Repository of Mouse Models for Cytogenetic Disorders

This is a Small Business Sources Sought. This is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available at this time. The purpose of this synopsis is to identify small business organizations with requisite qualifications to provide the services stated herein. Based on capability statements received in response to this Sources Sought Announcement, this acquisition may be solicited as a 100% small business set-aside. All small business organizations (SB, SOB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB) are encouraged to respond to this notice. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. This requirement is assigned a code of 541714 in the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS), and the small business size standard for such requirements is 1,000 employees or less. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/NIH, seeks capability statements from interested and qualified potential sources to produce, maintain, and distribute aneuploid mice with a primary emphasis on models of human trisomy for chromosome 21. The Contractor shall maintain the "Repository of Mouse Models for Cytogenetic Disorders" (or "Mouse Repository") as elaborated below. 1. Breed various strains of mice to serve as models of Down syndrome that are of known genetic background and will produce genetically unbalanced gametes resulting in complete or partial trisomic or monosomic embryos with special emphasis on mouse chromosomes that are syntenic to Hsa21, as available. a. Acquire new strains. Under the contract, the Contractor shall add at least one new mouse strain of interest to the investigator community, such as, but not limited to the TcMAC21 strain, to the Mouse Repository. 2. Establish a production facility to ensure that adequate breeding pairs of mice are available to meet the needs and interests of the research community engaged in studying other cytogenetic disorders aside from Down syndrome. 3. Apply refined procedures to cryopreserve embryos that will be rescued by thawing and re-implanting them in pseudo-pregnant mice for any actively produced mouse strains for which this has not been done. 4. Distribute the animal models to qualified investigators approved by the NICHD. 5. Test the animals periodically for pathogens as per standard protocols that are outlined in the standard operating procedures by the Contractor. 6. Characterize the clinical and neurobehavioral phenotype of the mouse models to ensure integrity of the strains and to allow for comparative phenotypic information among different murine strains using a standardized battery of tests, or as specified by the COR. 7. Publicize the availability of mouse models indicating the type of strains in the colony as well as detailed information about the background strain, genotype, protocols for genotyping, husbandry conditions, phenotype and neurobehavioral characteristics, and other details as specified by the COR. 8. A semi-annual technical report and a semi-annual progress report with elements as outlined in the Reporting Requirements are required during the contracting period. 9. Monthly discussions with the COR and CO regarding appropriateness of offered mouse strains, breeding efficiency and additional strategies, average time to process and ship orders for requested mice, priority categories and fee schedule for different funding sources of investigators, and any other issues or concerns raised by the Contractor or COR, or CO. Anticipated period of performance: Base year plus four 1-year options for a total of 5 years. Capability Statement/Information Sought: To be deemed capable of providing the services needed for the repository, the offeror must submit a written capability statement that clearly demonstrates the following: - Experience: Provide evidence of successfully breeding, maintaining, and distributing mice that produce partial trisomy with special emphasis on the Ts65Dn mouse strain. Provide successful documentation of the phenotypic and behavioral equivalence of the Ts65Dn strain in which the Pde6brd1 (retinal degeneration) gene has been successfully removed to the original Ts65Dn strain, for large-scale future distribution and a plan to effect this transition. In addition, evidence of successfully cryopreserving embryos and implanting them into pseudo-pregnant mice to produce viable progeny should also be provided. Provide documentation of prior ability to maintain mice in a healthy, pathogen-free state. - Facilities: The offeror must demonstrate that it has facilities and equipment for breeding, maintaining, and distributing mice that produce partial trisomy, including adequate computer documentation and processing of requests, and a system for timely completion of orders for mice. - Other specific capabilities to be demonstrated are: the ability to identify, maintain, and breed mice carrying balanced Robertsonian fusion chromosomes producing whole chromosome aneuploidies and partial trisomies involving chromosome 16, and when available, chromosomes 10 and 17. The offeror must have reliable, cost-effective protocols for genotyping mice. Interested organizations that believe they possess the capabilities necessary to undertake this project should submit electronic copies of their capability statement, addressing the areas above. Please limit responses to fifteen (15) pages or less, excluding resumes. Any proprietary information should be so marked. Electronic capability statements should be received by email to the Contract Specialist by no later than 3:00 PM local time on April 23, 2020. Capability statements must identify the business status of the organization (i.e. educational institution, non-profit, large business, small business, 8 (a), or other corporate or non -corporate entity).