Inactive

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcem... This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-20-006512 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotes. This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures; and FAR Part 12—Acquisition of Commercial Items and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2020-02, with effective date March 30, 2020. The associated NAICS code is 621511 and the small business size standard is $35 Million. This requirement has no set-aside restrictions. The purpose of this requirement is to provide NIA with a contractor that can perform DNA extraction for longitudinal studies of epigenetic changes and Alzheimer’s Disease in a population-based study. Alzheimer‘s disease is devastating and global public health problem with an urgency to identify public health interventions and therapeutics. Recent advances in technology provide us with new opportunities to understanding the genetic contribution to disease. This project is leveraged onto an on-going effort to fully characterize the genome and related ‘omics’ in the cohort of men and women who participated in AGES-RS. The project meets NES overall mission to understand the dynamics of the aging process, improving the health, well-being, and independence of aging adults; and supporting the research enterprise. Specifically, NES research aim to Identify prospectively, novel risk factors and mechanisms of brain pathology and translating epidemiologic findings into experimental or clinical trial studies The contractor shall perform and furnish the following: Identify the sample for inclusion in the methylation sample. To the extent possible, persons in the whole genome sequencing (WGS) project should be prioritized for inclusion in this study. If the WGS does not meet the sample size target, a random sample from AGES II should be selected. The final sample should conform to a case-cohort study design whereby a random sample of the cohort is selected, that may include cases, and a purposeful sample of cases meeting case definition criteria. The effective number of cases for the analysis is the purposefully selected cases plus the random sample cases. The effective number of controls is the random sample minus cases. Identify and extract DNA from AGES II samples manually from whole blood by the salting out method. This method should be consistent with the procedure used to extract DNA from AGES I for the original genome wide association studies. Anticipated Support for Service: 1 Medical Technician 80% time for 5 months 2 Medical Technician 80% time for 2.5 months 1 Principle Investigator (no salary requested) 1 Data Manager 80% time for 4.3 months Government Responsibilities: The Government will review and approve the final sample selection frequencies by source of sample (i.e., WGS sample, cases and controls; non GWS sample, cases and controls) Delivery or Deliverables: A final sample selection report should be submitted no later than June 9, 2021. Reporting Requirements: On an as needed basis, the contractor should report in a timely manner, any arising obstacles to completing the work by the contract deadline. The Government anticipates award of a firm fixed price purchase order for this acquisition, and the anticipated period of performance is 12 months. The provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of provision) The following provisions apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Jul 2016) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Oct 2018) FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Oct 2018) FAR 52.222-22, Previous Contracts and Compliance Reports (Feb 1999) HHSAR 352.239-73, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015) The clause at FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of clause) The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018)FAR 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Jul 2016)FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Oct 2018). Addendum to this FAR clause applies to this acquisition and is attached. HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015) The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text: FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (Oct 2018) Standard NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions (2/2014) Interim NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions (2/2014) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) technical capability offered to meet the Government requirement, including the ability to provide DNA material from AGES-RS cohort; (ii) price. Technical is significantly more important than price. A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer’s specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. Offerors shall include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition. The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror’s capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. The Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All offers must be received by Friday, June 12, 2020 at 12:00 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST) and must reference solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-20-006512. Responses must be submitted electronically to Diedra Prophet at diedra.prophet@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted. All questions related to this requirement are due no later than June 5, 2020. The name(s) and of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation: Diedra Prophet, Contract Specialist, diedra.prophet@nih.gov Karen Mahon, Contracting Officer, karen.Mahon@nih.gov

Inactive

Description: 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 the availabilit... Description: 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 the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement. 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: Alzheimer‘s disease is a devastating and global public health problem. There is an urgency to identify public health interventions and therapeutics. Recent advances in technology provide us with new opportunities to understanding the genetic contribution to disease. This project is leveraged onto an on-going effort to fully characterize the genome and related ‘omics’ in the cohort of men and women who participated in AGES-RS. The project meets the NES overall mission to understand the dynamics of the aging process, improving the health, well-being, and independence of aging adults; and supporting the research enterprise. Specifically, NES research aims to Identify prospectively, novel risk factors and mechanisms of brain pathology and translating epidemiologic findings into experimental or clinical trial studies. Purpose and Objectives: A recent advancement towards understanding the pathobiology of AD is the identification the role of the epigenome, an intermediary between genetic and environmental interactions that can contribute to the risk of complex disease. The epigenome modulates cell- and tissue-specific gene expression, and is also affected by nongenetic risk factors, smoking being a well-established modulator of the epigenome. Ultimately, the epigenome can change gene and protein expression, and vulnerability to disease. Integrating ‘omics’ datasets is crucial for more complete understanding of the aging brain. In this project we will interrogate cross-sectional and longitudinal changes (AGES-RS) of methylation. Our initial research will focus on understanding the methylation changes that occur prior to and concurrent with dementia onset, whether these changes are associated with a person’s dementia risk profile, including medical history and life style behaviors. The sample to be included in this study will also have available whole genome sequencing data. 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 to perform the following: Identify the sample for inclusion in the methylation sample. To the extent possible, persons in the whole genome sequencing (WGS) project should be prioritized for inclusion in this study. If the WGS does not meet the sample size target, a random sample from AGES II should be selected. The final sample should conform to a case-cohort study design whereby a random sample of the cohort is selected, that may include cases, and a purposeful sample of cases meeting case definition criteria. The effective number of cases for the analysis is the purposefully selected cases plus the random sample cases. The effective number of controls is the random sample minus cases. The DNA should be extracted from AGES II samples manually from whole blood by the salting out method. This method should be consistent with the procedure used to extract DNA from AGES I for the original genome wide association studies. Anticipated period of performance: 12 month period of performance Capability statement /information sought. Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement including respondents’: (a) current in house capability and capacity to perform the work; (b) prior completed projects of similar nature; (c) corporate experience and management capability; and (d) evidence that they can legally and in a timely manner, select from the AGES-RS database the correct sample of participants. The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. 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 requirement 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) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Diedra Prophet at e-mail address Diedra.Prophet@nih.gov and Karen Mahon at e-mail address Karen.Mahon@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before April 7, 2020, 2:00 pm Eastern Time. “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 presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. 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).