Sources_Sought_Notice_06202017.pdf

17-258-SOL-00022; Title: Research Design and Functional Support Services

Sources Sought Notice

Contracting Office Address

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Acquisition Management and Policy 5600 Fishers Lane Rockville, MD 20857

Description

This is a SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE to determine the availability and capability of small and large entities, including private nonprofit entities, to provide any or all of the services required for Research Design and Functional Support Services. The legislative authority for the National Hansen’s Disease Programs (NHDP) is Public Law 99-117, Section 2. (a.), Section 320, and is guided by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations. 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 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. The LRB facility is located within Louisiana State University.

The purpose of this requirement is to acquire research design services, functional research support services and functional research-animal support services. 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. Scientists, Research Assistant, senior post-doctoral fellows, post-doctoral fellows or senior research associates usually provide research design services.

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.

Contractors may submit a response under NAICS 541711; Research and development in biotechnology. The PSC Code is B599; Other Special Studies and Development.

Interested potential offerors are encouraged to respond to this notice. However, be advised that generic capability statements are not sufficient for effective evaluation of respondents’ capacity and capability to perform the specific work as required. Responses must directly demonstrate the company’s capability, experience, and/or ability to marshal resources to effectively and efficiently perform each of the tasks described above at a sufficient level of detail to allow definitive assessment and evidence that the contractor can satisfy the requirements. Failure to provide sufficient information related to these functions will result in a finding that respondent lacks capability to perform the work.

Responses to this notice shall be limited to 10 pages, and must include:

1. Company name, mailing address, e-mail address, telephone and FAX numbers, website address (if available), and the name, telephone number, and e-mail address of a point of contact having the authority and knowledge to clarify responses with Government representatives.

2. Capability statements and experiences related to performing similar functions. Must demonstrate past work experience that is on a national level. Must indicate which of the functions the contractor is interested in and the potential OCI of performing the functions.

3. Name, title, telephone number, and e-mail addresses of individuals who can verify the demonstrated capabilities identified in the responses.

4. DUNS number, CAGE Code, Tax Identification Number, and company structure (Corporation, LLC, partnership, joint venture, etc.). Companies also must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) database (http://www.sam.gov) in order to be considered as potential sources.

5. If the company has a Government approved accounting or purchase system, please identify the agency that approved the systems.

To the maximum extent possible, please submit non-proprietary information. Any proprietary information submitted should be identified as such and will be properly protected from disclosure.

This notice is for planning purposes only, and does not constitute an Invitation for Bids, a Request for Proposals, a Solicitation, a Request for Quotes, or an indication the Government will http://www.sam.gov/ contract for the services contained in this announcement. This request is not to be construed as a commitment on the part of the Government to award a contract, nor does the Government intend to pay for any information submitted as a result of this request. The Government will not reimburse respondents for any cost associated with submission of the information being requested or reimburse expenses incurred to interested parties for responses to this announcement.

Responses to this notice must be received by the Contract Specialist named below not later than 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on Wednesday, July 5, 2017 for consideration. Please submit responses via e-mail.

Responses to this announcement will not be returned, and there will not be any ensuing discussions or debriefings of any responses. However, information obtained as a result of this announcement may be reflected in the subsequent solicitation, and HRSA may contact one or more respondents for clarifications or for information that will enhance the Government’s understanding. This announcement is Government market research, and may result in revisions in both its requirements and its acquisition strategy based on industry responses.

POINTS OF CONTACT

Jennifer Lohmeier Contract Specialist E-mail: JLohmeier@hrsa.gov Phone: (301) 443-5592 mailto:JLohmeier@hrsa.gov