DNA methylation microarray processing services for the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), NIH.

The purpose of this requirement is to obtain laboratory and related analytic services for the continuation of a project assessing aging related change over time in genome-wide methylation through evaluation of archived BLSA DNA samples using DNA methylation microarrays for the National Institute on Aging, NIH.

THIS NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD ON A SOLE-SOURCE BASIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice.

This acquisition involves continued processing of archived BLSA DNA samples using DNA methylation microarray assays for which the UCLA Neuroscience Genomics Core has previously performed. The samples that will be processed under this acquisition are part of a larger study for which a substantial amount of data has already been collected: the planning for the first stage of this project began five years ago and over 3500 samples have been processed to date. Given the primary objective of the project is to compare change over time, an essential requirement is the minimization of technical variation to the greatest extent possible. If another service provider is used, NIA would have to first evaluate the presence and extent of differences in assay results between previously acquired data and results from potential providers. Such a comparability substudy would require previously assayed samples to be pulled from the biorepository and run by the new service provider followed by analyses to compare old and new data. This step in and of itself is time and cost prohibitive. Additionally, even if data were found to be moderately compatible, NIA would still have to analytically account for remaining differences through complex statistical methods. Clearly, any change in service provider would require substantial additional laboratory and analytic efforts and the possibility remains that the data could be irreconcilable. This potential situation would seriously deplete non-renewable resources (i.e., banked specimens) and substantially negatively impact all planned and future projects.

The intended source is: UCLA Neuroscience Genomics Core, 695 Charles E. Young Drive S., Los Angeles, CA 90095-1761.

The specifc requirement is for the contractor shall perform genome-wide DNA methylation microarray assays for 992 archived DNA samples from the BLSA. The Contractor shall provide all necessary microarrays, reagents, consumables and equipment. The investigators and study staff of the BLSA prefer use of the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC v2.0 BeadChip for compatibility with existing DNA methylation data.  The Contractor shall implement and document quality assurance and quality control procedures suitable to the specifics of the project. The Contractor shall complete bisulfite conversion and microarray processing for provided DNA samples and appropriate controls. The Contractor shall repeat assays where assay failure is due to a technical issue other than DNA sample quantity or quality as appropriate.  The period of performance will be for a twelve month period, with options to renew for one additional twelve month period.

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov.  All responses must provide evidence that they can provide equipment that meets all of the requirements in this announcement.

All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement and must reference the identifying number. Responses must be submitted electronically to Christopher Belt, Contracting Officer, NIDA Office of Acquisitions, at cbelt@nida.nih.gov U.S. Mail and Fax responses will not be accepted.