A--Spray Device Development

Special Notice of Intent to Award a Sole Source Procurement THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE. THIS IS A NOTICE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENT TO ISSUE A SOLE SOURCE AWARD. This Notice is to announce that the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), National Wildlife Health Center, in Madison, Wisconsin is proposing to negotiate a contract with the Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, on a sole source basis. This requirement is to design and test mass delivery methods for vaccines and potentially other treatment methods under development to protect bats from white nose syndrome. Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated will develop and test a prototype device for automatic spraying of bats with treatment options as they fly into maternity colonies or hibernacula, using biomarkers that allow us to assess uptake by bats (See attached; Statement of Work) The proposed action is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority FAR 13.106-1(b)(1). The reason justifying this sole source procurement is that the Government believes only one responsible source can provide the services that will satisfy the agency's requirement. The following services are provided: Services, non-personal, to provide all plant equipment, labor, travel, and materials including replacement parts (unless otherwise provided herein) necessary for development and testing of a prototype automatic spraying device for bats. Statement of Work: USGS NWHC has a requirement for development and test spray technology for delivering vaccines and possibly other treatment options to bats to reduce the occurrence of white nose syndrome (WNS). Current vaccines against WNS under development by NWHC are intended to be delivered by topical application for oral consumption by bats while grooming. Using a biomarker, rhodamine B, that becomes visible in hair by UV microscopy within 24 hours of ingestion, rates of oral consumption after application can be assessed. A prototype spray device for vaccine delivery medium will be developed by PARC and then tested in bats, initially in laboratory studies at NWHC, and then in field studies at several locations in various states. Timers and motion sensors will be used to deliver biomarker-laden medium to bats for 1-3 days during morning fly in to either maternity roosts or hibernacula during fall swarm, depending on the location. After several days, NWHC will trap approximately 50 bats at each site to collect hair for biomarker analysis, after which they will be released. Rates of uptake of 75% or greater are desired. If successful, the prototype device developed by PARC could be used to deliver vaccine and possibly other treatments to bats to prevent or reduce the occurrence of WNS. This is a sole source notice published for informational purposes only and not a request for competitive quotes. Therefore, no solicitation document exists for this requirement. However, all responsible parties interested in responding to this notice are invited to submit a capability statement by the time and date specified in this notice that provides sufficient details for consideration by the Government, via email to: contact@example.gov. The determination not to compete the contract based on the responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Phone calls will not be accepted in response to this notice. All information submitted should support the offeror's capability to provide the services required and shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the Government. Responses must be in writing and must provide clear and concise documentation indicating an offeror's bona fide capability to provide these services. Verbal responses are not acceptable and will not be considered. The Government reserves the right to cancel this requirement.