Description: Infrastructure Support for Dietary Supplement Methods of Analysis This is a small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether there are small businesses; HUB Zone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; 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 for the potential acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Applicable NAICS code for consideration under this Sources Sought Notice is 813920. The National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS) is seeking to identify sources with the technical capabilities and prior, successful experience in providing scientific and administrative support for the development and validation of analytical methods for selected analytes in dietary supplements. Objective: The Office of Dietary Supplements seeks technical assistance leading to the creation of accurate, reliable, practical, validated, and published analytical methods for selected dietary supplements. This effort will be accomplished by contracting with a voluntary standard setting body (as defined in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119 Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities) for the coordination and oversight of pre- and post- laboratory administrative efforts that assist in the creation and dissemination of validated methods of analysis for selected analytes in dietary supplement raw materials and finished products. The vendor will be expected to create and administer a stakeholder-driven infrastructure support process that utilizes expert volunteer stakeholder panels organized and conducted by the contractor. This infrastructure support contract is intended to guide, support, and enhance laboratory studies that will be performed under the auspices of a separate acquisition that will be funded using standard NIH procurement mechanisms. No laboratory work is required by the contract described in this notice. Vendor Capabilities Innovative technical approaches to satisfying the anticipated requirement through project planning, conducting stakeholder panels, assisting study scientists, and reporting results would be sought if the Office of Dietary Supplements opts to issue a solicitation for this requirement. If your organization is a small business that is a voluntary standards setting body and has the potential capacity to perform these types of services, please provide the following in your submission packet: - 1) A detailed capability statement not to exceed 5 pages - 2) Organization name, address, email address, web site address, and telephone number. - 3) Size and type of ownership for the organization [i.e., small business, small disadvantaged business, 8(a) firm, etc.]. - 4) Evidence of status as a Voluntary Standards Body as defined in OMB Circular A-119 Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities. The capability statement should include, and will be considered for, the following elements: - 1) Documentary evidence that the vendor is a voluntary standard setting body (as defined in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-119 Federal Participation in the Development and Use of Voluntary Consensus Standards and in Conformity Assessment Activities) - 2) In-house expertise in dietary supplement analysis and method validation, with demonstrable training and experience in analytical chemistry, statistics, natural products chemistry, pharmacognosy, and nutrient analysis. - 3) Documentary evidence of access to a pool of volunteer expert stakeholders with experience and expertise in all aspects of the analysis of dietary supplement raw materials and finished products and method validation. Stakeholder expertise should include analysis of raw materials and products (including plant material, extracts, and mixtures) containing vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, fats, animal-derived compounds, and adulterants such as pesticides. Alone or in combination. - 4) Experience in all steps of creating and disseminating public standards for the analysis of dietary supplements, including selection of ingredients, products, and analytes; identifying priority needs; setting method performance requirements; and disseminating validated methods. - 5) Available project examples and client references from successful projects of similar scope related to dietary supplement methods performed within the last 3 years. Submissions must be received by 5:00 pm (EST) on Friday January 23, 2013. Please send your submission in .pdf format to Ms. Marci Goldman, Contracting Officer, at the following email address: GoldmanM@od.nih.gov Please limit your capability statements to a maximum of five (5) pages. The font size shall be a minimum of 12 point. All margins shall be at least - inch.
