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SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: RNA-sequencing of human brain tumor samples Notice Number: 75N91020Q00122 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) http://www.nci.nih.gov or http:... SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE: RNA-sequencing of human brain tumor samples Notice Number: 75N91020Q00122 Issued By: National Cancer Institute (NCI), Office of Acquisitions (OA) http://www.nci.nih.gov or http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/ Key Dates: Capability Statement Due Date: July 17, 2020 by 12:00PM EST This Small Business Sources Sought Notice (SBSS) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The purpose of this Sources Sought Notice is to identify qualified Small Business concerns including 8(a), HUBZone or Service-Disabled Veteran-owned businesses that are interested in and capable of performing the work described herein. The NCI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses received nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. 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 requirement is assigned North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541380 with a size standard of $15 million. As a result of this Sources Sought Notice, the NCI may issue a Request for Quotation (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NCI shall arise as a result of a response to this Sources Sought Notice or the NCI’s use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. BACKGROUND The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), Laboratory of Pathology (LP) seeks - RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) services to analyze human brain tumor samples. RNA (ribonucleic acid) is a chemical molecule essential to the regulation and expression of heritable genetic material (genes). RNA-seq is a technique that employs next-generation sequencing (NGS) to reveal the presence and quantity of RNA in biological samples. By profiling RNA from tissues in various states of disease progression, researchers gain insight into processes such as cellular differentiation, transcription regulation, and carcinogenesis. Information discovered from RNA-seq analysis may increase knowledge of cancer biology, providing clinicians novel tools to better diagnose and treat various forms of cancer in patients. Current LP basic research protocol is to send brain tumor samples to the NCI CCR sequencing core facility for processing and NGS. This procurement of RNA-seq data will provide stopgap sequencing support during current COVID-19 related NCI core closures. This purchase will minimize interruption of ongoing studies while allowing LP to further assist clinical projects and provide academic support for the investigators of the NCI, as well as the NIH. TYPE OF ORDER This will be issued as a Non-Severable Firm Fixed-Price Purchase Order. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/ AND PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS The contractor shall: Possess proficiency in processing formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biological material. Receive 300 NCI LP human brain tumor RNA samples and verify sample quality/quantity. Generate cDNA libraries from the NCI LP supplied RNA for NGS sequencing. The library preparation must employ a probe-free method that removes rRNA, globin, and other over-abundant, repetitive transcripts. Sequence the cDNA libraries to a resolution of 80 million, 150 base pair, paired-end reads per library using Illumina Nova-Seq technology. Perform post-sequencing data quality checks. Deliver raw sequencing data from RNA-seq analysis of 300 unique human brain tissue samples supplied by NCI LP. Provide all original data, free of manipulation, in FASTQ file format. DELIVERY Delivery location: Bethesda, MD 20892-1500 How to Submit a Response: Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement not to exceed 10 single sided pages including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc. (single spaced, 12-point font minimum) that clearly details the ability to perform the requirements of the notice described above. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Responses should include a minimum of a one page resume of the individuals meeting the requirements, and up to two pages demonstrating experience over the past two years meeting the requirements of this notice. Statements should also include an indication of current small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern’s name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. Organizations shall demonstrate 1.) Technical Approach 2.) Personnel Requirements and Organizational Experience. Due Date: Capability statements are due no later than July 17, 2020 by 12:00PM EST Delivery Point: All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the unique specifications described herein. All questions must be in writing and emailed to David.Romley@nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA) through sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference number 75N91020Q00122 on all correspondence. 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 RFQ may be published in Fed Biz Opps. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation(s). Point of Contact: Inquiries concerning this Notice may be direct to: David Romley at David.Romley@nih.gov. 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.