RNCP PORTFOLIO-WIDE DOSIMETRY VERIFICATION SERVICES

Sources Sought Notice Information Introduction This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Background Radiation exposure methodologies, used for radiation-based non-clinical animal research, varies from institution to institution. While the RNCP has communicated and tracked these methodologies for consistency across the program, dosimetry methods that have recently been centralized and harmonized must be maintained, and new sites must be added. It has been conclusively demonstrated that the accuracy and reproducibility of research findings is improved with standardized oversight of irradiators and irradiation protocols. Purpose and Objectives The purpose of this RFP, entitled - RNCP Portfolio-Wide Dosimetry Verification Service, is to define a RNCP program-led strategy for respondents who can provide services, facilities, expertise, and capabilities to develop a centralized dosimetry harmonization effort that fits with the resources and circumstances of projects across the funded RNCP portfolio. Project requirements Respondents shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the program-initiated Statement of Work that includes: Establishment of an irradiator inventory of NIAID/RNCP portfolio's institutions. Written report of the inventory and initial evaluation on the status of dosimetry methods and accuracy of radiation exposures delivered at institutions. During the first funding year of the contract (base period), draft and submit a protocol and conduct baseline evaluations based on the protocol of each RNCP-selected irradiator using respondent's existing phantom and/or dosimetry methodology. Work remotely with each participating institution to identify any modifications needed to improve the accuracy of radiation exposures based on data obtained in the baseline evaluations, and to identify specific issues or concerns that may be affecting radiation dose uniformity. These may include, but are not limited to energy settings, filter use, jig suitability, dosimeter(s) used, phantom selection, irradiator field mapping, and staff training. Uniform dosimetry measurements will have <5% variance from expected radiation dose. If consistent dose uniformity cannot be achieved remotely, the respondent will conduct on-site evaluations to work with the designated institutions to develop strategies that may require the respondent to manufacture specialized phantoms suitable to the institution's needs. The respondent will draft a standard operating procedure (SOP) specific to each participating institution that provides clear steps and guidelines on reproducing accurate and consistent radiation exposures based on the respondent's evaluation and interactions with the institution. Anticipated period of performance The total period of performance resulting from the base period plus all potential Term Options is 5 years. If Option 1-4 are exercised, the services required will be the same as provided during the base year. Other important considerations The respondent will have preliminary data demonstrating consistent and accurate dosimetry exposure assessments within a clearly defined radiation exposure system that is used for non-clinical radiation animal (and in vitro) studies in more than one animal species (e.g., mouse and NHP). The respondent will have established guidelines for their radiation exposure system for measuring dosimetry, calibration and maintenance of the irradiator(s) and have quantifiable data demonstrating accurate determination of radiological exposure in tissues. The preliminary data will be included in a Radiation Exposure Network profile, which will also include a description of the system, a summary of how it is used for animal (and in vitro) studies, a description of the supporting evaluations that determine the quality and accuracy of the radiation to be delivered, such as phantoms already in use by the respondent that demonstrates expertise in radiation dosimetry. Capability statement / information sought Respondents must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement, - white paper, that describes (a) staff expertise in radiation dosimetry, including their availability, experience, and formal and/or other training; (b) current in-house capability of the respondent's radiation exposure system and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information. Page Limitations: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored Capability Statement not to exceed 5 pages, excluding resumes. Capability Statements must not include links to internet web site addresses (URLs) or otherwise direct readers to alternate sources of information. Font size must be 10 to 12 points. Spacing must be no more than 15 characters per inch. Within a vertical inch, there must be no more than six lines of text. Print margins must be at least one inch on each edge of the paper. Print setup should be single sided on standard letter size paper (8.5 x 11" in the U.S., A4 in Europe). All proprietary information should be marked as such. Required Business Information: DUNS. Company Name. Company Address. Company Point of Contact, Phone and Email address Current GSA Schedules and/or Government-wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) appropriate to this Sources Sought. Do you have a Government approved accounting system? If so, please identify the agency that approved the system. Type of Company (i.e., small business, 8(a), woman owned, veteran owned, etc.) as validated via the System for Award Management (SAM) located at https://sam.gov/content/home. This indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your Capability Statement (preferable placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address). Number of Copies: Please submit one (1) electric copy of your response as follows: All Capability Statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to Tom Bahrami (bahramit@niaid.nih.gov) and Zobair Qasim Zadeh (zobair.qasimzadah@nih.gov ) Contracting Officer and Contract Specialist, respectively, in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The email subject line must specify HHS-NIH-NIAID-SBSS-75N93023R00023. Facsimile responses will not be accepted. Common Cut-off Date: Electronically submitted tailored capability statements are due no later than 3:00PM (Eastern Prevailing Time) on 08/25/2023. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. Disclaimer and Important Notes 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. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published at SAM.gov. 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).