SB_SSN.pdf

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SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE

Title: Genotyping Support Services

Description.

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; and (4) availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality.

For equipment/supply requirements, responses must include the place of manufacturing (i.e., address if supply/equipment is a domestic end product and include country of manufacture). For equipment/supply requirements, small businesses must also address the size status of the manufacturer under the applicable

NAICS code (i.e., address Non-Manufacturer Rule).

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) has historically performed rodent genotyping services internally to support investigative research staff. However, it was recently determined that NIA will no longer perform this work. Accordingly, contractor support is required for rodent tissue sample genotyping services.

Purpose and Objectives.

The purpose of this requirement is to provide the National Institute of Aging (NIA) with DNA extraction and multi-gene analysis services for rodent tissue samples on an indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity basis.

The contractor shall provide the genotyping support services, which include DNA extraction and multi-gene analysis, detailed below.

• Perform DNA extraction and isolation from rodent biological samples, from either an ear punch, rodent tail clip, or a toe clip sample. A minimum of 25,200 samples and a maximum of 37,200 samples shall be processed during each contract period of performance.

• Perform polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for genotyping of all biological samples provided. PCR analysis includes one or up to ten genes per sample.

• Perform re-test of any failed analyses or questionable results. Each test shall include all analyses documentation, not just quality-assurance-type analyses. A Re-test, if required, shall be the responsibility of the contractor and shall not be charged to the Government.

• Perform quality assurance analysis on 1% of samples provided each week. Quality assurance results shall be provided to the Government within one week. Additionally, all concerning items shall be reported to the Government immediately.

• All DNA extraction, PCR assays, and assay results must be completed within 72 hours of contractor receipt of samples.

• Provide reproducible genotyping assay information and any raw data obtained in genotyping analysis for all samples provided by the Government, upon request.

• Provide results of DNA extraction, PCR assays, and assay results with annotation.

• Provide genotype results via an online bioinformatics database which the Government may easily access. The database must be provided and hosted by the contractor and all results shall be included therein within 72 hours of contractor receipt of samples. The database shall be password protected and must meet Section 508 standards, though the database shall not be available to the public.

• The online bioinformatics database must be able to interface, using XML or comparable language, with an existing Government database known as the NIA Progeny Database which holds existing genotyping data. The contractor database information shall interface with the NIA database, and the contractor database shall be able to accept information from the NIA database if needed. All information must be kept secure.

• Store all provided samples and remaining biological tissues appropriately for preservation for 6 months after receipt from the Government. Stored samples and remaining tissues shall be in maintained in such condition that subsequent nucleic acid analyses may be performed. Stored samples shall be returned to the Government upon request. Following the 6-month holding period, the contractor shall obtain approval from the Government to either return or destroy samples.

• Provide sample collection and storage material supplies to the Government for tissue collection.

Supplies shall include 96 well plates and/or vials for sample collection, reagents, pipette tips, cap strips, probes, refrigerated sample storage units for holding samples prior to genotyping analysis, appropriate pre-paid shipping containers, and a sample record tracking system/method.

• Provide all shipping and courier related costs for the Government to send and receive samples, including shipping containers/packages. Samples must be picked up by the Contractor from the

Government at least three (3) times per week. The Contractor shall provide a drobox for samples to be placed for pickup. Samples returned to the Government must be shipped via overnight express, refrigeration is not needed.

Anticipated period of performance.

One (1) Twelve (12) month base year with four (4) twelve (12) month option years.

Capability statement /information sought.

Companies that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required products should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer.

The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately.

Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts and/or other government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program. Capability statements must also include the Company Name, Unique Entity ID from SAM.gov, Physical Address, and

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

Interested companies are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business

Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number.

Please note that NIMH 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.

In case domestic sources are available and capable of fulfilling the Government’s need, and a future solicitation is published, the Government will use evaluation preferences in accordance with FAR 25.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted 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 is limited to ten (10) pages. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

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 Contract Specialist.

Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Scott Duernberger at e-mail address scott.duernberger@nih.gov.

mailto:scott.duernberger@nih.gov

The response must be received on or before February 16, 2026, 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 in www.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).

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