Pre-Sol_15-day_notice_Repository_of_Mouse_Models_-_4_3_2025_FINAL_1.pdf

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE

Notice ID: 75N94025R00007

Title: Repository of Mouse Models for Down Syndrome

THIS PRE-SOLICITATION SYNOPSIS IS NOT AN AUTHORIZATION TO START WORK.

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP); NO QUOTES OR BIDS ARE

BEING SOLICITED BY THE GOVERNMENT, NOR WILL ANY BE ACCEPTED FOR REVIEW IN RESPONSE

TO THIS SYNOPSIS.

Note: This synopsis follows a Small Business Sources Sought notice that was released on January 16, 2025, under 75N94025R00007.

Description

The purpose of this announcement is for the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/NIH to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253 ( c )(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1, Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements intends to negotiate and award, on a sole-source basis, a contract with Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, Maine, 04609-1500. Jackson Laboratories has unique capabilities for performing this work.

As the incumbent contractor, The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) developed the standard mouse model used in Down syndrome research (“Ts65Dn”) in the research laboratory of one of its founding members. This strain, and many other models for Down syndrome, are difficult to breed because the males are largely infertile, and the strain needs to be maintained on a specific mixed background of several parental lineages to maintain consistent properties and fidelity. JAX is the only known source for these mice in the United States.

This is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP) and does not commit the Government to award a contract now or in the future. No solicitation is available currently.

The Contractor shall maintain the "Repository of Mouse Models for Down Syndrome" (or "Mouse Repository") as elaborated below.

1. Breed various strains of mice to serve as models of Down syndrome that are of known genetic background and will produce genetically unbalanced gametes resulting in complete or partial trisomic or monosomic embryos with special emphasis on mouse chromosomes that are syntenic to Hsa21, as available. On average, at least 30 breeding pairs to generate the Ts65Dn mice must be maintained to preserve the breeding colony and supply enough mice to meet investigator demands for this strain. An emphasis shall be placed on meeting the needs of the investigators in the Down syndrome research community. In particular, the Contractor shall ensure that there is an adequate supply of female mice for purposes of prenatal studies and establishment of separate colonies by investigators with substantial resource needs.

2. Acquire new strains. If new strains become available, the Contractor may consider adding to the Mouse Repository at least one new mouse strain of interest to the investigator community, in consultation with the NCHD.

3. Convene an external Scientific Advisory Board that will meet virtually quarterly, to provide advice on phenotyping, availability, customer service, community needs, and distribution of mice in this Repository.

4. Apply refined procedures to cryopreserve embryos that will be rescued by thawing and re- implanting them in pseudo-pregnant mice for any actively produced mouse strains for which this has not been done. The Contractor shall evaluate the fertility of both male and female mice for optimal methods of maintaining individual mouse strains in active production semiannually.

5. Distribute the animal models to qualified investigators approved by the NICHD.

6. Test the animals periodically for pathogens as per standard protocols that are outlined in the standard operating procedures by the Contractor.

7. Characterize the clinical and neurobehavioral phenotype of the mouse models to ensure integrity of the strains and to allow for comparative phenotypic information among different murine strains using a standardized battery of tests, or as specified by the COR.

8. Publicize the availability of mouse models indicating the type of strains in the colony as well as detailed information about the background strain, genotype, protocols for genotyping, husbandry conditions, phenotype and neurobehavioral characteristics, and other details as specified by the COR.

9. Monthly conference calls with the Principal Investigator, COR, and CO as well as any other relevant parties regarding number of mice of each strain shipped per month and cumulative, with a breakdown by category of investigator (Federally-funded, not Federally-funded, commercial, mice required for internal use), average time to process and ship orders for requested mice, priority categories for different funding sources of investigators, appropriateness of offered mouse strains, breeding efficiency and additional strategies, and any other issues or concerns raised by the Contractor, COR, or

CO.

The anticipated period of performance will be for one year with consideration of adding four option periods. This proposed contract action is for services for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirement. Any other firm that feels they are qualified to provide such services must submit a detailed capability statement documenting their ability to provide this service by meeting the requirements stated above. The capabilities statement must contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement and must be received by the response date listed in this posting. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes; however, interested parties may identify their interest by sending capability statements in reference to this requirement no later than 3:00 PM EST on April 18, 2025 to: Ms. Kesha Williams via email at williamskl@mail.nih.gov and Mr. Dana L. Harris at harrisd@mail.nih.gov. All information shall be furnished at no cost or obligation to the government.

mailto:williamskl@mail.nih.gov mailto:harrisd@mail.nih.gov