Inactive

THIS IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION Agricultural Research Services (ARS) is conducting market research to support the lab in Peoria, Illinois with a s... THIS IS FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL OR SOLICITATION Agricultural Research Services (ARS) is conducting market research to support the lab in Peoria, Illinois with a service requirement for cell line storage. The ARS is seeking business sources, including small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses, HUBZone small businesses, 8(a) certified companies, and other than small businesses. The associated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541714 Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology). Small Business Size Standard is 1,000 employees. The following information is provided to assist the ARS in conducting Market Research to identify potential contractors for this effort: The Government is seeking capability statements from businesses capable of meeting the below performance requirements: To maintain the viability of hybridoma cell lines by storing them in liquid nitrogen (LN), also known as cryostorage. Scope: The government expects to accomplish adequate cryostorage of hybridoma cell lines under LN. Tasks: The results required are: Task 1: Reproducing cell lines as needed in order to reach cell densities required for cryogenic storage Task 2: Freezing of cell lines as needed Task 3: Maintaining the frozen cell lines in cryogenic storage under liquid nitrogen. Clarification: for the existing cell lines (which consist of the bulk of the samples to be stored), reproducing and freezing of the cell lines (tasks 1 and 2) is not required as they have already been stored in a frozen state and are simply being maintained in that state. Project Completion Dates: Because the storage is expected to be maintained indefinitely, the project completion date is the same as the termination date of the contract. Delivery: The contractor shall continue to maintain the hybridoma cell lines under liquid nitrogen, during the entire period of the contract. The storage is to be conducted at the facilities of the contractor’s choice. The government owns these cell lines, so there is not a material that is being delivered to a government location. Government-Furnished Property, Material, Equipment, or Information (GFP, GFM, GFE, or GFI) The USDA-ARS is providing to the contractor hybridoma cell lines that produce antibodies directed against fungal toxins (mycotoxins). Respondents shall furnish sufficient technical information necessary for the Government to conclusively determine that they are capable of meeting the technical requirements identified above. Firms who believe they can meet the requirements are encouraged to respond electronically with no less than the following information: • Business name, DUNS number, business address, business website, business size status (i.e., SB, VOSB, SDVOSB, HUBZone SB, SDB, WOSB, LB), point of contact name, mailing address (if different from business address), phone number, and email address; • Sufficient descriptive literature that unequivocally demonstrates that offered services will meet or exceed above specifications; • Descriptive material necessary for the government to determine whether the service offered meets the technical requirements; • If a large business, provide if subcontracting opportunities exist for small business concerns; • Though this is not a request for quote, informational pricing is encouraged. The Government is not responsible for locating or securing any information, not identified in the response. Interested Parties must respond with capability statements by email to Kristen.turner@usda.gov on or before Thursday, May 20, 2021 at 3:00 PM Central Standard Time. Notice of Intent: Responses to this sources sought announcement will assist the Government in determining whether or not any future requirement similar to this one should be set aside for small business, made available to full and open competition, or procure through sole-source acquisition procedures. 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 pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Beta.SAM.gov. 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).