SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- Ultrastructural analysis of skeletal muscle fibers for electron microscopy at the National Institute on Aging
- Notice Date
- 6/11/2015
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Station Support/Simplified Acquisitions, 31 Center Drive, Room 1B59, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892
- ZIP Code
- 20892
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SS-2015-448
- Archive Date
- 7/3/2015
- Point of Contact
- Hunter A. Tjugum, Phone: 301 435 8780
- E-Mail Address
-
hunter.tjugum@nih.gov
(hunter.tjugum@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- INTRODUCTION 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. The notice is strictly for research and information purposes only. The information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method and to determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government's requirement. ALL organizations with the capability and availability to perform the requirement under the applicable NAICS code are invited to submit a response to this notice. NORTH AMERICAN CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE The NAICS code applicable to this requirement is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services, size standard $15 million. Background The National Institute on Aging (NIA), one of the 27 Institutes and Centers of NIH, leads a broad scientific effort to understand the nature of aging and to extend the healthy, active years of life. The Intramural Research Program (IRP) of the National Institute on Aging (NIA) provides a stimulating setting for a comprehensive effort to understand aging through multidisciplinary investigator initiated research. The Experimental Gerontology Section in the Translational Gerontology Branch at the NIA, IRP has a potential requirement for follow on services to be completed as a follow on to services provided under the contract entitled "Electron Microscopy Services" for the ultrastructural analysis of skeletal muscle fibers of electron microscopy at the NIA, IRP. The Aging, Metabolism, and Nutrition Unit (AMNU) applies whole body physiological and tissue-specific molecular approaches to investigate effects of nutritional interventions on basic mechanisms of aging and age-related diseases. Mitochondria are organelles characterized for their highly dynamic structure, which relies on a controlled balance between biogenesis, fusion, fission, and mitophagy, resulting in alterations of mitochondrial ultrastructure under different physiological or pathological conditions. Aging and diet have a strong influence on mitochondrial physiology. However, the influence of these processes on the mitochondrial ultrastructure still requires further investigation. Purpose and Objectives This Sources Sought notice seeks to determine eligible sources with the capability to provide the services described in this notice. The purpose of this potential requirement is to study ultrastructural (electron microscopy) mitochondrial alterations in skeletal muscle obtained from mice and human volunteers submitted to different experimental interventions. Samples will be derived from multiple age groups, different sexes, starting ages, compound concentrations, or diet interventions. The anticipated requirement is a continuation of work performed under the existing research project entitled "Electron Microscopy Services for the National Institute on Aging (NIA)." This project has provided results from studying ultrastructural (electron microscopy) mitochondrial alterations in skeletal muscle obtained from mice and human volunteers involved in different experimental interventions. Samples were derived from multiple age groups, different sexes, starting ages, compound concentrations, and diet interventions. An additional phase of research development is needed and is anticipated as described herein. Specifically, the contractor will be expected to process skeletal muscle samples for obtaining resin blocks for electron microscopy; ultramicrotomy; examination of sequential ultrathin sections and collection of micrographs at the electron microscope; quantitative evaluation of micrographs by image analysis techniques; expert scientific assessment of the ultrastructural modifications elicited in skeletal muscle by the particular experimental condition under examination. The place of performance for this potential requirement includes Contractor facilities as well as periodic onsite visits possible to Government facilities located at the NIA unit on the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Campus in Baltimore, MD. The period of performance is anticipated from July 7, 2015 through July 6, 2016. Capability statements sought Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize itself with the requirements of this project. Failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk. Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, clear and convincing documentation of their capability of providing the services specified in this notice. Respondents must provide clear and convincing evidence of published manuscripts of research conducted in the subject area of developing and using methods to perform quantitative evaluation using image analysis and the expert assessment of the ultrastructural modifications, tissue processing and EM visualization. Respondents must provide a general overview of the respondents' opinions about the difficulty and /or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any information regarding innovative ideas or concepts. The Respondent must also provide information in sufficient details of the respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. The respondent must also provide their 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 and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. All responses to this sources sought notice must reference solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SS-2015-448 and be submitted electronically (via email) to Hunter Tjugum, Contract Specialist at hunter.tjugum@nih.gov on or before the closing date specified in this announcement. Fax responses will not be accepted. The response must not exceed 10 pages in total length in a 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. CONCLUDING STATEMENTS 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 pre-solicitation 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).
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- Record
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