Attachment - Statement of Work.doc

Statement of Work (SOW) Project: Glass bioreactors and Lids for the SHIME system

GENERAL INFORMATION

1.0 Scope of Work: We require the development of glass bioreactors and lids that are capable of working with a < 250 mL volume that can be used in conjunction with the current SHIME® system. The vessels will come with lids that can be fitted and used with the current SHIME computer-controlled panel. These glass bioreactors and lids must be 100% compatible with the current SHIME system at the (Eastern Regional Research Center (ERRC), Dairy and Functional Foods Research Unit (DFFRU).

2.0 Background: The Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbial Ecology (SHIME®) system is an in vitro computer controlled bioreactor system designed to mimic the physiological conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and culture the gut microbiota. The SHIME® is specifically designed to culture the regionally distinct microbial communities by mimicking the ascending, transverse, and descending colon regions which are connected and provided food moved sequentially through the system thus recapitulating the longitudinal progression of ingested food through the GIT. Due to the complexity of this system and expertise and training required for its operation there are a limited number of SHIME® systems world-wide.

The SHIME® system itself relies on a computer -controlled panel that holds a series of peristalic pumps with pH probe connections and glass bioreactors that are used to culture the gut microbiota. The glass vessels are hand-made and specially designed to operate in congruence with the control panel, including uniquely designed lids that have fittings that coordinate with the pumps on the control panel and a double glass water jacket that provides heated water to maintain temperature. The glass vessels are critical to operation of the system and currently are sold in sizes that require a working volume of > 250 mL of liquid.

There is a SHIME system located at the ERRC in the DFFRU. Current proposed research requires glass vessels for the SHIME® that can hold (less than)<250 mL of liquid as the larger volumes require too much liquid to perform proposed experiments. In this case, we require glass vessels that can hold < 250 mL of volume, optimally a volume around 100 mL

CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

3.0 Technical Requirements/Tasks:

1. Creation of smaller SHIME glass bioreactors that are able to hold a volume less than 250 mL, optimally a volume around 100 mL

2. These glass bioreactors and lids must be 100% compatible with the current SHIME system at the ERRC, including the following:

a. appropriate fitting sizes on the lids that are compatible with the SHIME pH probes and tubing used to feed the system

b. a functioning double layered water jacket compatible with the circulating water bath

c. capable of maintaining agitation using a magnetic stirrer.

4.0 Government Furnished: NA 5.0 Deliverables / Schedule:

· Glass bioreactors will be generated within 6 months of the contract and shipped to the ERRC within 7 months of the contract.

Key Deliverables

6.0 Delivery

Jenni Firrman

USDA, ARS, ERRC

600 East Mermaid Lane

Wyndmoor, PA 19038

7.0 Contractor’s Key Personnel: Developers that are experts on SHIME operation and technical development. They will provide a scientist to work on this project.

8.0 Security Requirements: N/A 9.0 Data Rights: N/A 10.0 Section 508 – Electronic and Information Technology Standards: NA Attachment: N/A