Inactive

DESCRIPTION: The National Institutes of Health - NICHD intends to procure the services of a contractor to provide DNA library preparation and DNA sequencing services. Specifically, we request DNA libr... DESCRIPTION: The National Institutes of Health - NICHD intends to procure the services of a contractor to provide DNA library preparation and DNA sequencing services. Specifically, we request DNA library preparation, DNA quality control, and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing of 3456 vaginal swab samples. Prior to sequencing, the quality of sample DNA extracts and of generated DNA libraries will be assessed (i.e. DNA quality control). The service is to ensure the vaginal microbiome of women who deliver at term versus preterm. This proposed procurement is for a service for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate on a sole source basis to Michigan State University’s RTSF Genomics Core. This is a continuation of on-going similar services. However, for the sake of competition, a solicitation went out to some vendors and the incumbent, MSU came back as the lowest technically-acceptable price. In order to comply with the requirements in this Solicitation/Special Notice, the responses should be based on our interpretation of the general requirements provided below. Special Note: The proposed contract action is for a continuation of previous services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit quotations. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, all quotes received within the time and date of publication of this "Special Note " will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. HOW TO RESPOND: In order to compete for this project, interested parties must be registered in the Central Contracting Registration and submit a price quotation by 10 am, ET, June 16th 2020. Offerors should submit one copy of the quote to MOE FILALI via email. Electronic transmissions to Moe.Filali@nih.gov are preferable but must be timely. It is the responsibility of the Offeror to ensure the proposal is received by the date and time shown above. Programmatic Goals The Maternal-Fetal Microbiome Unit of the Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DDHS, focuses on understanding the molecular microbiologic mechanisms of diseases responsible for the “Great Obstetrical Syndromes.” For this purpose, the Unit’s investigators conduct research projects that investigate human and microbial genetic markers for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Project Goals Preterm birth is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. Two-thirds of preterm births occur after the spontaneous onset of preterm labor. Multiple mechanisms of disease have been implicated in the onset of spontaneous preterm labor, yet microbial invasion of the amniotic cavity from the vagina is believed to be a principal cause. There is thus much current effort in elucidating how variation in the vaginal microbiome relates to the likelihood of intra-amniotic infection and preterm birth. Nevertheless, there is much disagreement and controversy in the literature at present. Specifically, some studies suggest that there is no association between variation in the vaginal microbiome and preterm birth, others suggest that resident bacterial species such as Lactobacillus iners and Gardnerella vaginalis are associated with preterm birth, and yet still others suggest that diverse vaginal bacterial communities typified by anaerobic bacteria such as Sneathia, Megasphaera, Mobiluncus, and Atopobium species are associated with preterm birth. The most likely explanation for this disagreement and controversy is that these analyses have been conducted at the level of bacterial genus or species because the method for surveying vaginal bacterial communities has been sequencing the 16S rRNA phylogenetic marker gene of bacteria. Indeed, all but one such study have used this approach to characterize the vaginal microbiome. However, this may be too coarse of a way to characterize bacteria. Specifically, there is likely ample strain-specific variation in the genomes, and potentially the metabolic and virulence factors, of individual bacterial genera and species. To obtain information about strain-specific variation in the vaginal microbiome in the context of preterm birth, shotgun metagenomic sequencing (i.e. sequencing of all the DNA in samples, not just targeting a single phylogenetic marker gene) will likely be required. The objective of the Vaginal Microbiome Project is to evaluate whether variation in the vaginal microbiome is associated with early spontaneous preterm labor, by characterizing the vaginal microbiome at the strain-level in a longitudinal, case controlled study. We are therefore characterizing the vaginal microbiome using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. However, to evaluate whether metagenomic sequencing is required to definitively answer the question of whether or not variation in the vaginal microbiome translates to variation in incidences of spontaneous preterm birth, we need to characterize and analyze the vaginal microbiome using both shotgun metagenomics and16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, so that we can directly compare these two approaches for answering this question…” The following Federal Acquisition Regulations clauses are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Mar 2005), 52.212-4 (Sept 2005), 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders-Commercial Items (Aug 2006). (6)(i) 52.222-26, Equal Opportunity (Apr 2002) (E.O. 11246). (18) 52.222-35, Equal Opportunity for Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (19) 52.222-36, Affirmative Action for Workers with Disabilities (Jun 1998) (29 U.S.C. 793). (20) 52.222-37, Employment Reports on Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, and Other Eligible Veterans (Dec 2001) (38 U.S.C. 4212). (31) 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (Oct 2003) (31 U.S.C. 3332). Primary Point of Contact: MOE FILALI Contracting Office Address: NIH/NICHD Office of Acquisitions 6710B Rockledge Drive, Room 1145D Bethesda, MD 20817 (w) 301.827 7737 Moe.filali@nih.gov