Human iPS (hiPS) Differentiation Training for the NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM)

Sources Sought Notice No.: NHLBI-CSB-(AR)-2011-101-CRS Title: Human iPS (hiPS) Differentiation Training for the NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) This Sources Sought Notice (SS) 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 purpose of this SS is to identify qualified small business concerns [including Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB] that are interested in and capable of providing the below Human induced Pluripotent Stem Cell Training Course. 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 Sources Sought 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 Sources Sought notice or the NHLBI's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. The NHLBI is seeking capability statements from all eligible small business concerns [particularly Small Disadvantaged Businesses (SDB), Woman-owned Small Businesses (WOSB), Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) Small Businesses, Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (VOSB) and Service-Disabled Veteran-owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB)] under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541690 with a size standard of $7.0 Million. Based on the responses received from this SOURCES SOUGHT announcement, the proposed acquisition may be solicited as a Total Small Business Set-Aside. All eligible small business concerns responding to this Sources Sought Announcement must have the capabilities to provide the below services upon receipt of purchase order. Interested parties are expected to review this notice to familiarize yourself with the requirements of this project; failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk. Background: The NIH Center for Regenerative Medicine (NCRM) is seeking a company to provide courses to teach IRP researchers how to generate, maintain, and differentiate human iPS cells into a variety of lineages. NCRM is seeking a company with proven experience in stem cell technology and expertise in their differentiation to specific cell types such as neural, ocular or cardiac cells, and in providing effective training courses to beginning and advanced iPS researchers that contribute to successful hiPS cell generation and differentiation. Objective: The objective of this task is to provide training in generating, maintaining, and differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPS) cell lines. Instructors will provide "state of the art" information on differentiating hiPS cells into embryoid bodies and various differentiated cell types such as neural, ocular or cardiac cells. Task: The services to be provided under the task order shall include the following: - Provide training over a 2-day period in March 2011, to instruct 24 IRP scientists in how to generate, maintain, and differentiate hiPSCs. - At least 4 instructors will teach the course, providing a high instructor to student ratio. - The course will include both didactic information and "hands on" experience in making and differentiating hiPS cells. - The company will provide appropriate consumables, including reagents. Reporting requirements: The Scientific Director of Intramural Research in NIAMS will serve as the Project Officer for this contract, and will review and approve the work products generated. Interested parties should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement, not to exceed 20 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above and in the attached draft statement of work. 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. All capability Statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Aaron Blackshire, Contract Specialist, at aaron.blackshire@nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by February 16, 2010, 8:00 AM, EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered.