Chemical Analysis Services for the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM)

Subject: Providing chemical Analysis Services for US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM).

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.
 

SUBJECT The Military Nutrition Divisionof the US Army Research Institute of Environmental

Medicine (USARIEM) research that provides a biomedical science basis for developing new rations, menus, policies and programs that enable Warfighter health-readiness and optimal performance.  Its focus areas include:  Recovery Nutrition, Healthy Eating, Dietary Supplements, and Physiological Resilience.

The below services requirement supports research in the area of USARIEM’s MND protocol .

1. BACKGROUND: The US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM) in

Natick, MA, has need for chemical analysis services measuring 13CO2 enrichment in breath, 13C glucose and 6,6-2H2 glucose enrichment in plasma, glucose concentration and 13C/12C analysis of your study drink. These analysis will be required for multiple protocols, assessing the impact of dietary supplements, pharmacological interventions, and exposure to environmental extremes on exogenous and endogenous glucose oxidation and glucose rate of appearance, disappearance, and metabolic clearance rate. 

4.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS:   Respondents should provide information and experience that address the following in their capabilities statement:   

The Scope of this effort is to supply Chemical Analysis Services to USARIEM as listed below:

• Measurement of 13CO2 enrichment in breath samples stored in an Exetainer tube by gas isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
• Measurement of 13C glucose enrichment in plasma samples by gas chromatography combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GCC-IRMS).
• Measurement of 6,6-2H2 glucose enrichment in plasma by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
• Measurement of drink solutions for enrichment of 13C/12C by combustion isotope ratio mass spectrometry.
• Measurement of plasma glucose concentration (millimolar) by gas isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
• Calculations of total glucose rate of appearance (Ra), exogenous glucose Ra, endogenous glucose rate of appearance, glucose rate of disappearance (Rd), and metabolic clearance rate.

The Contractor has to be able to show that they can receive the samples, then inform USARIEM of delivery via email, telephone call, or text.  The contractor will have to place blood samples into a -80ºF freezer until analysis. Blood samples will be shipped at the conclusion of data collection of the research protocol. Breath samples will be shipped as collected throughout the protocol. The contractor shall keep all samples until confirmation that all analysis is complete and satisfactory. Upon completion, the contractor shall ship the samples back to USARIEM via overnight delivery mail service in a dry ice container.

5.0 CONTACT INFORMATION:  Noquestions will be addressed related to this RFI. All information regarding Capabilities Statements or any other proprietary information relative to this RFI shall be submitted via email to brenda.i.mena.civ@mail.mil no later than 10:00 a.m. E.S.T. on Friday, 20 March 2020.