SOURCES SOUGHT: Neurodegenerative Disease Scientific Data Analysis and Consulting Services

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; (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. This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation 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 research and information purposes only. Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias have no effective treatments to halt or reverse disease progression. The complexity of these diseases, driven by genetic, molecular, and environmental factors, requires an innovative, data-driven approach to accelerate scientific discovery. Bioinformatics, at the intersection of biology, computer science, and statistics, is a critical tool that empowers researchers to address this challenge. Together, the scientific staff at the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD) will work directly with the contractor's bioinformatics team on the integration and analysis of large, multidimensional datasets'imaging, genomic, proteomic and transcriptomic data integrated with clinical measurements to enable the identification of novel drivers of disease pathogenesis, the discovery of biomarkers for stratification and early diagnosis, as well as new therapeutic targets. The necessity of advanced analytics in Alzheimer's disease and related dementias research is underscored by the increasing volume and complexity of data generated by new platforms such as spatial transcriptomics and single cell proteomic, epigenetic and transcriptomics. CARD needs a partner in advanced analytics that can keep pace with these new platforms and analytical tools, to uncover insights needed to fully understand the molecular underpinnings of disease. Bioinformatics, analytics and statistics will provide computational tools to integrate diverse data types, identify patterns and associations that are not readily apparent, and predict disease mechanisms. The contractor must work with the scientific staff to visualize and interpret data. The team will also help foster and lead collaborations across groups within and outside the NIH. Moreover, the contractor is an essential resource driving group. The team analyzes diverse publicly available datasets and provides insightful interpretations. Advanced analytics also aligns with CARD's structural priorities, including data democratization, transparency, and reliability, ensuring that Alzheimer's and related dementias research is inclusive, reproducible, and impactful across the global scientific community. The advanced analytic teams should be capable of designing and implementing solutions that improve data accessibility, quality, and interoperability across the scientific community, ensuring that CARD data adheres to the FAIR principles and integrates seamlessly with FHIR-based standards, enabling more effective data exchange and utilization in operational contexts. This support is currently provided via Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract 75N95020D00014. The current contractor is DATACONSULT-IO and the current ordering period is August 24, 2020 - August 23, 2025. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to procure scientific data consulting services related to neurodegenerative diseases in support of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), Center for Alzheimer's and Related Dementias (CARD). Project requirements: The Contractor shall provide scientific data consulting support services in relation to Alzheimer's disease and related dementias as follows: Task Categories /Tasks: General analytics support, guidance, and training - Provide guidance and recommendations regarding statistical and computing processes related to analyzing the data generated by CARD scientists. This includes many established assays and platforms as well as newly developed omic platforms. CARD is flexible and dynamic, data analysis needs may change quickly and the team will be adaptable. Contractor shall provide previous experience with UK Biobank Research Analysis Platform, Verily Workbench, Terra, Azure, and Google Cloud platforms. - Analyze molecular biology and genomic data. including genome-wide genotype data, CRISPR studies, whole genome/exome sequencing, and transcriptomic sequencing, using standard biostatistics/bioinformatics packages as well as machine and deep learning methods - Collaborate with NIH scientists and other NIH collaborators to perform multi-national analytics and data management efforts related to the genomics of neurodegenerative diseases within a meta-analysis and - big data framework. - Lead studies analyzing biobank scale datasets in neurodegenerative disease - Conduct formal systemic reviews in collaboration with other NIH ICs and external teams in the neurodegenerative disease space - Prepare manuscripts related to analyses performed in relation to this requirement In this task category, the contractor shall work closely with the NIA scientific staff. Whenever possible, the contractor shall work closely with the scientific team to collaborate, understand the wet lab practices and quality control metrics that are necessary for high quality data output. The contractor shall work closely with the scientific staff to interpret the biological meaning of the data in order to create the best tables, tools, and visualizations to identify and highlight data outcomes. Standard analytics tool/pipeline application - Manipulate genome-scale, proteomics, whole genome short and long read sequencing data, transcriptomic data, single cell, spatial and imaging data as directed, building applications to democratize these data types for the CARD and NIH community - Analyze molecular genetics and genomic data, including genome-wide genotype data, CRISPR screens, transcriptomics, single cell and spatial technologies, short and long read sequencing using standard biostatistics/bioinformatics packages as well as machine and deep learning methods. - Develop, implement, and maintain cloud-based analytic pipelines for generating and analyzing multi-modal datasets - Develop safe applications in the AI space to accelerate the research process in the area of neurodegenerative disease. In this task category, the contractor shall collaborate with the scientific staff at CARD to prioritize datasets for analysis and data interpretation. The teams will work together to create standardized, best practices for data analysis. Tool testing, development and implementation - Assay platforms are constantly growing and improving. Tools to analyze, visualize and interpret the data also grow significantly. The contractor shall spend some time testing tools for a given task, interpreting how they work, which ones provide better/useful outputs, are more consistent, and/or considered community best practices from papers. Tools will be prioritized and evaluated as a collaborative effort with the scientific team. - Some tools have limits that do not allow CARD researchers to ask important questions. The contractor, when they are able, should work with researchers to develop better tools for data analysis. It is important to establish together what current limitations are most important to prioritize. In this task category, the contractor shall work with the scientific staff to identify the limits of current tools and where new tool development could provide better insights into disease mechanisms, biomarkers, or therapeutic targets. New assays are constantly being developed and new questions about what the new datatypes can reveal are being considered. The most useful prioritization of resources and skill sets would require the scientific staff and the contractor working closely on how to develop better tools and applications that overcome current limitations. Management of analytic ecosystem and analytics projects - Manipulate genome wide array, short and long read sequence data as directed, sharing in cloud-based open science platforms and on NIH's biowulf cluster. - Analyze molecular genetics and genomic data, including genome-wide genotype data, CRISPR screens, short and long read whole genome and transcriptomic sequencing, using standard biostatistics/bioinformatics packages as well as machine and deep learning methods. - Develop, implement, and maintain cloud-based analytic pipelines for generating and analyzing multi-modal datasets. - Collaborate with NIH scientists and other NIH collaborators to perform multi-national analytics and data management efforts related to the genomics of neurodegenerative diseases within a meta-analysis and - big data framework. - Build and maintain safe AI infrastructure for data harmonization supporting FHIR and FAIR data. - Build and maintain collaborative knowledge transfer utilities in the cloud for public consumption of research deliverables. In this task category, the contractor shall help build the data infrastructure to ensure that datasets are properly managed, documented, and available for efficient reuse. Work closely with data stewards and researchers to improve data findability, accessibility, and interoperability. Work with clinicians and researchers to ensure data standards align with clinical needs, regulatory compliance and research objectives. Stay up to date with the latest advancements in FAIR, FHIR data standards. Anticipated period of performance: The government anticipates an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with an ordering period of five (5) years. Capability statement/information sought: Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required services 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 separately. Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) 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 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. 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. Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. 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 notice number. One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2 x 11 paper size, with 1 top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing. The information submitted must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required. The response is limited to a ten (10) page limit. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested. All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contract Specialist. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted. The response must be submitted to Hashim Dasti, Contract Specialist, at e-mail address hashim.dasti@nih.gov. The response must be received on or before January 24, 2025 at 11AM Eastern Time. Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. 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