Development of a Course on Neuropathic Pain Models and Measures

COURSE ON NEUROPATHIC PAIN MODELS AND MEASURES - The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute on behalf of The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is conducting a market survey to determine the availability and technical capability of small business organizations to perform this requirement. Sources are sought that possess the capability to design, develop, and implement an annual, comprehensive course in neuropathic pain research methodologies that includes didactic and hands-on experience. Sources are sought that possess the ability to provide dedicated facilities and personnel for classroom instruction, laboratory training, and animal care. New investigators attempting to enter the pain field require expert instruction and training in the performance and use of these methodologies in order to develop independent, successful research careers. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small business; HUBZone Small Business; Service-Disabled, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses; 8(a) Small Business; Veteran-Owned Small Businesses; Woman-Owned Small Businesses; or Small Disadvantaged Businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541690 for the proposed acquisition. The responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. This synopsis has been prepared to test the marketplace and determine if it is feasible to conduct this acquisition as a small business set-aside. The work to be performed is a new requirement. The contract is anticipated to be awarded on March 01, 2010 for a period of five years. The purpose of this program is to establish a short-term, intensive course on the best practices in pain research including the standards of current research methodologies, analytical procedures, and interpretation of results. The contractor will provide training in neuropathic pain research focused on preclinical rodent models of neuropathic pain and on methods for measuring pain. The contractor will comprise classroom presentations of basic, theoretical, ethical and historical background information on neuropathic pain. The contractor will also include hands-on training in animal surgeries and microsurgeries, chemical- and disease-induced neuropathic pain models, neuroanatomical, histological, and electrophysiological cellular analyses. In addition, the contractor will include hands-on training in the biophysical and biobehavioral measurement of pain for sixteen course participants per year.. The intended participants in this course are graduate students, junior faculty, and other researchers who are interested in learning these techniques in neuropathic pain in order to be better equipped to develop independent research careers the pain field. This course will benefit users by providing them with expertise in the methodologies and ethical conduct of experiments and animal care in neuropathic pain research. It is anticipated that participation in this course will lead to well-trained researchers who are able to enter the pain field and are capable of developing and carrying out independent, rigorous pain research programs of the highest quality. The potential contractor must provide a wide range domain expertise in the methods of neuropathic pain research, research experience, and publication record. Services include: 1) Develop the curriculum, 2) Provide training facilities and materials, 3) Recruit and select participants. Small business firms that have experience in performing the tasks described above are invited to submit capability statements. Capability statements will be evaluated on the following: 1) evidence of the firm's status as a small business under NAICS code 541690 with a size standard of 500 employees; 2) evidence of experience and ability to meet these criteria: a) Demonstrated research experience and scientific understanding of neuropathic pain, b) demonstrated expertise in primary sensory neuron cell culture and cellular electrophysiology, c) demonstrated expertise in using standard models of neuropathic pain including surgical, chemical and disease induced neuropathic pain, d) demonstrated expertise in using standard methods of assessing pain in animals including evoked and functional/biobehavioral measures, e) expertise in the handling, care and management of animals with acute and chronic pain, f) demonstrated expertise and experience in educating and training individuals in pain research methods, g) demonstrated expertise in assessing educational progress and hands-on expertise of students, h) provision of laboratory and animal care facilities for a course in neuropathic pain methodology and; i) availability and adequacy of the firm's facilities and equipment to accomplish the project requirements. Three (3) copies of the capability statement must be received at the address shown below by 3:30 pm local time on the fifteenth (15th) calendar day from the date of this announcement. Responses must reference Sources Sought Number HHS-NIH-NHLBI-PB-(DE)-SBSS-2009-325-CM and include the following: (1) Name and address of the organization, (2) Size and type of business: Small Business; HUBZone Small Business; Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business; 8(a) Small Business; Veteran-Owned Small Business; Woman-Owned Small Business; or Small Disadvantaged Business. Cornelius Moore Contracting Specialist, Office of Acquisitions, DERA National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, DHHS 6701 Rockledge Drive, Rockledge II, Room 6110, MSC 7902 Bethesda, MD 20892-7902 For overnight deliveries use zip code 20817, no MSC is required. Capability statements may also be emailed to Cornelius Moore at mooreco@nhlbi.nih.gov. Include the name and telephone number of a point of contact and please reference this notice number. Capability statements received in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will not be considered. This is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP).