B Sources Sought.docx

SAM.gov

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

1. Solicitation Number: 75N95025Q00081

2. Title: Cytokine Assay Testing Services

3. Classification Code: Q301

4. NAICS Code: 541380

5. Description: Testing Laboratories and Services

This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations.

The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition.

Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition. It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract. Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes. No award will be made as a result of this notice. The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice. This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Background: The National Institute on Aging (NIA) Health Disparities Research Section within the Laboratory of Epidemiology and Population Sciences is examining psychosocial factors that influence inflammation in a racially diverse cohort. The Lab hypothesizes that inflammatory markers vary among individuals with relation to psychosocial factors. They predict that they will identify inflammatory signatures with protective and risk factors in the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) cohort. Information gained from this analysis will be important for assessing risk for biological dysregulation due to stress and long-term health consequences due to social risk factors in this cohort.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this requirement is to procure laboratory testing services to determine cytokine levels in human blood samples from HANDLS participants. This testing is for research purposes only and is not for human diagnostic testing.

Project requirements:

The Contractor shall quantitatively analyze the levels of cytokines from 665 human blood serum samples including the following: IL-1B, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12(p70), GM-CSF, IFN-y, TNF-A. Methods which use small volumes will be preferred and volume amount required should be specified in the quote. This is critical since HANDLS serum samples are limited and have high research significance. Samples will be provided in tubes and the vendor will prepare the samples for analysis. Unused samples will be returned to the Government as part of the contract. The vendor will provide data electronically with reported values for each sample, information on quality controls, and a description of methods used with detail sufficient for use in a scientific publication.

Anticipated period of performance:

The anticipated period of performance is January 20, 2025 through January 19, 2026.

Requested Response:

The intent of this sources sought notice is to define the procurement strategy (e.g. set-aside, sole source, unrestricted) for a solicitation that is intended to be posted soon. Interested contractors are requested to respond by (1) identifying how their proposed product meets or exceeds the project requirements listed above; and (2) providing product literature, white papers, or capability statements that demonstrate their bona fide ability to supply such an item within the time frame described above.

In addition, please state your business size status and whether you are the manufacturer or authorized distributor of the item you propose.

Please note that NIA is particularly interested in small business sources. If you are a small business, please state the type of small business (small business; HUBZone; service-disabled, veteran-owned; 8(a); veteran-owned; woman-owned; or small disadvantaged businesses) and your size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc.), pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

The information submitted must be must be in an outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirements and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Kevin Alvarez, Contracting Officer, at e-mail address kevin.alvarez@nih.gov.

The response must be received on or before December 19, 2024, 9:00am, Eastern Time.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work.

Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a presolicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published at SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).