DNA Sequencing Service

DESCRIPTION: This is a request for information (RFI) only

The National Institute of Environmental Health Science (NIEHS) is conducting market research and is seeking information from industry to assist with requirements planning for the services listed herein.

This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes within the NIEHS to facilitate the decision-making process - it does not constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP)/Request for Quotation (RFQ) or a promise to issue an RFP/RFQ in the future, nor does it restrict the Government as to the ultimate acquisition approach.

This RFI does not commit the Government to contract for any equipment, commodities, and services whatsoever. In accordance with FAR 15.201(e), responses to this notice are not offers and cannot be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. There is no required format for RFIs. Further, NIEHS is not at this time seeking proposals and will not accept unsolicited proposals.

Respondents are advised that the Government will not pay for any information or administrative costs incurred in response to this RFI. All costs associated with responding to this RFI will be solely at the interested party's expense.

Not responding to this RFI does not preclude participation in any future RFP issued.

If a solicitation is released, it may be synopsized on the beta.sam.gov website or GSA eBuy electronic system. It is the sole responsibility of potential offerors to monitor the site for additional information pertaining to this or future requirements.

BACKGROUND:

The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) (https://www.niehs.nih.gov/), located in Research Triangle Park (RTP), North Carolina, is one of 27 research institutes and centers that comprise the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (https://www.nih.gov/).

The mission of the NIEHS is to discover how the environment affects people in order to promote healthier lives. In support of this mission, NIEHS seeks to establish a reliable, rapid and cost- effective DNA sequencing services contract which supports investigators within the intramural research program at NIEHS. This sequencing information will provide vital information to ongoing investigations regarding the interplay between environmental exposures, human biology, genetics, and common diseases to help prevent disease and improve human health. This contract will provide high quality DNA sequencing of individual samples and accompanying bioinformatics support. The majority of the biological samples will be yeast colonies, plasmid DNA and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) generated samples from a variety of species that include, but are not limited to, human, rodent and recombinant DNA isolated from various tissue sources and cell lines. Sanger sequencing will be the required sequencing method for most of the samples, while a small number of plasmid DNA samples will require high-throughput sequencing of whole plasmids. The contractor shall provide sample storage and preservation which are critical for subsequent nucleic acid analysis. Information needed to assist the contractor in their ability to perform the service correctly will be provided prior to sequencing; data analysis will be performed by NIEHS.

All references to the term “user” within this statement of work shall be inclusive of government users such as investigators, the COR, or other approved government personnel.

REQUESTED INFORMATION: As this is an RFI only, it is requested that companies provide best practices or approaches in conducting an organizational analysis and/or a description of their respective ability to provide the tasks necessary to meet the needs of the organization.

Examples of deliverables to be addressed may include (but is not limited to) ability to perform the following tasks:

Analyzing current OM organizational structures and comparing them to comparable NIH entities

Analyzing OM processes and workflows and provide recommendations for strengthening documentation.

Examine established role-based competencies against current staffing, recommend methods to increase competencies, and determine whether there is sufficient expertise and manpower to meet the workload demands in those roles.

Setting appropriate staffing levels for the organization, ensuring reasonable workload balances across business areas (for example, as other parts of the organization shift, how does this affect OM staffing, or as new projects or programs are needed at NIEHS, how does OM react or plan for managing these).  Does the breadth of the NIEHS OM functions warrant a different kind of staffing distribution across functional areas compared to other NIH entities?

Performing Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analyses

Identifying gaps and pain points

Identification of key performance indicators and recommendations for evaluation

Identifying opportunities to streamline and automate business practices to reduce administrative burden to OM staff and customers

Providing recommendations and final reporting to OM leadership

Compiling best practices from other NIH entities.

Responses to this RFI should include comment on capabilities that you as a contractor can bring to bear on the tasks described; associated services that are provided to other customers with similar requirements; and any other pertinent details that NIEHS should consider.