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REQUEST FOR INFORMATION BIOLOGICAL THREAT REDUCTION PROGRAM (BTRP) Synopsis: This is a Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This ... REQUEST FOR INFORMATION BIOLOGICAL THREAT REDUCTION PROGRAM (BTRP) Synopsis: This is a Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This notice is for MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, and in no way obligates the United States Government to issue a solicitation or otherwise make a contract award. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, through its Biological Threat Reduction Program (BTRP) department, is seeking eligible performers to design and implement BS&S upgrades at the National Veterinary Laboratory (LANAVET) Annex in Douala, Cameroon, the LANAVET HQ in Garoua, Cameroon, and provide Biosafety & Biosecurity (BS&S) refresher training for LANAVET staff. Background: The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) initiated BTRP to secure and consolidate Select Agents and Toxins (as identified on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and United States (U.S.) Department of Agriculture Select Agent and Toxin list); and enhance biosurveillance, biosafety, and biosecurity standards in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR 2005) and World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Guidelines. To achieve its nonproliferation mission, BTRP works collaboratively with partner nations, U.S. Government agencies, and the international community to enhance disease detection, diagnosis, surveillance, and reporting capabilities; develop human resource expertise in public and animal health; promote safe and secure laboratory working environments; and consolidate pathogens of security concern into a minimal number of safe and secure facilities in a sustainable manner. Purpose and Objectives: LANAVET operates under the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (Ministère de l'élevage, des pêches et des industries animals) (MINEPIA). The LANAVET diagnostic laboratory in Douala is an approximately 2000 sq meter facility that primarily functions as the regional level diagnostic laboratory for animal pathogens, performing routine surveillance and diagnostic assay testing. MINEPIA relies upon the LANAVET Annex in Douala to provide rapid diagnosis to identify a plethora of unknown Especially Dangerous Pathogens (EDPs) during outbreak response scenarios and provide the aforementioned surveillance when unknown samples arrive from the community. The LANAVET Douala Annex is also collocated with the port city’s main food safety facility and plays a role in ensuring safe import/export of animals and animal products. The LANAVET diagnostic laboratory in Garoua is collocated with LANAVET’s national headquarters in an approximately 40,000 sq meter campus and functions as the regional level diagnostic laboratory for animal pathogens, performing routine surveillance and diagnostic assay testing in the Northern region of Cameroon. It is located approximately 1,340 km from the Douala Annex. MINEPIA relies upon the LANAVET laboratory in Garoua to provide rapid diagnosis to identify a plethora of unknown Especially Dangerous Pathogens (EDPs) during outbreak response scenarios and provide the aforementioned surveillance when unknown samples arrive from the community. The laboratory’s location is near the borders of Chad and the Central African Republic making it ideal to conduct and support the biosurveillance of zoonotic diseases along this transit route through the Central African region. The current facilities for LANAVET in Douala and Garoua lack recommended basic biosafety and biosecurity (BS&S) features. Therefore, BTRP is researching for viable solutions to renovate both laboratories as well as provide BS&S refresher training for LANAVET staff who previously received such training in 2019-2020. The renovation of these facilities will provide proper pathogen containment and deactivation in order to reduce the risk of intentional or inadvertent EDP release. As well, the safe and secure operation of these diagnostic laboratories in conjunction with additional staff training will assist in Cameroon’s capacity to detect, diagnose, and report EDPs, ensuring that localized events are recognized and addressed before becoming national, regional, or international destabilizing events. General Requirements: The following are capabilities and requirements the U.S. Government may request in order to satisfy the criteria of the scope as outlined below and subsequently may issue a Request for Proposal (RFP). Capabilities: Must possess past experience in designing and building complex structures in Cameroon and/or other resource constrained locations. Must possess past experience in providing highly-technical training, to include translation across language and cultural divides Be able to obtain licenses, certifications, and assessments that are required to operate within Cameroon Have working knowledge of Value Added Tax (VAT) reimbursement mechanisms, preferably within Cameroon and/or other African regions. Be familiar with Cameroon construction regulations and applicable engineering laws. Must have demonstrated ability to complete the requirements of this type of project within twenty (22) months, without any delay and in light of continuing impacts from COVID-19. Requirements: Assess, redesign and renovate LANAVET Douala Annex and LANAVET HQ Garoua to ensure the safe and secure handling of diagnostic assays in compliance with WHO International Biosafety Guidelines as promulgated in the WHO Laboratory Biosafety Manual and other international standards. Design and install new BS&S features, to include but not limited to; improved perimeter fencing, improved laboratory layout, upgrade of all surfaces with non-porous durable materials, provide eyewash stations and emergency shower, modernize electrical wiring and ensure adequate backup power system for critical equipment and security systems, provide, install, and certify appropriate laboratory equipment. Assess, design and implement refresher BS&S trainings for LANAVET staff to ensure the safe and secure handling of diagnostic assays in compliance with WHO International Biosafety Guidelines and other international standards. Develop and implement Operations and Maintenance (O&M) training as well as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for finalized facilities and equipment. Response Requirements: The U.S. Government invites sources that have the capability to meet these parameters and would have an interest to bid on a requirement of similar objectives to respond to this RFI. Responses shall be limited to eight (8) pages. Company information shall not exceed one (1) full page. Pages not included in the total page count are the cover page, the cover letter, and the table of contents. Any and all information submitted in response to this notice is strictly voluntary and in no way obligates the U.S. Government to a monetary compensation or otherwise to make a contract award. The U.S. Government will not return any submitted data and information. The responder may solicit input on technical aspects of the responses from non-government consultants/experts bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Submission Instructions: Responses shall be limited to eight (8) 8x11 pages and shall: Confirm interest in meeting purpose and objectives provided Demonstrate ability to meet all of the general requirements and capabilities Provide past performance information on: Designing and building a laboratory in a resource constrained location, preferably in Africa Developing and implementing highly-technical training plans. Identify any aspects of the requirements and capabilities that cannot be met, any issues/concerns with the requirements as stated, and proposed solutions to address or remedy the issues/concerns identified Responses must address each of these 4 areas, with each section clearly labeled (e.g. 1 - Interest, 2 - Ability, 3 - Past Performance, and 4 - Issues/Concerns.) The submissions should provide administrative information to include the following: Company Information: Company name, CAGE Code, DUNS Number. Name, mailing address, phone number, e-mail of designated point of contact. Questionnaire: Is your company currently providing similar services under any U.S. Government contracts? If yes, for which agency(s)? What is/are the contract number(s)? What contract type? Who is/are the Contracting Officer(s) and Administrative Contracting Officer(s)? What are their pertinent phone numbers, e-mail addresses, etc.? What types of labor categories are you providing under these contracts? How long has your company been providing these types of services? How long has your company provided this type of service to the Federal/DoD/State government? Which NAICS codes do you perform this service under? Which code(s) do you feel best represent this requirement? Does your company meet any of the criteria for consideration as a “small business” under U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)? The responder should provide information to dtra.belvoir.al.mbx.africom-fbo-notice@mail.mil with the subject COMPANY NAME_Douala Garoua Project by 8 March 2021 at 12:00 PM Eastern. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This is a Request for Information. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for solicitations and inquiries related to same will not receive a response. THIS NOTICE IS PUBLISHED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, AND IN NO WAY OBLIGATES THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION OR OTHERWISE MAKE A CONTRACT AWARD. Any and all information submitted in response to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this notice and shall become the property of DTRA. 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 organizations 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, DTRA BTRP may issue a pre-solicitation synopsis and an RFP. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation which may be published in the future. Confidentiality: No classified or confidential information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Any proprietary information should be clearly marked.