SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- CBEP EAST/SOUTH AFRICA ENVIRONMENTAL SCAN
- Notice Date
- 1/16/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Other Defense Agencies, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (Headquarters), DTRA Annex, 8725 John J. Kingman Road, MSC 6201, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 22060-6201
- ZIP Code
- 22060-6201
- Solicitation Number
- J3CTB_Africa
- Point of Contact
- Alicia McPeters,
- E-Mail Address
-
alicia.mcpeters@dtra.mil
(alicia.mcpeters@dtra.mil)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Synopsis: This is a Sources Sought Notice/Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. This notice is for MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, and in no way obligates the United States Government to issue a solicitation or otherwise make a contract award. Background: The US Department of Defense (DoD) initiated the Cooperative Biological Engagement Program (CBEP) in Africa through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) to secure and consolidate select agents; enhance Biosafety and Biosecurity (BS&S) standards; and strengthen Africa's ability to detect, diagnose, survey, and report emerging and re-emerging diseases of international security concern, in accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (IHR) and World Health Organization for Animal Health Guidelines (OIE). To achieve its mission, CBEP works collaboratively with partner nations, U.S. Government agencies, and the international community to enhance disease surveillance diagnostic and reporting capabilities; develop human resource expertise in public and animal health, promote safe and secure laboratory working environments; and consolidate pathogens of security concern into a minimal number of safe and secure facilities in a sustainable manner. Purpose and Objectives: The objective of this RFI is to identify interested sources capable of performing a baseline analysis of the bio-surveillance (BSV) and BS&S systems, capabilities, and gaps, in the following four East/South African countries: South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. The analysis and follow on report will inform the implementation phase of CBEP in East/South Africa. Any contractor who may perform the initial assessments would not be excluded from any follow on activities as a result of the baseline analysis. The following are samples of what the U.S. Government may require as part of the baseline analysis: • Provide an environmental scan of the national/ministerial and regional human and animal health levels to baseline current capabilities in the aforementioned East/South African countries. Specific attention should be paid to the countries' capacities to: o Rapidly and accurately survey, detect, diagnose, and report biological terrorism and outbreaks of pathogens and diseases of security concern. o Conduct epidemiological investigation, laboratory diagnostics, and international reporting of diseases of security concern. o Use modern diagnostics and advanced scientific methods commensurate with the technological capacity of the country/region to identify pathogens of security concern and potential disease outbreaks. o Comply with international reporting standards and guidelines under the WHO IHR (2005), OIE Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway, and other relevant requirements. o Link disease surveillance and reporting systems to national, regional, and global outbreak response systems, including multi-sector engagement. o Implement systems for managing and securing samples and collections of pathogens of security concern that are consistent with internationally recognized performance standards. o Provide tools for enhanced biological security and safety measures throughout the public and animal health system, which include: sample collection, detection and diagnostics, sample transport, and destruction and/or storage of materials. o Train medical personnel, scientists, veterinarians to quickly and accurately detect, diagnose, and report biological outbreaks of pathogens and disease of security concern. o Equip medical personnel, veterinarians, and first responders with personal protection equipment. o Equip and train field works on the use of rapid detection kits. o Rapidly and effectively provide infection control in all regions and border posts. • Identify gaps between DTRA's CBEP objectives and current country capabilities, to include: o Meeting international guidelines for a sustainable Disease, Detection, Surveillance, and Response (DDSR) system. o Complying with international best practices for BS&S legislation. o Leveraging existing collaborative partnerships with in-country U.S. Government (USG) stakeholders and partner country institutes and government organizations. • Develop a baseline of the existing DDSR, BSV and BS&S systems o Identify applicable stakeholders o Identify legal framework, budgets o Operational processes, products, reports, frequency Response Requirements: The U.S. Government invites sources to respond to this RFI that have the capability to meet these parameters and would have an interest to bid on a requirement of similar objectives. Responses shall be limited to five (5) pages including diagrams. Pages not included in the total page count are the cover page, the cover letter and the table of contents. Any and all information submitted in response to this notice is strictly voluntary and in no way obligates the U.S. Government to a monetary compensation or otherwise to make a contract award. The U.S. Government will not return any submitted data and information. The responder may solicit input on technical aspects of the responses from non-government consultants/experts bound by appropriate non-disclosure requirements. Submission Instructions: Responses shall be limited to five (5) 8X11 pages and shall: • Confirm source's ability and interest to meet purpose and objectives provided; • Identify any aspects of the requirements stated that cannot be met and any issues/concerns with the requirements as stated; • Assess whether purpose and objectives can be accomplished within six to nine months, or provide a realistic alternative timeframe for completion; • Provide information on past performance, preferably in but not limited to Eastern and Southern Africa. The responder should provide information to Contract Specialist Alicia McPeters at Alicia.McPeters@dtra.mil no later than February 27, 2015 Disclaimer and Important Notes: This is a Request for Information. There is no solicitation available at this time. Requests for Solicitation and inquiries related to same will not receive a response. THIS NOTICE IS PUBLISHED FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES ONLY, AND IN NO WAY OBLIGATES THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION OR OTHERWISE MAKE A CONTRACT AWARD. Any and all information submitted in response to this synopsis is strictly voluntary. The Government will not pay for any information submitted in response to this notice and shall become the property of DTRA/SCC-WMD. 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 organizations 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, DTRA CBEP may issue a pre-solicitation synopsis. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation which may be published in the future. Confidentiality: No classified or confidential information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s). Any proprietary information should be clearly marked.
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