Selection, Production, Characterization and Distribution of Cultured Cells and DNA for Research on Aging

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 AND OBJECTIVES

A repository of human cells, selected for their possible application in understanding the process of aging, was established by the National Institute for Child Health and Human Development in 1974. This repository came under the National Institute on Aging (NIA)’s direction in 1976 and has since been expanded to include animal in addition to human cell cultures. The repository has served the scientific community conducting research on aging by providing investigators with cultures of high quality, well-characterized cell lines and selected DNA stocks for studying the biology of aging.

The scope of this repository is to obtain, produce, characterize, store and distribute cell lines and DNA to the aging research community. The principal goal is to facilitate studies on aging by providing high quality, uncontaminated and well-characterized cell cultures and DNA which are not otherwise available.

This statement of work is to continue the cell repository for five (5) years. During this period, the Contractor shall be responsible for: maintaining the current cell stocks frozen in liquid nitrogen; establishing new cell lines; isolating DNA from cell lines and maintaining stocks; conducting applied research activities related to improving the services of the repository (including but not limited to developing new protocols for nonhuman primate cell reprogramming); distributing cell cultures and DNA to investigators; maintaining a web-based catalog for public access; maintaining and adding to the bibliography associated with the distributed cell lines; and maintaining a comprehensive computerized data management system for the repository.

Performance of quality controls throughout the workflow shall be the responsibility of the Contractor for this repository. The Contractor shall maintain its high level of performance and quality of cell lines at each step of their handling.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS AND REPORTS/DELIVERABLES

Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the Statement of Work (SOW) attached to this Sources Sought notice.

ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

Five years from date of award.  Anticipated time frame for award is on/about February 2025.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541715 with a size standard of 1,000 employees.

CAPABILITY STATEMENT/INFORMATION SOUGHT

Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required services 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 by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Small businesses must also provide their Company Name, DUNS number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information.

Interested small businesses are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System 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.

All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought Notice must be submitted to Fred Ettehadieh, Contracting Officer, by email at fred.ettehadieh@nih.gov before the closing date and time of this announcement. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Facsimile responses are not acceptable.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response.  No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your 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 review of the responses received, pre-solicitation and solicitation notices may be published in Federal Business Opportunities.  However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.  The solicitation release date is pending. 

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).