Notice_of_Intent_07072017.pdf

Title: Research Design, Functional and Animal Support Services

This is a sole source announcement. A written solicitation will not be issued. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) intends to award a Single Award Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract with firm-fixed price type task orders to Louisiana State University (LSU) to procure research design services, functional research support services and functional research animal support services.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Health Resources and Services Administrations (HRSA), Healthcare Systems Bureau (HSB), provides for care, treatment, education, and research on Hansen’s Disease (HD, Leprosy) through the National Hansen’s Disease Program (NHDP), situated in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Laboratory Research Branch (LRB) of the NHDP, located within the Louisiana State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, is a national and international center of excellence engaged in all aspects of HD research including, but not limited to epidemiology, immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, and microbiology. LRB also conducts specific research projects to design and validate methods for better diagnosis, care, treatment and prevention of HD. Findings in these experiments and research models have directly affected patients globally.

Research design services will be required to develop robust hypotheses through scientific literature review and knowledge gap analysis followed by development of detailed experimental strategies, procedures, and protocols to test these hypotheses. Research design services will also be required to conduct experiments, data acquisitions, data analyses and data presentations for peer review.

Functional research support services will provide skilled biological laboratory technical services that are typically required to perform various biological experiments, data acquisitions, analyses and maintenance of a modern biological laboratory. Technicians or research associates, provide these functional support services to the researchers.

Functional research-animal support services provided by animal caretakers or animal health technicians will include services for all aspects of day-to-day animal care and husbandry required to maintain a small-mammal vivarium for research purposes and to conduct biological experiments on these animals. These services are vital to carry on the mission of NHDP LRB through its various research programs. Specific research program areas include epidemiology, immunology, cell biology, molecular biology, microbiology, pathology, and research animal care/husbandry.

The period of performance will be for one 12-month base period and four 12-month option periods.

This notice is provided pursuant to FAR Part 5.201. The required services are only available from one responsible source and no other type of services will satisfy agency requirements.

Due to unique nature of the NHDP program, the legislation requires the program to be operated within the vicinity of Baton Rouge, LA. Extensive market research was conducted and LSU is the only known source who is able to provide these services.

Title: Research Design, Functional and Animal Support Services

The intent of this notice is not to solicit competitive offers. The proposed contract action is for supplies and services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under authority of FAR 16.504. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. However, interested offerors may submit their capabilities or responses for consideration before the closing date and time, July 24, 2017 at 10:00AM EST.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action is based upon responses to this notice and is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow up information requests.