68 -- Research and Development

The National Institute of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, with Ani Lytics, Inc. for the analysis of clinical tests from on-going trails. This Notice of Intent is being issued as NOI6041. The statutory authority for this acquisition is FAR 13.501 and award is anticipated to be made under a Firm Fixed Price Order. The acquisition documents and incorporated provisions and classes are those in Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 05-03. This acquisition will be processed under the North American Industry Classification Systems (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541380 and the business size standard is $6 million. The period of performance will start day of award and will cover one (1) year service. NIAID studies the etiology, pathogenesis and prevention of viral hepatitis and other diseases. Current research efforts include elucidation of the molecular virology of hepatitis A and the development of a live-attenuated hepatitis A vaccine, delineation of the genetic heterogeneity of hepatitis C virus and characterization of the immune response to it, the diagnosis and prevention of hepatitis E and the molecular and biological characterization of newly discovered hepatitis C-like viruses of humans and primates. These activities require the inoculation of animals, principally nonhuman primates with clinical materials and the study of the resulting response of the animals. This requires testing animals for physiological, immunological and biochemical changes over time. A critical part of this analysis is testing serum liver enzyme levels, bilirubin level, other clinical chemistry values and hematologic changes. The tests to be performed are Isocitrate Dehydrogenase (ICD), Amino Aline Transferase (ALT) and Gamma Glutamine Tranferase. These tests are non-routine analyses established exclusively at Ani Lytics Inc. expressly for this study. Since Ani Lytics has extensively performed this test for NIAID in the past they must continue to provide the testing in order to compare data analyses and maintains consistency in results. FAR 6.302-1 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements because the NIAID has used this company for extensive testing for many years and it is very important that the data obtained in the future can be compared with data obtained in the past. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes they can perform the above requirement, they may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities and any other furnished information must be in writing and must contain material insufficient detail to allow NIAID to determine if the party can perform this requirement. The following FAR provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition: FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-2 Evaluation Commercial Item; FAR 52.212.3 Offerors Representations and Certifications Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-4 Contractor Terms and Conditions Commercial Items; FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items; and FAR 52.204-7 Central Contractor Registration (CCR). The Government intends to select the offer that represents the best value to the Government, price and all other factors considered. In order to be considered for an award, offeror must have completed the online electronic Representatives and Certifications located at (http://orca.bpn.gov/) in accordance with FAR 4.1201(a). By submission of an offer, the offeror acknowledges the requirement that a prospective awardee shall be registered in the CCR at (www.ccr.gov/) prior to award, during performance, and through final payment of any contract, basic agreement, basic ordering agreement, or blanket purchasing agreement resulting from this solicitation. Offers must be submitted no later than 5:00 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), May 1, 2006 to Mrs. Tawana Parker. Copies of the aforementioned clauses are available upon request by telephone to Mrs. Tawana Parker at (301) 594-3419. For deliver through the Postal Service, the address is NIH/NIAID/AMOB, 10401 Fernwood Drive, Room 2NE70G, Bethesda MD 20892-4811. Electronic transmissions will not be accepted. Requests for information concerning this requirement are to be addressed to Mrs. Tawana Parker. Collect calls will not be accepted. All responsible sources may submit an offer that will be considered by this agency.