Inactive

This is a Small Business 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 avai... This is a Small Business 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 small business sources; (2) whether they are 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. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. Background and Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to acquire the expertise of two epidemiologists/statisticians and one post-doc scholar who know the UK Biobank well to provide expertise and assistance for data usage and analysis. Motor slowing predicts mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) up to 12 years later. Potential mechanisms for this relationship include brain oxidative stress related to mitochondrial dysfunction and iron deposition, but data that connect these factors with brain health in humans is scarce. The overall goal of the project is to determine the roles of two potentially important mechanisms that may be contributing to the development of dementia with or without motor impairment in a large and exceptionally risk UK Biobank (UKB) dataset. An advanced understanding of these mechanisms could lead to identifying prognostic biomarkers and new opportunities to intervene to prevent or slow dementia pathologies. Project Requirements: Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed. The Contractor shall provide expertise and assistance for data usage and analysis in UK Biobank, generate analysis plan and results, and interpret results. Specifically, develop statistical analysis plans, perform statistical analyses, and interpret findings for three specific aims: (1) to examine whether copy number and heteroplasmy load predict incident Alzheimer’s disease (AD) dementia in UK Biobank, to identify genetic variants associated with mitochondrial copy number and heteroplasmy load, and to examine whether mitochondrial-related Genetic Risk Scores predict AD dementia. (2) to examine whether brain iron deposition predicts AD in UK Biobank, to identify genetic variants associated with brain iron deposition, and to examine whether brain iron deposition-related Genetic Risk Scores predict incident AD dementia. (3) to examine shared causal pathways between mitochondrial dysfunction, brain iron deposition and AD diagnoses. The proposed project utilizes several sources of data linked to the UK Biobank study to address the aims of the work; investigating the role of two potentially important mechanisms (iron accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction) that may be contributing to the development of dementia associated with or without motor impairment. This shall require extensive linkage of genetic, anthropometric, cognitive, MRI, and electronic medical records data from primary care and from hospitals. To successfully meet the objectives of the project, reliable and meaningful analysis of UK Biobank data is critical. The Government seek experts in the analysis of UK Biobank data to provide a constructive service to the NIA IRP scientists who are leading this project. The contractor shall have a proven track record in the integrated analysis of iron accumulation (especially the iron-overload disease hemochromatosis), dementia, genetics, brain MRIs, and UK electronic medical records (both hospital episode statistics, and primary care) in UK Biobank itself. Familiarity with the UK health system, to support valid analysis of primary care and hospital data, is critical. Additionally, the contractor shall have expertise applying advanced causal analysis methods (Mendelian randomization, genetic correlation) in UK Biobank. Expertise for mitochondrial dysfunction exists at NIA as part of the applicant team. The contractor shall work closely with the NIA team to apply these methods to UK Biobank; a track record is essential to ensure the successful delivery of the project. Specific experience in the topics of brain iron accumulation with aging, dementia, aging, and genetics of chronic diseases and longevity shall be considered preferentially critical in the selection of the best offer. Level of Effort: Two epidemiologists/statisticians and one post-doc scholar who have extensive research experiences using UK Biobank data with a track record of publications in the integrated analysis of iron accumulation, dementia, genetics, brain MRIs, and UK electronic medical records. The contractor is required to provide expertise and assistance for data usage and analysis in UK Biobank. The contractor may indicate in their proposal the need of other personnel resources to accomplish the scope of the contract (for example a research fellow) and include the relative price. Government Responsibilities: The Government will provide scientific expertise in measurements of mitochondrial DNA copy number and heteroplasmy load. Delivery or Deliverables: The contractor shall provide written documentation to describe statistical analysis plans, results, and interpretation. The contractor shall also provide related table and figure results and abstract/manuscript drafts. Reporting Requirements: The contractor shall submit via e-mail as PDF or MS Word document progress report every month during the contract period. The progress report shall include tasks completed since submission of the last progress report and a list of tasks to be completed, inclusive of timeframe. This report shall also describe any problems that arose and state the resolution or provide an explanation if a solution was not identified. Anticipated Period of Performance: The period of performance for this contract: Base period: 12 months from the date of award with two (2) Optional periods. Option period 1: End of Base period through 12 months. Option period 2: End of Option period 1 through 12 months. Capability Statement/information sought: Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Small businesses must also provide their Company Name, DUNS number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. Interested small businesses are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System Code, and 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 number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, reference the solicitation notice number. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirements and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to ten (10) pages. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought Notice must be submitted to Fred Ettehadieh, Contracting Officer, by email at fred.ettehadieh@nih.gov before the closing date and time of this announcement. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Facsimile responses are not acceptable. Disclaimer and Important Notes: 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 Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. The solicitation release date is pending. 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).