36C25226R0084.docx

Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

36C252 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101

Milwaukee WI 53214-1476

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contractor Tiarrah V Turner

TIARRAH.TURNER@VA.GOV

414-844-4821

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

Sources Sought Notice

GENERAL INFORMATION

SET-ASIDE

36C252 115 South 84th Street, Suite 101

Milwaukee WI 53214-1476

POINT OF CONTACT*

Contract Specialist Tiarrah Turner Tiarrah.Turner@va.gov 912.961.3651

PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

ADDRESS

POSTAL CODE

COUNTRY

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AGENCY’S URL

URL DESCRIPTION

AGENCY CONTACT’S EMAIL ADDRESS

EMAIL DESCRIPTION

DESCRIPTION

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):

Under Statutory Authority 41 U.S.C. 1901 the VA Great Lakes Acquisition Center (GLAC) intends to negotiate a sole source contract for the service of Methylated and hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq and hMeDIP-seq) service. The service is requested by Research Services at the William S Middleton VA Medical Center in Madison WI.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 1901 Simplified acquisition procedures as implemented in FAR 13.106-3(b)(3)(i), only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This will be a firm fixed price contract for an estimated 1-year contract with and no option terms. The NAICS Code is 541714.

The sources sought is an intent to obtain information. The statement of work is included. No solicitation documents are available, and telephone requests will not be honored. However, if a firm believes it can meet the requirements it must furnish information about its products and services, as well as references from other customers who are using these products and services to the Contracting Officer by 10:00AM (EST) 08/06/2026. Supporting evidence must be furnished in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to comply with the above requirements. Responses received will be evaluated however; a determination by the Government not to compete with the proposed procurement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no responses are received, the Contracting Officer will proceed with the sole source negotiation with the contractor selected by the principal investigator of the research protocol. Any proposals received will be evaluated by the principal investigator as the expert and due to the highly scientific nature of the research. The contractor will have a direct impact on the result of the research therefore the principal investigator is the only qualified individual able to determine the ability of the contractor.

Capability statements shall be submitted by email only as a MS Word or Adobe PDF attachment to Tiarrah Turner at Tiarrah.Turner@va.gov . TELEPHONIC INQUIRIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

*If your submission exceeds 8 MB, send in multiple e-mails. Utilizing a read-receipt is advised.

NOTE: This advertisement is not a solicitation for offers, nor is it a request for proposals. A Request for Proposal (RFP) may be issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs at a later date.

END OF SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

STATEMENT OF WORK

1. Contract Title

Methylated and hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq and hMeDIP-seq) service

2. Background Epigenetics plays a crucial role in regulating secondary brain damage following Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). One of the objectives of this TBI project (1I01BX006062) is to test the functional significance of 5hmc in post-TBI brain damage. The dynamics of 5-methylcytosine (5mc) and 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmc) fine-tune the transcriptional reprogramming of neuroprotective genes in the brain after TBI. By pinpointing their exact genomic locations and their influence on specific gene expression, we can identify novel targets for TBI therapy. Methylated and hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq and hMeDIP-seq) allows us to identify these genomic regions where 5mc and 5hmc marks are altered in the brain after TBI.

3. Scope

This contract will cover the cost of methylated and hydroxymethylated DNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeDIP-seq and hMeDIP-seq) service and data analysis for a variety of samples (adult aged males and females), which would allow us to also decipher sex- and age-specific changes in these patterns. Using the same tissue for both MeDIP and hMeDIP services will allow us to reduce inter-sample variation and improve the reliability of the comparison between post-TBI changes in both methylation and hydroxymethylation patterns.

4. Specific Tasks

4.1 Task 1 – MeDIP-sequencing service

4.1.1 Subtask 1 – Adult Female samples (to identify sex-specific differences)- DNA extraction from mouse brain tissue, gDNA QC, DNA fragmentation and validation, Sequencing adapter ligation, Enrichment of methylated DNA fragments by MeDIP, Adapter-mediated PCR, Quality assessment of MeDIP and sequencing library, Cluster generation on cBot, Sequencing by Illumina platform, Data extraction, analysis, and summarization

4.1.2 Subtask 2 – Aged Male and Female samples (to identify age-specific differences)- DNA extraction from mouse brain tissue, gDNA QC, DNA fragmentation and validation, Sequencing adapter ligation, Enrichment of methylated DNA fragments by MeDIP, Adapter-mediated PCR, Quality assessment of MeDIP and sequencing library, Cluster generation on cBot, Sequencing by Illumina platform, Data extraction, analysis, and summarization

Deliverables: Sample QC report, Raw read data in Fastq format (pass quality score filtering, ready for alignment), Data analysis, Project summary report.

4.2 Task 2. hMeDIP-sequencing service

4.2.1 Subtask 1 – Adult Female samples (to identify sex-specific differences)- DNA extraction from mouse brain tissue, gDNA QC, DNA fragmentation and validation, Sequencing adapter ligation, Enrichment of hydroxymethylated DNA fragments by hMeDIP, Adapter-mediated PCR, Quality assessment of hMeDIP and sequencing library, Cluster generation on cBot, Sequencing by Illumina platform, Data extraction, analysis, and summarization

4.2.2 Subtask 2 – Aged Male and Female samples (to identify age-specific differences)- DNA extraction from mouse brain tissue, gDNA QC, DNA fragmentation and validation, Sequencing adapter ligation, Enrichment of hydroxymethylated DNA fragments by hMeDIP, Adapter-mediated PCR, Quality assessment of hMeDIP and sequencing library, Cluster generation on cBot, Sequencing by Illumina platform, Data extraction, analysis, and summarization

Deliverables: Sample QC report, Raw read data in Fastq format (pass quality score filtering, ready for alignment), Data analysis, Project summary report.

5. Performance Monitoring:

Performance will be monitored by the awarded vendor providing monthly project progress updates via email. The status report will be sent each month to the Principal Investigator and the COR.

6.Security Requirements

N/A

7. Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE)/Government-Furnished Information (GFI).

N/A

8. Other Pertinent Information or Special Considerations

Epigenetics helps regulate secondary brain damage after Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). This project aims to understand how 5‑hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmc) affects brain injury after TBI. Changes in two DNA marks—5‑methylcytosine (5mc) and 5hmc—help control genes involved in protecting the brain. By locating where these marks appear in the genome and how they influence gene activity, we can identify new targets for TBI treatment. MeDIP‑seq and hMeDIP‑seq allow us to find these regions where 5mc and 5hmc change after TBI. This contract requires the contractor to perform both MeDIP‑seq and hMeDIP‑seq services using the same tissue sample. Using a single sample for both analyses will minimize inter‑sample variation and ensure reliable comparison of methylation and hydroxymethylation changes. Results should be mailed to the team via a USB drive. The Scientist’s lab is in affiliate space and not connected to the VA network. Results should be mailed to the team via a USB drive. The Scientist’s lab is in affiliate space and not connected to the VA network.

a. Identification of Possible Follow-on Work.

N/A

b. Identification of Potential Conflicts of Interest (COI).

N/A

c. Identification of Non-Disclosure Requirements.

N/A

d. Packaging, Packing and Shipping Instructions.

N/A

e. Inspection and Acceptance Criteria.

N/A

9. Risk Control N/A

10. Place of Performance.

The proposed work will be performed at the facility of the awarded vendor.

11. Period of Performance.

August 10, 2026, to August 09, 2027 12.Delivery Schedule

* Standard Distribution:1 copy of the transmittal letter without the deliverable to the Contracting Officer shall be emailed.

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Sources Sought Notice