Presolicitation Notice.pdf

PRESOLICITATION NOTICE

Notice ID: 2023-NIAID-AMOB-T1-01

Type of Requirement

New Requirement Re-competition (Contract No.:_____________) Follow-on (Contract No. HHSN272201700058C)

Place of Performance

Place of performance is unknown at this time Place of performance is: Taconic Biosciences, Germantown, New York

Contracting Office Address Office of Acquisitions National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases National Institutes of Health Department of Health and Human Services 5601 Fishers Lane Bethesda, MD 20852

Primary Point of Contact Sevag Kasparian Contracting Officer Sevag.Kasparian@nih.gov Phone: 240-669-5177

Secondary Point of Contact Gabriel J. Contreras Contract Specialist Gabriel.Contreras@nih.gov Phone: 240-292-4828

Purpose:

The purpose of this action to increase the contract value and extend the period of performance.

The anticipated period of performance is March 30, 2023 to June 16, 2023.

Anticipated award date: March 29, 2023

The NAICS Code is 541990.

Introduction

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has has numerous colonies of congenic, transgenic and knockout mice that are not available from commercial sources.

The animals (live and/or cryo-preserved) are maintained in National Institutes of Health (NIH) facilities or the NIAID-Taconic Biosciences mouse repository. The NIAID repository provides mice for the purposes of intramural NIAID scientists.

mailto:Sevag.Kasparian@nih.gov mailto:Gabriel.Contreras@nih.gov

The congenic, transgenic and knockout mice bred and maintained in the NIAID mouse repository are used by multiple investigators in the institute for projects ranging from infectious disease research to cellular immunology. The NIAID repository provides a source of animals from a professional breeder who has the skills to carry out complex genetic breeding schemes required for the development of these lines for research purposes. The NIAID and the Division of Intramural Research (DIR) is seeking Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) accredited sources that can provide all necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment and facilities for the operation maintenance of a murine pathogen-free mouse breeding facility.

Taconic Biosciences has maintained the NIAID mouse repository contract since 2000. During this period of time the contract has been renewed on an other than full and open competition basis with the incumbent 3 times. For the most recent contract with a base and 4 option years and a total contract value of $8,494,716, an additional 20 strains have been added to the repository, 16 strains have been retired and a total of 145,167 mice have been shipped to NIAID researchers and collaborators internationally.

NIAID investigators require large, fully functioning mice breeding colonies to produce mice for biomedical research. Taconic Biosciences facilities are currently the only mice breeder able to fulfill the strict requirements of having the ability to fulfill mouse orders submitted by NIAID investigators without error or delay.

Any attempt to immediately transfer the strains of mice held under the current contract to a new contractor would cause irreparable harm to NIAID. The time to transfer mice, rederive them by embryo transfer, perform genetic and health testing to validate the genotypes and health status, and then establish and expand the individual mouse colonies to meet the ongoing NIAID demand would significantly delay the entire research process. Once the colonies have been rederived and receive health clearance, an additional four to six months is needed to expand each individual strain to reach production levels and calculate the breeding proficiency index for each strain. This breeding proficiency index is used to determine the size of the breeding colony required to meet the NIAID research demand. Once the breeding proficiency data has been obtained, it may take an additional three to six months to increase the colony appropriately to supply the quantity of animals needed on a weekly or monthly basis. Any delays created by transporting mice to a new vendor facility and establishing functional colonies would be unacceptable and disruptive to the ongoing research.

Taconic Biosciences has already established the breeding colonies and proficiency index.

Based on the foregoing, the Government intends to negotiate under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1 and HHSAR 306.302-1, on a sole source basis, with Taconic Biosciences to increase the existing contract value by $750,000 and extend the period of performance to ensure the uninterrupted continuation of mouse breeding by Taconic Biosciences.

Specifically, the Contractor will be responsible for continued mouse breeding support of NIAID by providing the following services:

1. Mouse Breeding

a. Provide a Project Manager and staff experienced in breeding mice

b. Perform laboratory procedures involved in taking samples of tissues required for genetic typing of the animals.

c. Positively identify animals entering and born in the facility using a reliable tracking system

2. Mouse Care

a. House are re-derived mice in a facility that achieves a minimum double barrier design

b. Provide appropriately sterilized caging material, sterile food, and bedding

3. Physical Facilities

a. Ensure building construction and maintenance are in compliance with Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals

As stated in FAR Clause 6.302-1, full and open competition need not be provided for when there is only one responsible source, and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The current contractor, Taconic Biosciences, is considered as the “only responsible source” capable of providing large, fully functioning mice breeding facilities and colonies needed for NIAID research. It is therefore in the best interest of the Government to extend the current contract with Taconic Biosciences and increase the contract value.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, responsible sources may express their interest by submitting a capability statement. All capability statements received within fifteen days from the date of the publication of this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.

Contracting Office Address