Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

Description: 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:... Description: 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: Metarrestin is a small molecule PNC disassembler that is progressing to human clinical trials at NCI as an anti-metastasis agent for pancreatic cancer. The preclinical development was supported by NCATS. NCATS has a need to synthesizing analogs of metarrestin that have reduced brain exposure to increase the therapeutic window of a backup candidate. The contractor shall engage in the iterative synthesis of around 50 analogs designed at NCATS. The goal is to maintain activity while reducing permeability across the blood brain barrier. Purpose and Objectives: NCATS would like to reduce the brain exposure of newly designed and synthesized PNC disassemblers using medicinal chemistry. Project requirements: The contractor shall engage in the iterative synthesis of around 50 analogs designed at NCATS. The goal is to maintain activity while reducing permeability across the blood brain barrier. Specific Requirements: Contractor shall ship 10-30 mg of compounds in iterative rounds of medicinal chemistry to NCATS. Following each round NCATS will ask contractor to continue with the next round of analogs or a modified list of analogs. Government Responsibilities: NCATS will design and supply lists of analogs for synthesis. Delivery or Deliverables: At least 35 analogs in 10-30 mg quantities with >95% purity as characterized by LCMS. 1H NMR of key intermediates and analogs. Reporting Requirements: Progress reports and meeting every three weeks of key chemists at contractor site with NCATS personnel. Reports will cover progress in the synthesis of analogs, discussion of issues with synthesis and possible solutions, and the prioritization of compounds to be synthesized. Anticipated period of performance: 6 months after award. Other important considerations: N/A. Capability statement /information sought: Respondents must provide clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the products specified in this notice. Moreover, responders must provide a capability statement for: respondents’ opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement or proposed acquisition, possible solutions and approaches that may currently exist in the marketplace, and information regarding innovative ideas or concepts; information regarding respondents’: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information; 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. Submission Instructions: 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 and 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. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Renato Gomes, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address renato.gomes@nih.gov. “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).”