Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN)

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability and capability of all businesses to provide Electronic Laboratory Notebooks (ELN). Electronic Laboratory Notebook (ELN) is an initiative to provide scientists with the ability to replace their paper notebooks with intuitive software. An ELN is a computer program, which can be used to document research, experiments, and procedures performed in a laboratory. ELNs also allow for the direct incorporation of data from lab instruments to streamline the process of recording statistics and numbers. With the use of this technology, scientists will be given the ability to save, organize, compile, share, and protect intellectual property. ELNs will provide an added level of efficiency to the present way of recording results and data integration. Currently the scientists experience challenges in tying together paper documentation of the work performed and its conclusions with the countless types of digital files that constitute data and with the results/analyses, protocols, designs, calculations, and presentations and publications that often exist in electronic form. Interested potential offerors are encouraged to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall be limited to ten (10) pages, and must include: 1. The following information must be included on the FACE PAGE of the submittal (the face page is not counted in the ten (10) page limit): a. Company/Organization name, b. mailing address, c. e-mail address, d. telephone and FAX numbers, e. website address (if available), f. The name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives. g. Business size for 511210, (Size Standard: $38.5M), h. DUNS number, i. CAGE Code, j. Tax Identification Number, and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.). Companies also must be registered in the SAM (www.sam.gov) to be considered as potential sources. 2. Please provide the following information: a. A brief statement of capability to supply the desired items in the draft SOW. b. Complete the table in Section 4 regarding available features in your ELN product line. c. Briefly respond to the Use Case Evaluations found in Section 5. d. Supply Commercial pricing list(s) or other pricing information, if applicable and available. This information is excluded from page count restrictions. e. Customary practices, including warranties, discounts, and contract type(s) under which commercial sales of the products or services are made, if applicable and available. This information is excluded from page count restrictions. f. A complete Vendor Product Accessibility form (VPAT) for the ELN. A copy is available here: http://www.hhs.gov/web/508/contracting/technology/vpathhsinstructions.html This information is excluded from page count restrictions. g. A statement on the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) compliance. h. Identification of any Government contractual vehicles available for use for this requirement, such as GSA Federal Supply Schedule contract numbers and GWACs by agency and contract numbers, if applicable. i. Any comments or suggestions concerning FDA's requirements. To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure. This notice is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposals, a Solicitation, a Request for Quotes, or an indication the Government will contract for the items contained in this announcement. This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this announcement. Responses to this notice must be received by Contract Specialist named in this announcement no later than 12:00 p.m. ET on August 22, 2014 for consideration. E-Mail is the only acceptable method of delivery for this sources sought notice. Responses may be emailed to sherry.rowlett@fda.hhs.gov. All email files submitted in response to this RFI should begin with the vendor name submitting the RFI response (i.e., ABCCompanyResponse to FDA-RFI-1138019.doc) Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the outcome of the FDA's review of the information received. Additionally, the FDA does not intend to hold discussions concerning this RFI with any interested parties. This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this announcement. However, FDA reserves the right to contact one or more of the respondents if additional information is required or to request demonstrations. Responses to this announcement will not be returned, nor will there be any ensuing discussions or debriefings of any responses. However, information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in the subsequent solicitation if issued. This announcement is for Government market research and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses. Thank you for your interest.