- Services to study if evidence that beet root juice supplementation can improve nitric oxide delivery into the human eye
- Notice Date
- 8/11/2020 1:26:41 PM
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH NICHD BETHESDA MD 20817 USA
- ZIP Code
- 20817
- Solicitation Number
- NICHD-20-230
- Response Due
- 8/17/2020 6:00:00 AM
- Archive Date
- 09/01/2020
- Point of Contact
- Amber Harris
- E-Mail Address
-
amber.harris@nih.gov
(amber.harris@nih.gov)
- Description
- SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE (Services to study if evidence that beet root juice supplementation can improve nitric oxide delivery into the human eye) AGENCY: �The National Institutes of Health, National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) TITLE: Services to study if evidence that beet root juice supplementation can improve nitric oxide delivery into the human eye PROPOSED SOLICITATION NUMBER: NICHD-20-230 PROJECT SERVICE CODE: Q301 - MEDICAL- LABORATORY TESTING This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. There is no solicitation available at this time. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of all 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 according 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. BACKGROUND: Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in world. Decreased outflow of aqueous humor (liquid filling the eyeball, that is continuously excreting inside of the eye) is one of the main causes of glaucoma, leading to increased intraocular pressure, leading to possible optical nerve damage and loss of the sight. Eye drops containing prostaglandins (hormone-like substances), are one of the most common treatments of this disease. Recently, FDA approved a new compound from this group for glaucoma treatment, latanoprosten bunod. In this compound, nitric oxide (NO), the most potent vasodilator and relaxant of smooth muscle, likely acts through relaxation of trabecular meshwork and Schlemm canal, allowing the increased outflow of aqueous humor out of the eye and decrease or normalization of intraocular (eye) pressure. Nitric oxide in its pure form is a short-lived radical (generally half-life is less than a minute), so efforts had been concentrated to the use of its precursor or storage molecules, nitrite and nitrate, respectively. Recently we showed presence of these molecules in eye and also confirmed that eye tissue is able to convert them into nitric oxide. The proposed project is a further development of this hypothesis. Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the contractor shall provide equipment and services to upgrade to the current 500, 800 and 900 MHz NMR spectrometers for the NIDDK Laboratory of Chemical Physics and Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry. This Sources Sought is for an organization or institution to provide the NIDDK with services to investigate if nitrate dietary supplementation in form of beet root juice influences intraocular pressure in swine model and what is the mechanism of this action spectrometers. �The purchase of these services is necessary to maintain the high quality of our research. � All qualified small businesses, 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; interested in submitting a corporate capability statement should demonstrate their capability to provide equipment that meets the characteristics below. SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS: ��� �Physiological measurements and samples needed to be done and collected at precise time points after the dietary intervention. � ��� �Specific handling procedures for samples (such as addition of preserving solution, as an example) in order to assure the highest quality of data.� ��� �Samples will be submerged into nitrite preserving solution after dissection for measuring nitrate and nitrite and also separate samples will be collected without preserving solution for Western blotting and nitrate reductase activity measurements. ��� �MedStar facilities must be in proximity (within 40mi) to NIH Bethesda Headquarters.� ��� �MedStar personnel must be well trained to handle large animals and familiar with procedures we require for this project in accordance with this SOW.� ��� �MedStar personnel must have extensive experience in order to assist in the accomplishment our goal; test the hypothesis if nitrate dietary intervention is a viable way to develop a support therapy in glaucoma treatment. Task Area 1 � Animals Purchased by MedStar and housed at MedStar animal facility according to a previously agreed timeline with NIH investigators. �� � Task Area 2 � Samples ��� �After dietary treatment, pigs will be anesthetized either 3 or 24 hours after receiving the treatment. Once anesthetized, blood pressure and IOP will be measured in all groups, eye surface swabbed for sample of microbiome, followed by eye lavage with saline collected from both eyes. Samples of microbiome will be collected also from mouth, nose and gut (anal swab). �Blood samples, both arterial and venous, will also be collected. Additionally, while under deep anesthesia 2-3 units of blood will be removed before animal is euthanized. Once euthanized, body with be perfused with heparinized saline to eliminate as much blood as possible from all tissues. Tissue samples will immediately be taken from tissues listed below, eyes and eye muscles will be dissected, as well as samples collected from following tissues/organs for detailed comparison: lacrimal and salivary glands, skeletal muscle, heart, liver, brain, vena cava, aorta, bladder, urine. Eyes will be dissected into eye parts immediately after collection. All samples will be frozen on dry ice shortly after collection. ��� �Repeated nitrate bolus arm will receive their dietary treatment in the mornings for 5 consecutive day. In the termination day, morning bolus will be distributed, and animals will be anesthetized 3 hours after its ingestion. The same process as for single bolus groups will be followed. All samples will be collected into separate tubes with clear statement what the sample is, from which pig it is and when it was collected. Task Area 3 � Delivery � Freshly collected samples will be picked up and delivered to NIH by designated NIH investigators as needed. SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: This acquisition is being conducted under the authority of FAR Part 13.5 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. The vendor will be evaluated on their quoted product meeting the specifications under section SALIENT / REQUIRED FEATURES AND SPECIFICATIONS. If you or your firm/business has an interest and possess the required expertise we invite you to submit a corporate capability statement to assist the Government in determining in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 19.502-2(b) whether or not this procurement will be set-aside for any of the programs described above. The associated NAICS code is 541380, Testing Laboratories, and the small business size standard is $16.50. �All respondents are requested to identify their firm's size and type of business. Interested firms responding to this Sources Sought Notice should adhere to the following: (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities. The capability statement should not exceed 15 pages using a font size 10 or larger. (b) Small business concerns that possess the capabilities necessary to undertake the efforts should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer. This capability statement should include: 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of scientists, medical experts, and technical personnel as they relate to the requirements, 3) a description of general and specific facilities and equipment available, including computer equipment and software, and 4) any other specific and relevant information that would improve the Government's consideration and evaluation of the information presented. Further, Past Performance documentation, which should include, but not be limited to, a minimum of two (2) contracts performed for either Government or commercial organizations shall be provided. References shall include for each contract: names, titles, contract number, total price or cost, telephone numbers of government Contracting Officer Representative and Contracting Officers. (c) All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to the Point of Contact below in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The subject line must specify NICHD-20-230. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. Electronically submitted capability statements are due no later than 9:00 AM (Eastern Prevailing Time) seven (7) calendar days (including date of submission to https://beta.sam.gov) after posting of the Small Business Sources Sought Notice. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED This notice is for information and planning purposes only and is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government, nor will the Government pay for information solicited.
- Web Link
-
SAM.gov Permalink
(https://beta.sam.gov/opp/b10e58a8c2a847edbc8ed4f6fdc7843d/view)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Zip Code: 20892
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN05753801-F 20200813/200811230151 (samdaily.us)
- Source
-
SAM.gov Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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