Selection, Production, Characterization and Distribution of Cultured Cells for Research on Aging

This is a Research and Development (R&D) Sources Sought notice. 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 all qualified sources to perform a potential R&D requirement. Small Businesses are encouraged to respond. BACKGROUND The NIA maintains a repository of human and animal cells as a research resource for scientists conducting gerontological studies. This repository establishes, characterizes, stores and distributes a wide variety of cell lines for aging research. The contractor provides several related services to increase the value of this resource, including "DNA fingerprinting" of samples to ensure sample identification, karyotyping, populations doubling studies on selected cell lines, DNA isolation from selected cell lines, and expert quality assurance monitoring. In addition, banking of mouse and human stem cells has become a more recent priority for the repository and includes adipose stromal cells, mouse embryonic stem cells and human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC). The contractor provides excellent customer service to the research community, providing a state-of-the art web-based catalog with links to a variety of information for every cell line. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES The function of this repository is to obtain, characterize, store and distribute cell lines for studies on the biology of aging. The principal goal is to facilitate research on aging by providing cell cultures of high quality, uncontaminated and well-characterized, which many researchers would not have access to if not for this repository. PROJECT REQUIREMENTS The Contractor shall be responsible for: maintaining the current cell stocks frozen in liquid nitrogen; establishing new cell lines; conducting applied research activities related to improving the services of the repository; distributing cultures to investigators; maintaining stocks of DNA isolated from cell lines and isolating DNA as directed; maintaining a web-based catalog for the research community to use; maintaining and adding to the references associated with specific cell lines; and maintaining a comprehensive computerized data management system for the repository. REPORTS/DELIVERABLES The following reports will be required: (1) A monthly contract related summary of sales report should be submitted to the NIA. (2) A Quarterly Progress Report shall be provided to the NIA, indicating a description of the work performed during the reporting period, including new cell lines made or acquired, identification of cell lines for which nucleic acid is available and breakdown of cell lines/vials of nucleic acid shipped. (3) A final report shall be submitted before the expiration date of this contract. The Final Report shall be prepared in the same format as the quarterly progress reports, and shall include a summation of the work performed under the entire contract period of performance. ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE Five years from date of award, estimated time frame for award is on/about February 2020. OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541715 with a size standard of 1,000 employees. CAPABILITY STATEMENT/INFORMATION SOUGHT Respondents to this notice must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement to include the following: (1) information regarding the respondents' (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and, (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information; (2) respondents' DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HUBZone, etc.) pursuant to the applicable NAICS code; and, (4) any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the OPDIV's acquisition requirement. INFORMATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS Respondents should provide responses accordingly: (1) submit information electronically. No telephone or facsimile responses will be accepted; (2) format capability statements using Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF including attachments, resumes, charts, etc. Use single space, 12 font minimum and 8 - x 11 size paper; (3) organize material in such a manner that clearly identifies and address capability requirements and provide an executive summary; (4) capability statement should not exceed ten (10) single sided pages including references; (5) respondents must send one electronic copy via email; (6) responses must be received no later than February 15, 2019 at 4:00 p.m. Local Time; (7) include respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses; and (8) send responses to this notice via email to the Contract Specialist, Heather Orandi at Heather.Orandi@nih.gov. 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 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). Contracting Office Address: Contracts Management Branch Blue 6001 Executive Blvd, Rm 3166, MSC 9661 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9661 Primary Point of Contact: Heather Orandi 6001 Executive Blvd, Rm 3166, MSC 9661 Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9661 Heather.Orandi@nih.gov