99--RFI - BIO SPEC SPECTROMETER

This notice is a request for information (RFI) and is not a request for proposals (RFP). The government will not award a contract on the basis of this notice, or otherwise pay for information solicited by it. Proprietary information should be clearly marked. The requested information is for planning and market research purposes only and will not be publicly released. In accordance with FAR 15.201(E), responses to this RFI are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. 1. PURPOSE. The Joint Program Executive Office for Chemical and Biological Defense (JPEO-CBD), Joint Project Manager Nuclear Biological Chemical Contamination Avoidance (JPMNBCCA) and the Edgewood Chemical and Biological Center (ECBC) Detection Branch is requesting responses from industry on their willingness to participate with ECBC and JPMNBCCA in a multi day technology review and nondestructive testing. ECBC and JPMNBCCA are interested in determining the quote mark portability quote mark of commercial mass spectrometers to be interfaced with ECBC's ABOid Algorithm (e.g. having the algorithm work with different types of commercial Mass Spectrometers) for microbial detection and identification. The limited 1-3 day testing would encompass industry coming to ECBC with their candidate Mass Spectrometers to collect spectra on pre-prepared biological samples. The spectral outputs from the systems would then be analyzed using ECBC's ABOid Algorithm for microbial identification. The Industry provided Mass Spectrometers would have to be capable of performing tandem mass spectrometry analysis (MS/MS analysis) covering a mass range between 300-2000 amu and requires a minimum of 100 MS/MS spectra (with as little operator intervention as possible). JPMNBCCA and ECBC will use the information resulting from the tests to optimize the Mass Spectrometer performance and interface requirements, as well as the ECBC's ABOid algorithm. Results from the test will also guide future overall acquisition strategies. 2. BACKGROUND. US Army Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) has developed an innovative algorithm known as Agents of Biological Origin Identifier (ABOid). The ABOid algorithm can analyze mass spectra signatures and provide a microbial identification and classification output. Results are color-coded to highlight anything that could be considered a pathogen and whether it is toxic. For sequenced organisms, ABOid is capable of providing strain level identification, which is significant in that one can then reveal important diagnostic information for medical countermeasures. The JPMNBCCA has currently fielded the Joint Portal Shield (JPS), a fixed site biological warfare detection and identification system to multiple military bases in South Korea and the Middle East. The JPS is a networked system that can detect and identify up to ten biological warfare agents in less than 25 minutes. The JPS sensor is housed within Tricon shipping containers that provide commercial power and environmental conditioning. The JPS has been active in the field for 15 years and has become expensive to maintain and operate due to obsolescence issues. The JPMNBCCA is considering replacing the JPS sensor with a Biological Mass Spectrometer working in conjunction with the ABOid algorithm. This new system could be housed in the existing JPS Tricon, leveraging existing infrastructure and communications. 3. TECHNOLOGY REVIEW DESCRIPTION. Based on the information provided in response to this RFI, the Government may enter into a Vendor Demonstration Agreement with the individual responders. This Vendor Demonstration Agreement will request industry to provide a Mass Spectrometer and operators for a multi day technology review. For the purposes of this technology review, the Mass Spectrometer will be provided processed biological samples. The output of the Mass Spectrometer will interface with the ABOid algorithm. The result from the ABOid algorithm will be analyzed. Results will be kept confidential and only shared individually with the owner of each system. The Mass Spectrometer will potentially be challenged against representative non-lethal pathogens and toxins in 1-2 concentrations range from the following categories in a pure buffer as well as potentially in interfering buffers/additives: a. Vegetative Bacteria Cells. b. Spore forming Bacteria. c. Virus. d. Toxin. At the conclusion of the non-destructive testing, the Government will provide a report of the vendor's performance. 4. INSTRUCTIONS TO RESPONDENTS. a. CONTENT. At a minimum, responses to this RFI should include: i. Intention to participate - NOTE: Personnel wishing to participate at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) shall be a US citizens or permanent resident alien. ii. Information regarding the Mass Spectrometer iii. If proposed, information regarding sample preparation protocol (see Attachment I section 2.3.2 for more information) iv. System specification and dimensions v. System power requirements b. FORMAT i. Submission. Respondents are encouraged to prepare a response that closely adheres to the following format: All responses shall be unclassified. The document format shall be either Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or Adobe PDF format. Response shall be prepared using 12 pt. font, 1 inch margins, and 8.5 quote mark by 11 quote mark paper and shall not exceed five (5) pages in length excluding images, data displays, charts, graphs, and tables. Each respondent shall submit electronic copy via email or paper hardcopy. All disk submissions shall be in formats compatible with Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise operating system and be made, as appropriate, in Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF. All must be provided by the due date, and may be sent via courier service, hand delivered, mailed or emailed. ii. Disclaimer and Important Notes. This RFI does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP), Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) or a promise to issue an RFP. The Government will not pay for costs associated with developing a response to this RFI, the costs associated with participating in the technology review and non-destructive testing, nor does it commit the Government to enter into any contractual agreement. 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' capabilities. 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. Although it is highly encouraged, not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future solicitation. The information provided in this RFI is subject to change and is not binding on the Government. All submissions become the property of the Government and will not be returned. Proprietary, confidential, privileged commercial or financial information submitted in the RFI response should be marked accordingly to ensure appropriate handling and disposition by the Government. No classified information shall be submitted in the RFI response. Only Government personnel will have access to information marked as proprietary. Responses should be submitted as indicated above and, at a minimum should include: RFI title, company name, address, telephone number, website address (if available), and type of business (large or small), DUNS number, Cage Code, Facility clearance (Yes or No), information paper addressing the areas of interest listed above, brochures, published technical specifications, and 3rd party performance verification. Please identify your business as either Small Business (including Alaska Nature Corporation and Indian tribe), Veteran-Owned Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran-Owned small business, HUBzone Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business (including Alaska Native Corporation and Indian tribes), and Women-Owned Small Business, or a Large Business. The name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with a Government representative should also be included. DUE DATE: Submissions are due no later than 4:00 p.m., February 28, 2015, Eastern Standard Time (EST). Telephonic inquiries will not be accepted. Primary Point of Contact: Ms. Antoinette Aquiningoc, Contract Specialist (Email: contact@example.gov) US Army Contracting Command - Aberdeen Proving Ground Edgewood Contracting Division Building E4215, Austin Road Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD 21010-5401 ATTACHMENT 1 Request for Information ABOid Interface Control Document 1.0 SCOPE This document defines the interface requirements for the Agents of Biological Origins Identification (ABOid) software. The purpose of this interface document is to provide the interface parameters required for data from a mass spectrometer to integrate with ABOid software. 1.1 Background The ABOid software was developed by Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) for identification of biological samples. The Joint Project Manager, Nuclear Biological Chemical, Contamination Avoidance (JPM NBC CA) will use ABOid software to identify biological organisms from mass spectral data from participating systems. 1.2 Reference Documents - None. 2.0 INTERFACE CHARACTERISTICS 2.1 ABOid System Interfaces 2.1.1 Utilize mass spectrometer capable of providing tandem mass spectrometry in positive mode that can cover a mass range between 300-2000 amu. 2.2 Proteomics Based Solution Details 2.2.1 Solvent: PBS, Ammonium bicarbonate, and/or either buffer in 0.1% Triton-X 2.2.2 Concentration: The biological samples will be in concentration ranges of 10E7-10E3 cfu/mL for bacteria, 10E7-1E3 cpu/mL for virus, and 10 ng-0.1ug for toxins. Volume: Sample volume will be approximately 250 uL of processed microbial samples that contains tryptic peptides. 2.3 Proteomics Based Sample Preparation/Digestion 2.3.1 ECBC will process and prepare the microbial samples and will provide to the participating vendor (in ECBC's lab) to analyze by their operator(s) using their mass spectrometer. The sampling process will include lysis, isolation and preconcentration of proteins followed by denaturation and digestion of the proteins. The digested sample will be provided to the participant vendors of the mass spectrometers. 2.3.2 If the Vendor has an established sample preparation protocol that can generate tryptic peptides from microbial samples, then such protocols can be used prior to the Mass spectrometry analysis by their candidate MS instrument. It should be noted that using vendors' preparation protocol will be measured against ECBC's sample protocol and processed samples from both ECBC and vendors will be analyzed on bench-top mass spectrometry instrument to measure their efficiency in the identification of the microbes and the number of peptides generated by each mentioned sample preparation protocols. 2.4 Data Input Details 2.4.1 ABOid requires a minimum of 100 MS/MS spectra (with as little operator intervention as possible). A recommended approach is as follows: 2.4.1.1 Introduce tryptic peptide sample to MS instrument 2.4.1.2 Acquire a full MS spectra 2.4.1.3 Perform analysis on the full MS spectra and select all MS peaks that are over an acceptable S/N ratio. 2.4.1.4 Acquire MS/MS spectra for all selected MS peaks defined in 2.5.1.3. 2.4.2 Repeat steps 2.5.1.2 thru 2.5.1.4 until a minimum of 100 MS/MS spectras are obtained. To achieve this requirement, another full MS followed by MS/MS analyses may be required. This can be achieved through the reanalysis of the same sample until such minimum requirement is met. 2.4.3 ABOid requires output from 2.5.1 in a single Comma Separated Value (CSV), DTA format or similar ASCII text file.