M -- Teaming Opportunity to Respond to RFP for Operating Contract for the DHS National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center

Sandia National Laboratories is seeking partners who may be interested in teaming for the operation of the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), a facility to be constructed by the DHS at the US Army Fort Detrick, MD site. The US Army has released a draft RFP for comment, for the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center operating contract, reference Federal Business Opportunity Special Notice USA-SNOTE-050531-006, released May 31, 2005, or http://www-usamraa.army.mil/pages/index.cfm. Sandia is one of the nation's largest research and development facilities. A Department of Energy (DOE) National Laboratory, Sandia's programs support DOE and the U.S. national security needs of many other federal agencies'including the departments of Homeland Security, Defense, Justice, Transportation, EPA, and others. The organization's technical programs range from basic scientific research to manufacturing operations with a particular emphasis on the development and deployment of robust, engineered systems solutions to problems of core national interest. Sandia is a major participant in DHS science and technology programs addressing biological national security issues. Of direct importance to NBACC objectives is Sandia's technical expertise (and supporting facilities) in biological science, analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, aerosol science and technology, advanced bioanalytical systems development and application, and systems analysis. Supporting capabilities in microsystems research and development, high-performance computing, biological countermeasures systems development, biodefense systems engineering, and work in international monitoring programs are also relevant to the NBACC mission. For more than a decade, Sandia has been heavily involved in the analysis of biodefense options and in the development and deployment of biological countermeasures technologies and systems. The work at Sandia touches on all aspects of this issue from detection of proliferant activities to the deployment of warning and response systems in urban settings to the decontamination and restoration to operation of contaminated facilities. Scientific efforts range from fundamental research into the mechanisms of virulence to bioforensic casework arising from the anthrax releases of the Fall of 2001. The work is principally focused on the threat of use of such agents against civilian populations and venues, but efforts to address the problem of protecting military forces and installations are also a significant part of our activity. Sandia is interested in providing the technical capabilities described above in partnership with one or more parties having an interest in providing the operational and management expertise in response to the NBACC RFP. Sandia is specifically interested in teaming with an entity or entities with significant capabilities or experience in managing facilities similar to the NBACC, management of FFRDCS, management of classified facilities, management of biological laboratories and biocontainment facilities, experience working with DHS and DoD, and capabilities to provide the infrastructure to manage NBACC operational requirements. Sandia is especially interested in a teaming arrangement in which Sandia would play a leadership role in managing and conducting the scientific and technical programs including the development and transition to products of technologies to achieve the objectives of the NBACC. Interested parties should contact Teresa Montoya, FBO Administration by phone +1 (555) 000-0000 or email at contact@example.gov, no later than July 22, 2005. Responders are asked to provide: 1) A current annual business/financial report, 2) a description of the responder's desired role, and Sandia's expected role, in a management team for the operation of NBACC, and 3) a description of the responder's capabilities and expertise related to: a) management of FFRDCS b) management of classified facilities c) management of biological laboratories/biocontainment facilities at or above the BSL2 level d) experience working with DHS and DoD e) excellence in business operations, i.e., financial operations, reporting, QA/QC, human resources, procurement and property management, safety and environmental responsibility, and legal functions, etc. Sandia National Laboratories is a government-owned-contractor-operated facility operated by Sandia Corporation, a subsidiary of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, for the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE) under Management and Operating (M&O) Contract DE-ACO4-94AL85000. As an FFRDC, Sandia is bound by Federal Acquisition Regulations and .DOE requirements. Sandia's capabilities are available to parties interested in responding to the DHS NBACC RFP, subject to complementary interests with Sandia. Sandia reserves the right to decline to submit a proposal in response to the final RFP for the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center.