Blood metabolite signatures of cognitive resilience in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS)

COMBINED SYNOPSIS / SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-CSS-18-00562 Title: Blood metabolite signatures of cognitive resilience in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisition, Contracts Management Branch Blue, on behalf of the National Institute of Aging intends to negotiate and award a purchase order without providing for full and open competition (Including brand-name) to BIOCRATES Life Sciences AG under the authority of FAR 6.302. ALL RESPONSIBLE SOURCES MAY SUBMIT A CAPABILITY STATEMENT, PROPOSAL, OR QUOTATION BY THE CLOSE DATE OF THIS COMBINED SYNOPSIS SOLICITATION, WHICH SHALL BE CONSIDERED BY THE AGENCY. A DETERMINATION BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT TO NEGOTIATE EXCLUSIVELY WITH THIS PROPOSED CONTRACTOR BASED UPON RESPONSES TO THIS NOTICE IS SOLELY WITHIN THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT. INFORMATION RECEIVED WILL NORMALLY BE CONSIDERED SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER TO CONDUCT A COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT. (i) This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items prepared in accordance with the format in Subpart 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-CSS-18-00562 and the solicitation is issued as combined synopsis solicitation. This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5-Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12-Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Pursuant to to FAR Subpart 13.501 (a) (1) (iv) the rationale for the sole source justification is that BIOCRATES Life Sciences AG is the only source able to provide large-scale quantitative metabolics allowing for the accurate measurement of absolute metabolite concentrations. (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-100, dated 08-22-2018. (iv) The associated NAICS code is 541714 and the small business size standard of 1,000 employees.This requirement has no set-aside restrictions. (v) The purpose of this acquisition is to utilize quantitative and targeted metabolomics in archived serum samples collected in the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study (WHIMS) to perform deep phenotyping and identify potential physiologic characteristics that promote cognitive resilience. (vi) The Contractor shall perform quantitative targeted metabolomics assays on 1,706 human serum samples from the WHIMS cohort to measure the concentrations of small metabolites in the following classes: - Biogenic amines and amino acids - Acylcarnitines - Glycerophospholipids - Sphingomyelins - Ceramides - Hexoses - Di- and triglycerides - Cholesteryl esters The Contractor shall also perform statistical analysis (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity) to identify small metabolite markers in serum that are associated with resilience to AD pathology. (vii) The anticipated period of performance is one year (12 months) from date of award. (viii) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (ix) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) Contractor's technical capability to meet the Government's requirement; (ii) past performance; and (iii) price. (b) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. (x) The Offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. (xi) The FAR clause at 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (xii) FAR clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (xiii) The following additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions as determined by the contracting officer are necessary for this acquisition and consistent with customary commercial practices: None. (xiv) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. (xv) Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. In addition the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must be received by Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 12:00 pm Eastern Time and reference number HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-CSS-18-00562. Responses may be submitted electronically to Heather Orandi at Heather.Orandi@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted. (xvi) The name and telephone number of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation: Heather Orandi, Heather.Orandi@nih.gov, (301) 443-6162.