Marine Mammal Health Diagnostic Testing

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT REQUEST ONLY to identify sources, including small and socioeconomic small business concerns, capable of performing the key criteria of the requirement. The information provided in this notice is subject to change and is not binding to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). NOAA has not made a commitment or an authorization to incur cost for which reimbursement would be required or sought. All submissions become Government property and will not be returned. Responses shall be received no later than June 15, 2023 by 10:00 A.M. Mountain Time, sent via email to hillary.stansfield@noaa.gov and samantha.l.brown@noaa.gov. Responses must be received in a supported Adobe or Microsoft Office file format. These formats are the only acceptable methods of submitting a response electronically. Zip Files, Cloud storage providers, google docs, web based drop boxes, OneNote/OneDrive, URLs, web-based format, or any other virtual/web-based memory service are NOT acceptable methods of submitting a response electronically. A determination by the Government not to conduct a competitive procurement, based upon response to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral communications are not acceptable in response to this notice. 1.0 Description The NOAA, Western Acquisition Division (WAD), on behalf of the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Protected Resources (OPR), is seeking possible sources able to provide support of the purchase of Marine Mammal Health Diagnostic Testing. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. The size standard for this NAICS code is $16.5 Million. 2.0 Background and Objective The NMFS OPR implements the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) that provides scientific information on the health and health trends of marine mammal populations in the wild and provides an infrastructure for response to and investigations of marine mammal unusual mortality events. The objective of this work is to evaluate and determine causes of illness and death in free-ranging and stranded live and dead marine mammals to assist with emergency response to marine mammal stranding events and disease investigations. This effort is important to inform researchers on the health, health trends, and diseases of marine mammal populations, and to provide advice to management regarding circumstances or causes of morbidity and mortality to support of NOAA's mandates for species conservation and recovery under the Endangered Species Act and Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Contractor shall provide diagnostic support for the MMHSRP. The Contractor shall perform whole genome sequencing of samples for assessing the pathogenesis and host susceptibility to pathogens in marine mammals, as needed. The Contractor shall provide Pathogen (e.g., morbillivirus, Brucella sp., etc.) diagnostic testing including but not limited to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for UME monitoring and wild disease surveillance. The Contractor shall perform histopathology services including but not limited to routine processing including trimming of tissues, embedding of tissues, cutting slides, normal H&E stains, special stains, and immunohistochemical stains as needed. The Contractor shall provide expert consulting services for case reviews, pathogen testing or diagnostics and input on sampling design or testing for UMEs. The contractor shall provide laboratory staff necessary to complete tasks including; whole genome sequencing, pathogen PCR and Culture tests (e.g., morbillivirus, Brucella sp., influenza virus, coronavirus, general bacteria or fungal screen, etc.), pathogen sequencing, histopathology case and expert consulting. These services are currently being provided under purchase order 1305M322PNFFK0391 issued to the University of Illinois pursuant to FAR 13.106-1(b)(1)). 3.0 Requested Information Interested firms shall submit a capability statement which shall demonstrate how the firm will meet the key service requirements as listed in this notice. The submitted capability statement shall include the following: Company Overview Company Name and Address including website Social-economic status, business size, and size standard within NAICS code 541690. Unique Entity Identifier (UEI/SAM) number. Any additional information