A01_-_RFI_Sources_Sought___Compounds.pdf

Subject: Acquire specialized anti-inflammatory compounds for Walter Reed Army Institute of Research (WRAIR).

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ);

IT IS STRICTLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). NEITHER UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS

NOR ANY OTHER KINDS OF OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. NO

CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.

1.0 DISCLAIMER: This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. At this time, questions concerning the composition and requirements for a future RFP will not be entertained.

2.0 SUBJECT: The objective of this requirement is to identify the availability of scientific research support services. Specifically, these services would involve proprietary knowledge of anti-inflammatory compounds and expertise in the evaluation of these compounds in lung models.

3.0 BACKGROUND: The Wound Infections Department (WID) within the Bacterial Diseases Branch at WRAIR conducts research to defeat combat-related wound infections. WID conducts requirements-driven programmatic research using a multi-disciplinary approach to characterize wound pathogenesis and develop novel antimicrobial countermeasures for wound infections of Service Members. The WID includes the WRAIR X-ray Crystallography Facility, which provides structure-based drug design services to WRAIR, DoD labs, industry, and academic collaborators to support the development of therapeutic and prophylactic countermeasures against bacteria, parasites, and viruses.

4.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS: Respondents should address the following in their capabilities statement:

This new requirement is for 1) acquisition of specialized anti-inflammatory compounds that are proprietary to University of Virginia (UVA) and 2) testing and evaluation of anti-inflammatories and antibacterials in lung models with colony forming unit (CFU) assessment, survival, and inflammatory marker assessment.

WRAIR will provide optimized antibacterials to UVA for testing and evaluation.

The contractor shall test and evaluate anti-inflammatory compounds in lung models using colony forming units (CFU) assessment, survival and inflammatory marker assessment. The time course and effects of anti-inflammatories post infection with K. pneumoniae in lung models will be evaluated. Dosing schedules will be determined based on toxicity experiments; Animal morbidity will be scored twice daily for six days using a system evaluating mobility, coat condition, and conjunctivitis. To assess CFU burden in the lungs, mice will be humanely euthanized on Days 2 and 3 post-infection, lungs will be homogenized in PBS followed by serial dilutions plated using the Autoplate® Spiral Plating System onto LB agar. Bacterial load will be reported as CFU per gram of lung tissue. Efficacy will be determined by animal survival, and measurement of the reduction of CFUs from the organs harvested (lungs). Samples will also be sent to histopathology to score inflammation. Time course of inflammation will be assessed by quantifying leukocytes infiltrating airways and lung tissues. This will be achieved by quantifying CD45+ (total leukocytes) and CD45+CD11b+Ly6G+ (neutrophils) with flow cytometry in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and single suspension of the lung tissue.

The contractor shall test and evaluate anti-inflammatory compounds and antibacterials in lung models using CFU assessment, survival and inflammatory marker assessment as described above. Mice will be injected with antibacterials, post bacterial infection. The anti-inflammatory compound will be introduced post infection after injection of antibacterials to promote clearance of PGP and subsequent reduction in infiltration of PMN into the site of infection.

This requirement is for one (1) twelve (12) month base period and four (4) twelve (12) month option periods.

5.0 CONTACT INFORMATION: Any and all questions related to this RFI shall be directed to Ms.

Ashley Atkins at ashley.n.atkins.civ@mail.mil. All information regarding Capabilities Statements or any other proprietary information relative to this RFI shall be submitted via email to ashley.n.atkins.civ@mail.mil no later than 08:00 a.m. E.S.T. on Monday, 26 November 2018.