Inactive
Notice ID:NIMH-20-003939
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 capabil...
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 Information and Objective: Over the past 10 years, investigators within the National Institute Mental Health (NIMH), Intramural Research Program (IRP) have accumulated a large collection of fibroblasts, lymphocytes, and other live cells obtained from participants in various studies that ascertained individuals on the basis of bipolar disorder, adult and childhood-onset schizophrenia, neurodevelopmental disorders, or known sex chromosomal aneuploidy (SCA). These samples contain rare chromosomal structural variants (SVs). Some of these cells have been reprogrammed into iPSCs and a few have been differentiated into NPCs, neurons, or glial cells. In addition to these cells offering a powerful model system for the functional and experimental study of alleles that confer risk of neuropsychiatric disorders, they also provide a flexible experimental platform upon which the transcriptomic impact of gene dosage changes can be measured and compared, using powerful techniques such as RNA sequencing, high-content imaging, and multi-electrode arrays. If successful, this project will provide a living catalog of some of the most important, psychiatrically-relevant SVs that will form the basis for a broad range of studies. By selecting SVs that range across psychiatric diagnoses and chromosomal locations, we will be able to carry out cross-diagnostic and cross-SV experiments that could provide the first insights into pathophysiologic mechanisms that are common to several neuropsychiatrically-relevant SVs. Such common mechanisms should be the most promising targets for novel therapeutics. Statement of Need and Purpose: The purpose of this acquisition is to outsource the process for the expansion, differentiation, and validation of NPC cells from subject iPSC samples to an established iPCS laboratory that is equipped and staffed to provide these services. Outsourcing these services will dramatically reduce costs through economies of scale and free up valuable staff time for carrying out the actual experiments in-house. Anticipated Period of Performance: One (1) 12-month base period. Capability statement /information sought: Contractors that believe that they possess the ability to provide the required services, should submit documentation on their ability to meet the project requirements to the Contract Specialist. The Contractor should directly and specifically state in the, capabilities statement, which project requirements can be meet and/or supplied. The Contractor must also provide the following; 1. 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); 2. identify if the proposed services is available on GS; and 3. Provide any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. 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 two (2) page limit. The 2-page limit does not include the cover page or executive summary. 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 Kristina.Jenkins, Contract Specialist, at kristina.jenkins@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before June 12, 2020 at 12 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).
