SUMMARY: This is a Sources Sought notice and not a request for quotes. This request is solely for the purpose of conducting market research to enhance VHA s understanding of the market s offered products, services, and capabilities. The Government will not pay any costs for responses submitted in response to this Sources Sought. This Sources Sought notice provides an opportunity for respondents to submit their notice of ability, and their available products and services in response to the requirement described below. Vendors are being invited to submit information relative to their potential of fulfilling the requirement below, in the form of a capability response that addresses the specific requirement identified in this Sources Sought. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is seeking a vendor to provide the following products and/or services below. Please see the General Requirements section below for the requested products/services and descriptions. This Sources Sought is to facilitate the Contracting Officer s review of the market base, for acquisition planning, size determination, and procurement strategy. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Research Services has a requirement for a Contractor to create mouse Fap Conditional Knockout Model in (C57Bl/6J) mice for Columbia VA Health Care System. The contractor will create different strands of mice at an off- site location and transport all mice to CVACS Research to conduct experimental measures. Performance Period: 6 months from date of award The vendor/Contractor agrees to perform the following: BACs purchased from CHORI. Provide Turbo Knockout Gene target Report. The contractor will design and construct the TurboKnockout conditional knockout vector after client approves Cyagen-proposed TurboKnockout gene targeting strategy. Provide a correctly targeted and verified ES Cell genotyping Report. The contractor will ensure the TurboKnockout Vector will be purified, linearized, and electroporated into ES cells. ES cells are subjected to drug selection, screened by long range PCR, and verified for correct gene targeting by Southern blot. The contractor will provide chromosome counting is performed to ensure ES cells have the correct number of chromosomes. The contractor will provide a minimum of 3 TurboKnockout® heterozygous mutant mice. The contractor will ship animals to Taconic IBS facilities, provide RapidCHECK health confirmation service and holding at Taconic IBS facilities, RapidCHECK health confirmation service includes shipment to receiving vivarium with animals available for shipment following RapidCHECK. The original cohort generated by Cyagen is provided as deliverable. The Contractor will carry Cyagen Select Pathogen Free health status. The contractor will provide handling - Full Gene Targeting Project (one line only) The contractor will perform a sperm collected from at least two males aged 12-15 weeks will be cryopreserved, quality controlled and stored in liquid nitrogen. Shipping Address: Wm. Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Research Building 6439 Garners Ferry Road Columbia, SC 29209 Response: Capability statement and a list of the salient characteristics. Please provide your socioeconomic status, and size classification (large business, small business, SDVOSB, VOSB, etc.), and the approximate shipping time from the date of order. All responses should be directed to annmarie.stewart@va.gov by June 11, 2024, at 3 PM EST. Submittals furnished will not be returned to the sender. No debriefs will be conducted. Eligibility in participating in a future acquisition does not depend upon a response to this notice. Proprietary information is neither requested nor desired. If such information is submitted, it must clearly be marked "proprietary" on every sheet containing such information, and the proprietary information must be segregated to the maximum extent practicable from other portions of the response (e.g., use an attachment or exhibit). This request will close on stated date within the Government Point of Entry (GPE). Note: 1. This Sources Sought is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute a commitment, implied or otherwise, that a procurement action will follow. The Department of Veterans Affairs will use the information submitted in response to this notice at its discretion and will not provide comments to any submission; however, the Department of Veterans Affairs reserves the right to contact any respondent to this notice for the sole purpose of enhancing the Department of Veteran Affairs understanding of the notice submission. 2. The content of any responses to this notice may be reflected in any subsequent solicitation, except for content marked or designated as business confidential or proprietary which will be fully protected from release outside the government. The Department of Veteran Affairs Contracting Office POC: Ann Marie Stewart Contracting Officer annmarie.stewart@va.gov
