Inactive

Storage of Cryopreserved Mouse Sperm and Embryos, and Cryopreservation of Mouse Lines Sources Sought Notice Number: 75N92022Q0273 Agency/Institute: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Nati... Storage of Cryopreserved Mouse Sperm and Embryos, and Cryopreservation of Mouse Lines Sources Sought Notice Number: 75N92022Q0273 Agency/Institute: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) Contracting Office Address: Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Rockledge Dr. Bethesda, MD, Office of Acquisitions 6701 Rockledge Drive, RKL2/6016 MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7902, UNITED STATES Introduction: This is a 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 business sources; (2) whether they are large or 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. The anticipated North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 112990 – All Other Animal Production with a size standard of $1 million. The anticipated contract type will be a Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with Firm Fixed Price Task Orders. Background: The Laboratory Animal Care and Use (LACU) Section of NIAMS has historically stored cryopreserved material at the facility that performed the cryopreservation of the mouse line(s). NIAMS currently has frozen mouse samples at three (3) facilities. These frozen samples are required to support NIAMS investigators using murine models. Additionally, as new lines are created, they must be cryopreserved to support preservation of knowledge and to assist in scientific collaboration. Scope: NIAMS has approximately 85 lines (preserved as embryos or sperm) cryopreserved at three (3) facilities - Charles River Laboratories in Frederick, MD; Jackson Laboratories in Ben Harbor, ME; and Taconic Biosciences in Germantown, NY. Additional lines may be sent to the Contractor’s facility for cryopreservation and storage. The Government will require the material be logged individually so that the lines may be ordered and shipped to collaborators, as requested. The Government will also require that the material be maintained to mitigate loss of material due to environmental disaster, electrical failure, etc. Requirements: Cryopreserved Material The Contractor shall: Provide storage facilities that allow for individual logging of the cryopreserved material; Provide all shipping coordination, and shipping and courier related costs to transport all samples safely from the three (3) facilities that currently store the cryopreserved material. Shipping containers/packaging/shipping are expected to be provided as part of the service. Moving the material carries risk of damage and errors in logging the material. These risks must be mitigated by the Contractor; Furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, materials, storage, equipment, facilities, including shipment containers and shipping to safeguard movement of the cryopreserved material; Receive samples from the three (3) facilities and properly inventory and store the materials in appropriate tanks; Provide an inventory management system to accurately locate samples and quantify numbers of embryos/sperm, as listed per sending facility; Provide an annual cryopreserved material report including: Strain ID Number, Strain Name, Quantity of Material, Investigator Name and Date of Freeze. Samples must be stored in at least two (2) separate facilities with electrical back up to mitigate sample loss should natural disaster, electrical and generator failure, etc. The locations shall be noted in the inventory management system which must meet Section 508 standards, though the database shall not be available to the public. The government may request samples to be returned at any time during the storage. Cryopreservation Services The Contractor shall: Provide cryopreservation services, including shipment, collection, quality assurance, inventory, and storage for additional lines as requested by the Government for up to three (3) mouse lines for each period of performance. The lines may be preserved as embryos or sperm, based on requirements for the line; Supply Quality Control (QC) assessment results to the Government upon completion of Line Cryopreservation. Percent of 2-cell embryos shall be at minimum 20% (at or above Contractor standards for successful cryopreservation and likelihood of recovering the line). QC assessment reports shall include Strain ID Number, Strain Name, Investigator Name, %2-cells, Pups Born, Quantity of Straws and Date of Freeze. These shall be sent to the Government on completion of the Cryopreservation Project for each line sent. Re-assessment, if required, shall be the responsibility of the Contractor and shall not be charged to the Government. The lines will be stored and managed as the current cryopreserved material is currently stored including inventory management, separation and storage of material and material loss mitigation. Provide all necessary services such as qualified personnel, materials, equipment, and facilities for mice from NIH animal facilities to be cryopreserved. Any and all technical concerning shall be reported to the Government Program Manager and Contracting Officer Representative (COR) immediately. Supply an inventory management system that is accessible to the Government and facilities that safeguards against loss of material. The Contractor shall supply access and training to the database to the Government Project Manager Ensure that all information, including data, location of material and animals, be kept secure. Provide telephone support to the Government to resolve any support issue, including data base support, within twenty four (24) hours between the hours of 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, Eastern Standard Time (EST.) Anticipated IDIQ Period of Performance: Storage of Cryopreserved Material and Cryopreservation of New Mouse Lines Period of Performance Base Period: March 1, 2022 – February 28, 2023 Option Year 1: March 1, 2023 – February 29, 2024 Option Year 2: March 1, 2024 – February 28, 2025 Option Year 3: March 1, 2025 – February 28, 2026 Option Year 4: March 1, 2026 – February 28, 2027 Capability Statement: Businesses/firms that believe they possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this work should submit complete documentation of their capabilities to the Contracting Officer (CO) and Contract Specialist (CS) listed below. The capabilities statement must specifically address each requirement separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of scientists, medical experts, and technical personnel as it relates to the above outlined requirements, 3) a description of general and specific facilities and equipment available, including computer equipment and software, 4) an outline of previous projects that are similar to the project requirements in which the organization and proposed personnel have participated, 5) facilities where material will be stored must be separate, ideally in different states and 6) any other information considered relevant to this acquisition. The capability statement must not exceed 15 single sided or in length and using a 12-point font size minimum. Interested small business organizations are required to identify their size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The Government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone numbers of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this notice that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the sources sought notice number. Point of Contact: Contract Specialist: Name: Kimesha Leake Contracts Branch A Office of Acquisitions, OM National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive Rockledge Building 2, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902 Telephone Number: (301) 827-2276 E-mail address: kimesha.leake@nih.gov Contracting Officer: Name: Vinton Grant Contracts Branch A Office of Acquisitions, OM National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute 6701 Rockledge Drive Rockledge Building 2, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902 Telephone Number: (301) 496-8899 E-mail address: Vinton.grant@nih.gov Submission Instructions: Interested parties shall submit capability statements and reference the sources sought number 75N92022Q0273. The due date for receipt of capability statements is 12:00 PM Eastern Time on December 28, 2021. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time to the Point of Contacts listed above via electronic mail in order to be considered. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response. No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your 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 review of the responses received, pre-solicitation and solicitation notices may be published in the System for Award Management (SAM) under Contract Opportunities. However, responses to this sources sought notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. 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).