Inactive

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking Capability Statements from BOTH Other than Small Business and Small Business orga... The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) is seeking Capability Statements from BOTH Other than Small Business and Small Business organizations with the demonstrated capability of providing NanoSIMS analysis of mitochondrial metabolism in mouse models of neurodegeneration. 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) the availability of capable 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 established NAICS code is 541713, Research and Development in Nanotechnology. The U.S. Small Business Administration establishes a size standard for 541713 as 1,000 employees or less. BACKGROUND: The Inherited Movement Disorders Unit (IMDU) within NINDS will be conducting a study of in vivo protein and lipid turnover within mitochondria in mouse models of neurodegenerative disease that share defects in mitochondrial quality control. The NanoSIMS 50L instrument has the unique capability of detecting lipid and protein metabolism in individual mitochondria in situ. The IMDU has developed specific methods with the NanoSIMS 50L instrument for the detection of protein turnover in individual mitochondria and other organelles (recently publications include PMIDs 31719114 and 32706155). The IMDU has been studying mitochondrial quality control processes disrupted by mutations in these genes, using mouse and cellular models. The IMDU plans to use the specialized methods developed to continue investigating in vivo lipid and protein turnover within individual mitochondria in mouse models of neurodegenerative disorders utilizing the NanoSIMS 50L instrument. Specifically, IMDU intends to study the loss of mitochondrial quality control results in neurodegeneration and is responsible for some genetic forms of Parkinson’s disease, ALS, and myopathy. In particular, mutations in the genes Parkin, PINK1, CHCHD2, and CHCHD10 directly affect mitochondrial quality control and cause neurodegeneration. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENT: Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the IMDU requires a Contractor to furnish the necessary services, qualified personnel, materials, equipment not otherwise provided by the Government, to utilize the methods described above to measure protein and lipid metabolism within single mitochondria in situ, using the NanoSIMS 50L instrument. The NanoSIMS 50L is an instrument that can uniquely detect stable isotope metabolic tracers within tissues, cells, or isolated organelles at a resolution of < 50 nm. Specifically, the IMDU requires the Contractor to measure protein metabolism and turnover within single mitochondria and other organelles in situ to allow for the assessment of in vivo protein and lipid turnover within individual mitochondria in models of neurodegeneration due to loss of mitochondrial quality control. Through this requirement, Contractor shall utilize the novel methods described above to perform NanoSIMS 50L analysis on tissues, cells, and isolated mitochondria and organelle samples prepared by the IMDU to assess protein and lipid metabolism within single mitochondria. In accordance with the novel methodologies identified above, the Contractor shall: Receive samples provided by IMDU (samples are shipped and stored at room temperature). Preparing samples for NanoSIMS analysis, according to the Contractor’s standard procedures to maximize the quality of the analysis. Perform analysis and operation of the NanoSIMS 50L equipment by the facility Lab Manager. Preparation and dissemination of data files to IMDU; The Contractor shall provide at least 2 weeks of instrument time per year using the NanoSIMS 50L instrument. KEY PERSONNEL REQUIREMENT: The Contractor shall provide personnel with the necessary skills and level of expertise required to support the tasks listed above. The Key Personnel assigned to this contract must demonstrate the following capabilities and experience: PhD physicist with at least 5+ year experience operating the NanoSIMS 50L instrument. Demonstrate experience with correlated transmission electron microscopy and NanoSIMS analysis. Demonstrated experience measuring protein turnover in single organelles in situ, using 15N labelled amino acids. Demonstrated experience using APEX as a genetically encoded reporter in NanoSIMS analysis. INSTRUCTIONS: Capable Vendors shall demonstrate and document in the submitted Capability Statement its experience in the technical areas, requirements, and personnel listed above. Furthermore, Vendors should include relevant and specific information on each of the following qualifications: 1) Experience: An outline of previous similar projects, specifically the techniques employed in the areas described above. 2) Personnel: Name, professional qualifications of personnel with specific experience in the work requested and knowledge of, and experience in, as described in the Key Personnel Section above. 3) Facilities: Availability and description of the facilities and equipment required to conduct this type of work. 4) Compliance with Requirements: Vendors must identify and demonstrate specifically how they will meet the requirements listed above. The Government will assess the appropriateness of the demonstrated experience, personnel, facilities, and compliance with the requirements. The Government will consider any other specific and relevant information about this announcement that would improve our assessment of respondents. Organizations should demonstrate capability to administer and coordinate interrelated tasks in an effective and timely manner. Documentation may include, but is not limited to, contracts in which the organization performed equivalent tasks (Government and commercial); references, i.e., names, titles, telephone numbers and any other information serving to document the organizations capability; and awards or commendations. All capability statements must also include the following: 1) company name and address; 2) point of contact; 3) phone/fax/email; 4) NAICS Code(s); 5) business size and status; 6) capability information in response to the requirement and qualifications identified in this notice; and 7) type of small business your organization classifies itself as (i.e.: Women-Owned, HUBZone, etc.). Any business concerns that believe they possess the capability necessary to successfully undertake the work described above must SUBMIT CAPABILITY STATEMENTS ELECTRONICALLY to the Contract Specialist, Shaun Rostad at Shaun.Rostad@nih.gov, NO LATER THAN 1:00 p.m. EST on Friday, April 16, 2021. The Subject line for the submission should include this Sources Sought Number and organizational name. NIDA will not accept paper or faxed capability statements. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice is for information and planning purposes only and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. 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).