Characterization of Human Arterial Immunoglobulin Repertoire (CHAIR)

INTRODUCTION: The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA-(AG)-PSOL-75N95019R00026 and the solicitation is issued as a PRE-SOLICITATION, NOTICE OF INTENT, to award a contract on a non-competitive basis to Johns Hopkins University, 3910 Keswick Road, Baltimore, MD 21211. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. A solicitation document will not be issued, and proposals will not be requested. However, responsible sources may express their interest by submitting a capability statement or proposal. All capability statements or proposals received within this notice's response date will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to complete this proposed requirement 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. ACQUISITION AUTHORITY: This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13--Simplified Acquisition Procedures and Subpart 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13--Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6--Competition Requirements. The non-competitive determination is based upon the market research conducted as prescribed in FAR Part 10--Market Research, specifically the results of market research concluded no other source of supply or service has the capability to provide the required services. BACKGROUND: The goal of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology (LMBI) is to elucidate molecular mechanisms of processes that contribute to age-associated changes in physiology, including diseases whose prevalence increases with age. Our research has three interconnected themes: 1) molecular mechanisms of basic cellular processes, 2) immune cell function, and 3) translating basic mechanisms to clinical research. Major areas of emphasis include: 1) elucidation of molecular mechanisms that govern tissue-specific gene expression; 2) molecular mechanisms of antibody diversity, 3) mechanisms controlling T cell memory, and 4) contribution of regulatory immune cells to cancer. As described below for the individual programs, a wide variety of in vitro and in vivo models are employed to approach these issues. These processes have direct relevance to our understanding of critical events associated with various age-related deficits and/or development of age-related diseases including cancer. LMBI investigators also study several aspects of human immunology. These areas of research include: 1) functional changes in immune cell types that occur with age and their contribution to chronic inflammation; 2) properties of age-associated immune subsets and 3) the emergence of autoimmunity in the elderly. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this requirement is for the Characterization of Human Arterial Immunoglobulin Repertoire (CHAIR), or more specifically to acquire arterial and peripheral B cells that will be analyzed to assess whether chronic inflammation during atherosclerosis drives the generation and activation of specific antibody clones. This acquisition is specifically for the isolation and collection of arterial tissue during surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS: A cardiologist will be required to coordinate the acquisition of arterial tissue during vascular surgery performed at local hospitals. As a medical doctor, the cardiologist will have access to participants' records to identify the ideal subjects. The cardiologist will provide guidance on medically relevant and irrelevant data which will assist in the correct correlations being made between our immune cell findings and clinical disease. A vascular surgeon will be required to perform the tissue isolation. As the attending surgeon, the vascular surgeon will present the research study to the participants, confirm that they meet the inclusion criteria, and coordinate with the NIA researchers when the surgeries will take place. During the procedure, the vascular surgeon will isolate tissue relevant to the research study in conjunction with the NIA researcher present in the operating room, place the tissue in 1x PBS storage container, and provide peripheral blood to NIA researchers. The NIA investigators will be responsible for arriving in the operating room prior to the tissue extraction, confirming participant consent to take tissue, provide tissue collection containers, and retrieve the tissue from the vascular surgeon during the operation. This tissue will then be transported to NIA for experimental analysis. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 12-months from date of award. OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS: (1) The Government is expected to use procedures in FAR Part 6.302-1 and (2) The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code 621111 with a size standard of $11.0 million. DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. CONFIDENTIALITY: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).