Attachment 1 - Performance Work Statement (PWS).pdf

Performance Work Statement

Title: Neurohistological Staining for Parkinson’s Susceptibility Study

Period of Performance: September 16, 2024 through September 15, 2025

SECTION 1 – BACKGROUND

As part of an ongoing research program investigating the long-term consequences of exposure to organophosphate pesticides and corticosterone, we have developed a project with the goal of understanding the susceptibility to parkinsonism. Previously, we have found that there can be subtle changes in the brain indicative of brain inflammation (structural changes in the brain’s resident immune cells, microglia and astrocytes) in the absence of significant damage. These conclusions were drawn using the same methods proposed in the follow-up study described in this statement of work.

This project is a direct follow-up to our previous studies that evaluated neurohistological changes in our neurotoxicity models, such that previously collected data/tissue will be used for comparison to the current project.

SECTION 2 – PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this project is to evaluate brain inflammation and brain damage following exposure to a combination of neurotoxicants. The Contractor shall provide neurohistology services (Silver degeneration staining, tyrosine hydroxylase staining, and GFAP staining) of mouse brains as part of an on-going project investigating the potential for prior pesticide exposure to cause a lower threshold for parkinsonism level neurotoxicity damage. The fixed/cryopreserved brains will be shipped to the Contractor by the Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory for processing. The Contractor shall return stained sections of the mouse brains to the Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory.

SECTION 3 – SCOPE OF WORK

Mouse brains will be formaldehyde-perfused and cryopreserved for shipment to the Contractor The brains shall be sectioned, mounted, and stained for damage (silver and tyrosine hydroxylase) and inflammation (GFAP) by the Contractor. In addition, the Contractor shall store any unused tissue/sections for up to 3 years for potential future work.

SECTION 4 – TASKS TO BE PERFORMED

Task 1: Tissue preparation:

1. Formaldehyde-perfused and fixed mouse brains shall be cryoprotected with 0.1 M phosphate buffer (PB, pH 7.4) containing 20% sucrose for 72 hours and rapidly frozen in isopentane pre-cooled to - 70ºC with dry ice. All frozen brains shall be stored in a freezer at -20°C before sectioning.

Task 2: Testing & titration of primary antibodies

1. Titration of primary antibodies to choose appropriate concentration to stain sections with.

Task 3: Immunostaining with Tyrosine Hydroxylase and cresyl violet counterstain.

1. Colorimetric immunostaining with 1 primary antibody (TH) on free-floating sections (50-μm) from the mouse cerebrum

2. Counterstaining of TH-immunostained sections with FD cresyl violet solution

Task 4: Immunostaining with Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein antibody.

1. Colorimetric immunostaining with 1 primary antibody (GFAP) on free-floating sections (50-μm) from the mouse cerebrum

Task 5: Neurodegeneration detection with FD Neurosilver stain

1. Neurodegenemouseion detection on free-floating sections (50-μm) from the mouse cerebrum with

FD NeuroSilver™ Kit II

Task 6: Ship sections to Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory

1. Stained sections shall be shipped to the Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory as finished.

SECTION 5 – GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY

CDC will provide the formaldehyde-perfused, fixed, and cryoprotected mouse brains, as well as the primary GFAP and TH antibodies.

SECTION 6 – PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The Contractor’s facility.

SECTION 7 – TRAVEL

Travel is not required.

SECTION 8 – DELIVERABLES/REPORTING SCHEDULE

Upon receipt of the cryopreserved brains the Contractor shall prepare the tissue and titrate the concentration of antibodies for the staining of tissues. Sample slides shall be sent to the Molecular neurotoxicology team for review.

Upon completion of the neurohistology services, the Contractor shall ship the deliverables listed above.

After verification of the quality of the deliverables, the Contractor shall provide a final invoice for the project, signifying completion of the contract.

Task Deliverable Quantity/Format Due Date Deliver To 2 Concentration titration Sample slides shall be sent to the Molecular Neurotoxicology Team to choose appropriate concentration to be used in the staining of the tissues.

Within 2 months of receiving samples.

Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory 1000 Frederick Lane Morgantown, WV 26508

6 Finished product

Stained slides sent to Molecular Neurotoxicology Team.

Within 12 months of the period performance start date.

Molecular Neurotoxicology Laboratory 1000 Frederick Lane Morgantown, WV 26508

• Task: Concentration titration o Upon receipt of the cryopreserved brains the Contractor shall prepare the tissue and titrate the concentration of antibodies for the staining of tissues. Sample slides shall be sent to the Molecular neurotoxicology team for review.

• Task: Finished product o Upon completion of the neurohistology services, the Contractor shall ship the deliverables listed above. After verification of the quality of the deliverables, the Contractor shall provide a final invoice for the project, signifying completion of the contract.

SECTION 9 – REFERENCE MATERIALS

SECTION 10 – MINIMUM VENDOR QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor should be specialized/experienced in neurohistological staining, particularly neurodegeneration and co-staining of brain tissue.

SECTION 11 – ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Section 508 Compliance Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice

(a) Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board Electronic and Information (EIT) Accessibility Standards (36 CFR part 1194), require that when Federal agencies develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology, Federal employees with disabilities have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to the access and use by Federal employees who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency. Section 508 also requires that individuals with disabilities, who are members of the public seeking information or services from a Federal agency, have access to and use of information and data that is comparable to that provided to the public who are not individuals with disabilities, unless an undue burden would be imposed on the agency.

(b) Accordingly, any offeror responding to this solicitation must comply with established HHS EIT accessibility standards. Information about Section 508 is available at http://www.hhs.gov/web/508. The complete text of the Section 508 Final Provisions can be accessed at http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm.

(c) The Section 508 accessibility standards applicable to this contract are:

In order to facilitate the Government's determination whether proposed EIT supplies meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, offerors must submit an HHS Section 508 Product Assessment Template, in accordance with its completion instructions. The purpose of the template is to assist HHS acquisition and program officials in determining whether proposed EIT supplies conform to applicable Section 508 accessibility standards. The template allows offerors or developers to self-evaluate their supplies and documentation detail - whether they conform to a specific Section 508 accessibility standard, and any underway remediation efforts addressing conformance issues. Instructions for preparing the HHS Section 508 Evaluation Template are available under Section 508 policy on the HHS Web site http://hhs.gov/web/508.

(d) Respondents to this solicitation must identify any exception to Section 508 requirements. If an offeror claims its supplies or services meet applicable Section 508 accessibility standards, and it is later determined by the Government, i.e., after award of a contract or order, that supplies or services delivered do not conform to the accessibility standards, remediation of the supplies or services to the level of conformance specified in the contract will be the responsibility of the Contractor at its expense.

(e) Electronic content must be accessible to HHS acceptance criteria. Checklist for various formats is available at http://508.hhs.gov/, or from the Section 508 Coordinator listed at https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/additional-resources/section-508-contacts/index.html. Materials that are final items for delivery should be accompanied by the appropriate checklist, except upon approval of the Contracting Officer or Representative.

http://www.hhs.gov/web/508 http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm http://www.access-board.gov/sec508/standards.htm http://hhs.gov/web/508 http://508.hhs.gov/ https://www.hhs.gov/web/section-508/additional-resources/section-508-contacts/index.html