Biochemical, Biophysical, and in vivo Testing of Compounds

SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE
1.Solicitation Number: 75N95024000882.Title: Biochemical, Biophysical, and in vivo Testing of Compounds3.Classification Code: Q301 Medical – Laboratory Testing4.NAICS Code: 541380 Testing Laboratories and Services5.Size Standard: $19.0 M6.Description:This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement, to determine the method of acquisition, and availability of domestic sources manufactured in the United States in sufficient and reasonably available commercial quantities and of a satisfactory quality. 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. Small businesses are encouraged to respond.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).
Background: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the nation’s leading medical research agency and the primary Federal agency whose mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the nature and behavior of living systems and the application of that knowledge to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability, conducting, supporting and making medical discoveries that improve people’s health and save lives.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducting research into the causes, treatment, and prevention of neurological disorders and stroke. The NINDS mission is to seek fundamental knowledge about the brain and nervous system and to use that knowledge to reduce the burden of neurological disease.
Having identified potential small-molecules, the government seeks to characterize these compound-protein interactions by a series of biochemical, biophysical and cellular assays including Protein Purification, Thermal Unfolding, Intrinsic Trptophan Fluorescence, Surface Plasmon Resonance, Macromolecular X-ray crystallography, flow cytometry, microscopy and mass spectrometry.
Purpose and Objectives: The NIH/NINDS seeks to contract with a full-service facility and staff to support a drug discovery campaign to develop a novels therapeutic effective in of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related dementias (AD/RD). NINDS has engaged in a drug discovery screen to find small-molecules capable of redirecting autophagy, a cellular debris removal system, using autophagy related protein KIAA0203 for a potential avenue of treatment for AR/RDs. To determine which of the compounds is to be carried forward in the therapeutic development plan, the government seeks data on the potency of identified compound.
Project requirements:
• The Contractor will perform experiments to test up to 100 compounds with biochemical, biophysical techniques and in vivo testing in cell culture models. To this end, the Contractor will provide one (1) 70% (FTE) scientists to perform assays and one (1) FTE at 10% effort dedicated to the project that will analyze proteomics data.
• The scope of this project shall be protein biochemistry, biophysical assays, in vivo microscopy, flow cytometry, proteomics, and x-ray crystallography. Results of each test will be reported in a biomonthy meeting.