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, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. 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. Small businesses are encouraged to respond.
For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e., address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e., address Non-Manufacturer Rule).
Background:
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Intramural Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias (CARD) is a collaborative initiative of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) that supports basic, translational, and clinical research on Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
CARD’s central mission is to initiate, stimulate, accelerate, and support research that will lead to the development of improved treatments and preventions for these diseases. Understanding the molecular signature of human brain is essential to study pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. High-throughput cDNA-PCR sequencing will assist in epigenetic analysis in post-mortem frontal cortex tissue. The goal is to identify potential therapeutical targets and biomarkers in patients with early-onsite and late-onsite Alzheimer’s disease.
Purpose and Objectives:
The NIH Center for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias requires the purchase of long-read sequencing PromethION flow cells and sequencing kits.
Project requirements:
The Oxford Nanopore PromethION device is an electronic analysis system for use in scientific research. The core technology is built around a nanopore that can detect single molecule events including nucleic acids (DNA/RNA), proteins and small molecules. PromethION device is currently used by the CARD researchers.
The required consumables are used with PromethION devices that enable high-output, high-throughput sequencing of DNA or RNA samples. The flow cell kits are designed to allow pooling and running multiple libraries on Oxford Nanopore devices. It allows sequential runs of multiple sequencing libraries in the same flow cell. All reagents must be compatible with, and optimally perform in the Oxford Nanopore manufactured systems.
Salient characteristics include: The flow cell must be able to generate up to 290 Gb for sequencing DNA, cDNA or native RNA in real-time; the flow cell must be compatible with Nanopore PromethION 48 sequencers in form, fit, and function; The flow cell must contain Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) to control and measure sequencing process; and the flow cell must contain recyclable electrical components.
Other important considerations: The required flow cells are as follows:
PromethION Flow Cells, v 10.4.1 (4 pack) – Cat. No. FLO-PRO114M
cDNA-PCR Sequencing, Kit v14 – Cat. No. SQK-PCS114
In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.
Capability statement /information sought.
Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products 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 and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.
Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) 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, please 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 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.
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 Iris Merscher, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address iris.merscher@nih.gov.
The response must be received on or before October 28, 2024, at 5PM, 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 www.sam.gov. 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).
