Notice of Intent to Sole Source

This is a notice of intent to award a Sole Source Procurement. This is not a Request for Quotes or Proposals. No contract award will be made on the basis of responses to this notice. The purpose of this notice is to allow interested parties to assert and explain their capability to perform the work described in the attached draft Statement of Work (SOW), attachment 1. The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Procurement Operations (OPO) Science and Technology Acquisitions Division (STAD) intends to issue a sole source contract to Health Research Inc. / Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health. This effort is to develop standard test methods to support field evaluation of technologies used for biological agent detection in accordance with the draft SOW, attachment 1, in support to DHS, Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate, Standards Office, Acquisition Support & Operations Analysis, Biological Countermeasures Standards program. Interested parties may submit responses to this notice. All responses must demonstrate clear and convincing evidence, addressing the points identified below, that their company or entity will satisfy the government's technical requirement. 1. The draft Statement of Work requires a performer interact with entire response chain from the laboratory response network at the state level through federal representative for the state or region and regional or local response units. Provide your experience with the following entities/teams/organizations: - Public health laboratory response member at the state or regional level - National Guard civil support teams - Hazardous material response units - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) weapons of mass destruction coordinators - Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regional representatives - National Institute of Standards and Technology 2. Because the Stakeholder Panel for Agent Detection Assays (SPADA) is the only national standard for biothreat detection and device testing, and will be the basis for the field testing for this SOW, it is important the performer have experience with the development of biothreat standards as established by SPADA. Provide information demonstrating experience with development of biothreat standards as established by SPADA. 3. The field performance test program will be based on ASTM e-2458(2010)" Standard Practices for Bulk Sample Collection and Swab Sample Collection of Visible Powders Suspected of Being Biological Agents from Nonporous Surfaces" and ASTM e-2770(2010) "Standard Guide for Operational Guidelines for Initial Response to a Suspected Biothreat Agent" standards for suspicious powder response. Provide information demonstrating knowledge regarding ASTM e-2458(2010) and ASTM e-2770(2010), e.g., field training exercises or a any related training programs (including any issued certificates). 4. Because the deliverables resulting from this draft SOW will include products that will serve as the basis of a national standard for biothreat equipment, it is important the performer have experience in national standards development. Provide information regarding experience with SPADA, ASTM, NFPA (Nat Fire Prot Assoc) or other ANSI accredited standards development organizations. 5. Provide experience/knowledge operating any of the currently available biothreat detection technologies.