The US Army Contract Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Natick Contracting Division, Natick, MA is seeking information as to whether or not there are small businesses that can support this effort. Based on the information received, a determination will be made as to whether or not the procurement will be issued as a small business set-aside. The purpose of this effort is to procure vitamin analysis for food items produced under a new NASA contract, quote mark Stabilized foods for use in extended spaceflight: preservation of shelf-life, nutrient content and acceptability quote mark . The Contractor shall conduct an analysis of the vitamin content in various foods. The performance period will be one year with two (2) options years. The contractor shall conduct Nutritional Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) nutrient sample analysis and specific analysis of: vitamin A as (retinol palmitate); vitamin C; vitamin E (as vitamin E acetate); vitamin B1; vitamin B2; vitamin B6; vitamin B9 and vitamin B12 in 4 different dried foods and in 5 different thermally processed/sterilized foods. (Samples will be provided by the government. Not all vitamins will be analyzed at all pulls: see Table 1 for schedule.) The vitamins will be contained in 4 different dried foods and in retorted food that varies by 5 different processing methods. The total number of replicated tests (including all analyses) will be: In pulls requiring NLEA analysis-- 3 pulls (0-time; 12 months at 100F; and 36 months at 70F) x 9 prototypes x 6 replicates = 162 NLEA analyses As part of supplemental vitamin analysis in the NLEA pulls-- 3 pulls (0-time; 12 months at 100F; and 36 months at 70F) x 9 prototypes x 6 vitamins x 6 replicates = 972 vitamin analyses In pulls not requiring NLEA analysis: 3 pulls (6 months at 100F; and 12 and 24 months at 70F)x 9 prototypes x 5 vitamins x 6 replicates = 810 vitamin analyses + 2 pulls (0-time plus 4 week at 120F-initial prototypes) x 8 prototypes x 5 vitamins x 6 replicates = 480 vitamin analyses For each sample pull, 6 specimen replicates are required for analysis. The following analysis should be performed for each corresponding pull: Base Year - Long term Storage - 0 Weeks (Control) for 70 and 100 degree samples - NLEA analysis, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (folicacid), Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) - 6 month stored samples at 100 degrees - Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin C (ascorbic), Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitmain B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B9 (folic acid) - 12 month stored samples at 70 degrees - Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin C (ascorbic), Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B9 (folicacid) - 12 month stored samples at 100 degrees - NLEA analysis, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (folicacid), Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) Base Year - Short Accelerated Storage - 0 Weeks (Control) 4 week Short Accelerated samples - Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin C (ascorbic), Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B9 (folicacid) - 4 weeks Short Accelerated samples stored at 120 degrees - Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin C (ascorbic), Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B9 (folicacid) Option 1 - Year 2 Long term Storage - 24 month stored samples at 70 degrees - Vitamin A (retinol), Vitamin C (ascorbic), Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B9 (folicacid) Option 2 - Year 3 Long term Storage - 36 month stored samples at 70 degrees - NLEA analysis, Vitamin E (a-tocopherol), Vitamin B1 (thiamin), Vitamin B2 (riboflavin), Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), Vitamin B9 (folicacid), Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) Specifically, the contractor shall: - conduct analyses of the aforementioned vitamins/nutrient after storage at 70oF, 100oF, and 120oF in the food matrices according to the schedules shown in Table 1; - provide separate analyses for each of six sample replicates provided for each pull/product (i.e., without combining/blending food samples); - use Association of Analytical Communities (AOAC) methods of analysis; - Nutritional Labeling and Education Act (NLEA) compliant nutrient sample analysis - employ ISO 17025-certified procedures for all analyses; - provide information regarding method validation and assurance of repeatability; - conduct analyses and provide detailed reports within the following time frames: a) For first samples provided (8 initial prototypes provided both before storage and after 4 weeks of storage at 120F), analysis and report are due within 1 week of submission (total number of tests for these specimens = 480, as is detailed above) ; b) For all other samples, analysis and report are due within 3 weeks of sample submission. Although the period of performance will be for one year, the analysis will be required to be submitted in accordance with this Reporting schedule: For first samples provided (8 initial prototypes both before storage and after 4 weeks of storage at 120F), analysis and report are due within 1 week of submission (total number of tests for these specimens = 480, as is detailed above); for subsequent samples, analysis and report are due within 3 weeks of submission. After reading the scope of work above, please provide a white paper (5-page limit) responding to the following questions (include supporting documentation as applicable) (1) What qualifications/capabilities do you have to conduct all the analyses stated above (NLEA, Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, B9, B12, C and E)? (2) What demonstrated significant experience do you have performing these analyses? (3) What experience or past performance do you have in the use of AOAC methods of analysis and ISO 17025 certified procedures; (4) Are you able to provide results within 1 week after the first two samples submissions (2 storage times X 8 products X 6 replicates X 5 vitamins (A, C, E, B1, B9) and within 3 weeks of subsequent sample submissions? (5) Is your firm a small business?; (5) If this project were set-aside for small business, would you submit a proposal?; (6) If this project were set-aside for small business, would you submit a bid proposal if in your range?; (7) Is your firm a certified HUBZONE firm?; and (8) is your firm a certified 8(a) firm? Email only response are requested by 12:00 EST 2 April 2013 and should be forwarded to Ms. Laura Arscott at
contact@example.gov. This document will assist the Government in determining if this acquisition will be set aside for small businesses. Failure to answer any above questions may result in a determination of capability for purposes of this survey. This is not a request for proposal. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541380 Testing Laboratories.
