Sources Sought - Bulk Domoic Acid (95% purity)

This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a request for quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain market research information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources that can meet a potential requirement. This notice is issued to determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. This notice is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue an RFQ or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for market research and information purposes only. Small businesses are encouraged to respond. Responses must include the place of manufacturing (to include address, whether supply/equipment is a domestic end product, and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable NAICS code (i.e. address Non-Manufacturer Rule). The response must also include their Unique Entity ID 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 any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements. Capability statement /information sought. Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements. Additionally, the capability statement should include the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements, any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and any other information considered relevant. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information. The response must include the respondents technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation number. The response must be submitted to Scott Beliveau, Contracting Officer at contact@example.gov The response must be received no later than 11:00am EST on or before March 3, 2024. 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 www.sam.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. PURPOSE: NOAA/NCCOS scientists require procurement of bulk domoic acid (DA) to produce a toxin-protein conjugate for incorporation into an NCCOS-designed algal toxin sensor integrated with the 2nd Generation Environmental Sample Processor platform. BACKGROUND: The toxin-protein conjugate, domoic acid (DA)-ovalbumin (OVA) (i.e., DA-OVA) has been synthesized as a proprietary, custom-designed reagent by Queen's University Belfast (QUB) and used over the past two decades by NOAA/NCCOS scientists in the original design and optimization of a sensor used to detect and measure DA associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs) in coastal marine environments. This highly specialized toxin sensor, developed as part of a decades-long, highly successful R&D program, is deployed as an integral component of the 2nd Generation Environmental Sample Processor (2G-ESP) and represents the centerpiece of this uncrewed observing platform's toxin monitoring capabilities. Such assets comprise part of NOAA's HAB observing and early warning effort mandated under the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act (HABHRCA; Public Law 115-423). SCOPE: NCCOS-designed algal toxin sensors integrated with the 2G-ESP platform are formatted for membrane-based protein arrays. The arrays used specifically to detect DA in the environment are fabricated by employing a custom-designed - ink formulated with the specially-designed toxin-protein conjugate identified above (i.e., DA-OVA) and used in the printing of low-density array feature maps on membrane discs. It is critical for the functioning of these DA toxin sensors at the required performance specifications that the same DA-OVA produced by QUB (based on proprietary chemistry), coupled with their proprietary DA antibody (procured previously by NOAA/NCCOS), be used in their continued fabrication in order to support essential, operational field deployments of 2G-ESPs. The Contractor shall furnish and deliver high-quality (at least 95% purity) bulk DA material identified and described below (including quantity required), to be used for the synthesis of DA-OVA by QUB. TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: The Contractor shall furnish and delivery bulk domoic acid (DA) at the quantity below which shall meet the following technical specifications: DA (10 milligrams): custom reference material (RM) for Domoic Acid (DA) as 2.5 milligrams DA+epiDA per milliliter in 5% acetonitrile/water (pH 6) at greater than or equal to 95% purity; 4 x 1 milliliter aliquots. Total = 10 milligrams DA.