Quantification of Drugs of Abuse and Related Substances in Biological Specimens

This is a Sources Sought Notice for Other Than Small Businesses. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of qualified business sources. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.. Project Requirements: The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) seeks capability statements from qualified Small Businesses having in-house capability to perform the following tasks: (1) to analyze experimental samples for drug concentrations in biological fluids and/or tissues, (2) to develop more specific and sensitive methods for existing drugs or compounds and provide analytical validations for such methods, and (3) to develop assays that are not currently available for compounds for which specific and sensitive assays are required by the drug abuse research community. The research drugs may include but not be limited to; cannabinoids, opiates, amphetamines, l?alpha?acetyl?methadol (LAAM), naltrexone, methadone, cocaine, phencyclidine, anabolic steroids, opioid peptides and peptidomimetics, benzodiazepines and other drugs and their metabolites. The concentrations of such drugs and metabolites usually appear in biological materials at ng/g or ng/ml levels and therefore require the use of state of the art chromatography methods for separation and highly sensitive instrumentations for identification and quantification, such as gas chromatography?mass spectrometry (GC?MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and LC-MS-MS. The analytical operation should follow good laboratory practice and have established standard operations as well as QA/QC procedures. The work requires secured facilities appropriate for storing biological samples and analytical data as well as computerized systems for tracking samples from receipt to final data report. This requirement may include the use of Options to Extend the Period of Performance and/or Options for Increased Quantity. Mandatory Requirements: In order to handle substances under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, it is mandatory that offerors possess a DEA Registration for Chemical Analysis or a DEA Research Registration for Schedules II to V and demonstrate the capability to obtain a DEA registration for Schedule I controlled substances. Capability Statement/Information Sought: The established NAICS code is 541715. Information sent should be relevant and specific in the technical area under consideration, on each of the following qualifications: (1) Experience: An outline of previous similar projects and work in the field of drug abuse; (2) Personnel: Name, professional qualifications and specific experience of scientists and/or technical personnel who may be assigned as project director and other key positions; (3) Facilities: Availability and description of facilities and equipment required to conduct this type of work. Any other specific and relevant information about this particular area of procurement that would improve our consideration and evaluation of the information presented is desirable. Interested organizations must demonstrate and document, in any capability statements submitted, extensive experience with and the ability to perform the above tasks. Organizations should demonstrate capability to administer and coordinate interrelated tasks in an effective and timely manner. Documentation may include, but not be limited to, contracts both Government and commercial the organization performed, references, i.e., names, titles, telephone numbers and any other information serving to document the organizations capability, e.g., awards, commendations, etc. All capability statements must provide the following: 1) company name and address; 2) point of contact, 3) phone/fax/email; 4) NAICS Code(s); 5) business size and status; 6) capability information in response to the requirement and qualifications identified in this notice; and 7) type of small business your organization classifies itself as (i.e.: women-owned, HUBZONE, etc.). All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to Alexander Beraud, Contract Specialist at alexander.beraud@nih.gov and Joshua Lazarus, Contracting Officer at josh.lazarus@nih.gov. Written responses and facsimile responses will NOT be accepted. Disclaimer and Important Notes: THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Any proprietary information should be so marked. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or to provide feedback to the respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).