A -- A Repository of Mouse Models for Cytogenetic Disorders

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The National Institute Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Office of Acquisitions, The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Branch, intends to negotiate a 9 month extension to the contract with Jackson Laboratory of Bar Harbor, Maine to continue operations of the Mouse Model Repository for Cytogenetic Disorders. The extension is required because of delays in a planned FY2007 acquisition for this requirement. The planned extension will permit the repository to continue to function while a new acquisition is conducted for these services. The proposed extension will prevent a lapse in service until the pending sole source five-year contract award to the Jackson Laboratory can be approved. The Jackson Laboratory has been operating the Mouse Mode Repository for Cytogenetic Disorders under Contract N01-HD-7-3265 since 1996. The requirements of the contract are: 1) Continue maintenance of the Repository for Mouse Models of Cytogenetic Disorders for Cytogenetic Resource. 2)Breed various strains of mice with known genetic background, which will produce chromosomally unbalanced gametes, resulting in trisomic and monosomic embryos with special emphasis on chromosome 16, but including relevant regions of chromosome 17 and chromosome 10. 3) Continue to refine procedures to freeze embryos that can be rescued by thawing and reimplanting them in pseudo pregnant mice. 4) Distribute the animal models to qualified investigators by NICHD. Test the animals periodically for pathogens. 5) Publicize the availability of mouse models indicating the type of strains in the colony. 6) Continue to characterize the clinical phenotypes of the mouse models. Statutory authority: 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1(a) (2) (ii), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The contractor is uniquely qualified by virtue of its continued performance over this period of time and is the only source that can provide the mouse models discussed earlier in this JOFOC for the following reasons: A new contractor would have to develop cryopreservation, and maintenance techniques unique to the type of mice in this resource, specifically strains with chromosome aberrations. One would have to acknowledge and plan for the time needed to learn procedures involved in cryopreservation and maintenance of these strains. There would be little room for developing the unique skills associated with cryopreservation of the Robertsonian (Rb) and partially trisomic embryos that could result in a significant loss of the frozen stocks in the resource. Researchers rely on the resource to obtain segmental trisomy and Rb mice primarily for studies related to Down syndrome. Over the past five years over 144 requests for mice from researchers have been fulfilled. A variety of studies using these mice are on-going. Investigators require a foundation colony from which different stocks are derived so genetic drift does not occur among different colonies. If another contractor were to be awarded the proposed extension it would take approximately one-year for them to transfer and process the mice, thereby disrupting the distribution of the mice to researchers and potentially impacting their research. If the mice were to survive the transfer it is not known if another contractor could consistently duplicate the characteristics of the mouse models currently maintained at the Jackson Laboratory. This would create unacceptable delays in fulfilling the government's requirements. In addition, it would take another contractor approximately $1M to transfer the mice that would result in a duplication of costs that is not expected to be recovered through competition. However, if there are sources who feel they are able to perform the requirement, they must respond by submitting information required in Numbered Note 22 within 45 days of publication of this synopsis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The capability statement will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Overnight deliveries should be mailed to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contracts Management Branch, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 7AO7, Bethesda, Maryland 20852. No collect calls or facsimile transmissions will be accepted.