A--(SAVAHCS) RNA Testing Service

Page 1 of 3 This is a SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. It is neither a solicitation announcement nor a request for proposals or quotes and does not obligate the Government to award a contract. Requests for a solicitation will not receive a response. Responses to this sources sought must be in writing. The purpose of this sources sought announcement is for market research to make appropriate acquisition decisions and to gain knowledge of potential qualified Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Businesses, Veteran Owned Small Businesses, 8(a), HubZone and other Small Businesses interested and capable of providing the services described below. Documentation of technical expertise must be presented in sufficient detail for the Government to determine that your company possesses the necessary functional area expertise and experience to compete for this acquisition. Responses to this notice shall include the following: (a) company name (b) address (c) point of contact (d) phone, fax, and email (e) DUNS number (f) Cage Code (g) Tax ID Number (h) Type of small business, e.g. Services Disabled Veteran Owned small Business, Veteran-owned small business, 8(a), HUBZone, Women Owned Small Business, Small disadvantaged business, or Small Business HUBZone business and (i) must provide a capability statement that addresses the organizations qualifications and ability to perform as a contractor for the work described below. The Southern Arizona VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS), located at 3601 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723 is seeking any potential qualified contractor that has the necessary skills and expertise to conduct genomic sequencing and fragment analysis testing on Clostridium difficile cells. Below is a draft Performance Work Statement listing all of the requirements: PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT (DRAFT) Gastrointestinal Colonization of Diarrheagenic Clostridium difficile Genomic Sequencing and Fragment Analysis Services Contract Part 1 General Information 1.0 General: This is a firm-fixed-price services contract to provide specialized genomic sequencing and analysis services for the Merit Review research study 1I01BX001183-01 Gastrointestinal Colonization of Diarrhea genic Clostridium difficile . 1.1 Description of Services/Introduction: The contractor shall provide the necessary skills and expertise to successfully provide genomic sequencing and fragment analysis testing on Clostridium difficile cells. 1.2 Background: There is a requirement at the Southern AZ VA Health Care System (SAVAHCS) Research Service Line for the genomic sequencing and fragment analysis testing in a BLR&D-funded project: Gastrointestinal Colonization of Diarrhea genic Clostridium difficile (1I01BX001183-0 I). Dr. Gayatri Vedantam of SAVAHCS is Principal Investigator on this project. The genomic sequencing analysis will give the researchers information on the strains clonality or being genetically identical despite being isolated in different medical facilities. 1.3 Objectives: - Complete the work (2 jobs) required under this PWS no later than 15 days prior to the end of the contract. - Maintain close communications with the PI on the analytical results and provide the necessary documentation to the principle PI within 30 days of receipt of samples. - Display detailed knowledge of standard operating procedures in handling biohazardous materials such as Clostridium difficile. - Minimize handling or shipping of materials to prevent accidental exposure - Complete all data analysis and written deliverables no later than within 30 days of end of contract. 1.4 Scope: The contractor shall provide all resources necessary to accomplish the deliverables described in this Performance Work Statement (PWS) except as may otherwise be specified. Contractor shall conduct the Hiseq Library prep and MiSeq 15M Flow cell testing analysis. Contractor will provide expertise as needed in preparing data for analysis. Contractor will provide all the necessary analytical data and determined by the PI within the scope of this contract. Period of Performance The period of performance for this contract shall be for one (1) Base year of 12 months with the possibility of up to 4 option years. General Information 1.6.1. Quality Control: The contractor shall develop and maintain an effective quality control program to ensure services are performed in accordance with this PWS. The contractor shall develop and implement procedures to identify, prevent, and ensure non-recurrence of defective services. The contractor s quality control program is the means by which he assures himself that his work complies with the requirement of the contract. Within 30 days after contract award, Contractor shall submit electronic copies (compatible with Microsoft Word or PDF) of a comprehensive written QCP to the Contracting Officer (CO) and COR s within five working days when changes are made thereafter. After acceptance of the quality control plan the contractor shall receive the CO s acceptance in writing of any proposed change to his QC system. 1.6.2. Quality Assurance: The Government will periodically evaluate the contractor s performance under this contract. Contractor shall provide the Government unrestricted access to records required to evaluate Contractor s performance under this contract. 1.6.3. Security Requirements: The Contractor, its personnel, and its subcontractors shall be subject to the Federal laws, regulations, standards, and VA Directives and Handbooks regarding information and information system security as delineated in this contract. Prospective contractors must be authorized/certified to provide the required service, and must show proof with any provided documents at the time of responding to this Sources Sought announcement. Important information: The Government is not obligated to nor will it pay for or reimburse any costs associated with responding to this sources sought synopsis request. This notice shall not be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract, nor does it restrict the Government to a particular acquisition approach. The Government will in no way be bound to this information if any solicitation is issued. The VA is mandated by Public Law 109-461 to consider a total set-aside for Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business set aside. However, if response by Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business firms proves inadequate, an alternate set-aside or full and open competition may be determined. No sub-contracting opportunity is anticipated. The North American Classification System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541715 (1000 Employees). Notice to potential offerors: All offerors who provide goods or services to the United States Federal Government must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) at www.sam.gov and complete Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Additionally, all Service Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses or Veteran Owned Businesses who respond to a solicitation on this project must be registered with the Department of Veterans Affairs Center for Veterans Enterprise VetBiz Registry located at http://vip.vetbiz.gov. All interested Offerors should submit information by e-mail, mail or ground carrier to: Southern AZ VA HealthCare System, 3601 S. 6th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85723 or by e-mail to contact@example.gov. All information submissions to be marked Attn: Michael Williams, Contracting Specialist (9-90C) and should be received no later than 3:30 pm Mountain Standard Time on January 17, 2017. After review of the responses to this announcement, the Government intends to proceed with the acquisition and a subsequent solicitation will be published.