DNA Molecule Synthesis

A. Sources Sought Notice: NHLBI-CSB-DE-2017-033-KEW B. Title: DNA Molecule Synthesis C. 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 business sources; and (2) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 112990, All Other Animal Production, for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method. All capability Statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Kyle Wisor, Contract Specialist, at kyle.wisor@nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by December 1, 2016, 9:00 AM, EASTERN TIME under Solicitation Number: NHLBI-CSB-DE-2017-033-KEW. FAXES ARE NOT ACCEPTED D. Information: 1. Background The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation's leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency conducting and supporting medical discoveries that improve people's health and save lives. The mission of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR) is to improve dental, oral, and craniofacial health through research, research training, and the dissemination of health information. The Laboratory of Sensory Biology (LSB) investigates fundamental mechanisms of various types of sensation including taste, somatosensation and pain and includes programs that are developing novel strategies to control pain. LSB investigators use human genetic approaches to study pain but the primary focus of the laboratory involves animal models and molecular genetic, behavioral, imaging and electrophysiological approaches to address questions about how sensory stimuli are detected and processed and to develop and test novel therapeutic strategies. 2. Purpose and Objectives The LSB is exploring the role of certain molecules in somatosensation. As part of these studies, the LSB uses transgenic mice to assess what is happening in an animal model. 3. Scope of Work The company will synthesize a DNA molecule which will allow homologous recombination to generate embryonic stem cells with targeted recombination in the TRPM8 gene locus to permit directed expression of the protein FLPO. The contractor shall target ES-cell clones and generate transgenic mice. Tasks 1. The contractor shall generate a targeting vector that has the required recombination 5' and 3' arms and an inserted DNA sequence to permit expression of the FLPO gene from the TRPM8 gene locus. Reporting schedule Because of the nature of this project, regular updates are not needed. However, the contractor should provide information on progress of the project, on an as needed basis (requests from NIH). These request will be sent via email, or, if the contractor chooses, via a secure user accessible website. Period of Performance December 8, 2016 through September 11, 2017 4. Capability Statement Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize itself with the requirements of this project. Failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk. The following information shall be included in the capability statement: a. A general overview of the respondents' opinions about the difficulty and /or feasibility of the potential requirement, and any information regarding innovative ideas or concepts. b. Information as needed in sufficient details of the respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. c. The respondents' DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZONE, etc) pursuant to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code: 112990, All Other Animal Production, Small Business Size $750K. d. Any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the requirements of the potential acquisition. e. The capability statement shall not exceed 20 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), with 8-1/2 by 11 inch paper size, and 1 inch top, bottom, left and right margins. f. All proprietary information should be marked as such. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address). Responses will be reviewed only by NIH personnel and will be held in a confidential manner. 5. Closing Statement All capability Statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Kyle Wisor, Contract Specialist, at kyle.wisor@nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by December 1, 2016 9:00 AM, EASTERN TIME under Solicitation Number: NHLBI-CSB-DE-2017-033-KEW. FAXES ARE NOT ACCEPTED. This Sources Sought Notice is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The NHLBI does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted. As a result of this notice, the NHLBI may issue a Request for Quote (RFQ). THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against NHLBI shall arise as a result of a response to this notice or the NHLBI's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. "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. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. 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)."