Aquarium System

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A SOLICITATION FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.  The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Director (OD), National Institutes of Deafness and other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), intends to solicit, negotiate, and award a small business set-aside contract on a competitive basis for the purpose of the aquarium systems  is to be able to used to house zebrafish for research in the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function and the intramural NIDCD research program..  The anticipated period of performance is a one-year base period. 

1.1       BACKGROUND

Eight years ago, Aquatic Enterprises provided our group, the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, an aquarium system to house zebrafish. This system is critical for the research in our group. Currently our aquarium system is at capacity, and we are building and purchasing an additional system to house zebrafish.

The specific projects in the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function that require this aquarium system include:

1)Creating and propagating zebrafish with mutations in known or candidate human deafness genes.

2) Creating and propagating transgenic lines to express fluorescent proteins to visualize cells, sub cellular structures or examine activity in zebrafish hair cell systems.

3) Propagation of zebrafish to use in all other experiments performed on hair cell systems in zebrafish including: live imaging of synapse formation, imaging synapses at high resolution, visualizing mitochondrial structure and dynamics, investigating circuit connectivity and behavioral analyses.

1.2     SCOPE

This order is for support aquarium systems will be used to house zebrafish for research.

NAICS 332999 sze standard: 750

1.3     OBJECTIVES

The end goal of this contract is to have an additional aquarium system will be used to house zebrafish. Zebrafish is the model system the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function uses to perform all research studies.

Background

Eight years ago, Aquatic Enterprises provided our group, the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function, an aquarium system to house zebrafish. This system is critical for the research in our group. Currently our aquarium system is at capacity, and we are building and purchasing an additional system to house zebrafish.

The specific projects in the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function that require this aquarium system include:

1)Creating and propagating zebrafish with mutations in known or candidate human deafness genes.

2) Creating and propagating transgenic lines to express fluorescent proteins to visualize cells, sub cellular structures or examine activity in zebrafish hair cell systems.

3) Propagation of zebrafish to use in all other experiments performed on hair cell systems in zebrafish including live imaging of synapse formation, imaging synapses at high resolution, visualizing mitochondrial structure and dynamics, investigating circuit connectivity and behavioral analyses.

Purpose

The end goal of this contract is to have an additional aquarium system will be used to house zebrafish. Zebrafish is the model system the Section on Sensory Cell Development and Function uses to perform all research studies.

Contractor Requirements

Provide a multi-rack, recirculated aquaculture system for zebrafish housing, consisting of all components, piping, tanks, monitoring instrumentation, key water quality adjustment parameters including salinity and alkalinity, automated temperature control, on-site installation and all required appurtenances to provide a complete and properly operating fully automated system, suitable for single point connections to government furnished RO water supply and electrical supply. AEI will work with the construction contractors to ensure the system is installed in a timely manner after construction.

Overall Performance Requirements

2.1   TASKS

Manufacture the aquaculture system according to the specs outlined in the provided proposal.

Ship the aquaculture system to the NIH.

Travel to the NIH to install the aquaculture system.

Provide training to aquatics staff on how to use and maintain the aquaculture system.

2.2 DELIVERABLES

Parts of the aquaculture system include:

Tanks, Baffles and Tank Manifolds

Racks/ Frame System

Pump System

Filtration System

UV system

Monitoring instrumentation

All these components must be delivered to coincide with the construction schedule. A signature from the NIDCD is required to verify receipt of the delivery.

The Contractor shall respond to comments and complaints from patrons and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or representative in a timely fashion. In a case of space malfunctioning, the Contractor shall make every effort to immediately correct the problem to ensure patron satisfaction. If the problem is systemic, the Contractor shall submit a plan of correction to the COR.

Capability statements submitted in response to this notice that do not provide sufficient information for review will not be considered.  This is NOT a Request for Proposals (RFP), and responses should NOT include budgetary information. Respondents to this notice shall provide capability statements via email: anita.edwards@nih.gov  no later than 11:00 a.m. EST on May 31, 2023 to Anita Edwards (NIH_OD1_NOI160523006), National Institutes of Health, Office of Acquisitions, Bethesda, MD 20892-7663. PLEASE NOTE: If you are using a courier service, Federal Express, or UPS, the city, state, and zip code should read ROCKVILLE, MD 20852).  Please be aware that the U.S. Postal Service's "Express Mail" DOES NOT deliver to the Rockville, Maryland address AND delivery to the Bethesda, Maryland address will result in a delayed delivery to our office in Rockville, MD (up to 3 - 5 days).  Email and facsimile copies will be accepted.

Disclaimer: 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.  Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.