DNA SERVICES (Gene Synthesis, VectorArk Cloning, Express Plasmid Preparation) (AMBIS 2181581)

This is a Notice of Intent, not a request for proposal. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate on an other than full and open competition basis with Genscript USA Inc, 860 Centennial Avenue, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854-3918, United States, to procure DNA services including Gene Synthesis, VectorArk Cloning, and Express Plasmid Preparation.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), Vaccine Research Center (VRC), was established to facilitate research in vaccine development.  Within the VRC, the research efforts of the Virology Laboratory (VL) focus is on understanding the cellular and molecular regulation of viral gene expression, HIV replication, entry into the cell, development of improved HIV envelope immunogens, optimization of immune responses to gene-based vaccination, and correlates of immune protection, with the goal of developing rationally designed vaccines against HIV, influenza, Ebola/Marburg, and other emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Within the VL, the Structural Biology Section (SBS) seeks to apply structural biology to the development of effective vaccines – especially a vaccine against HIV-1.

The lab’s goal is to identify HIV-1 MPER immunogens that elicit a robust immune response in small animal models. Toward this goal, we need to develop suitable peptide and protein immunogens. We hope to obtain high-quality pure synthetic peptides (>95-98%) with custom modifications from Genscript and conjugate these peptides to carrier proteins. The peptides are of varying lengths and sequence. The resultant conjugates will be used in our immunization studies. High-quality (>95-98% pure) biotinylated peptides are also requested -these will be used as probes to identify broadly neutralizing MPER-directed antibodies. Similarly, we also need DNA constructs for our designed MPER-scaffolded proteins. These DNA constructs will be used to express MPER-scaffolded proteins that will be developed as immunogens and probes. The VRC has been using the HIV-1 MPER directed peptides from GenScript for nearly a decade.  This is an important factor for on-going experiments as to maintain the continuity of products used for nearly a decade in our VRC research.  To compare current and future experiments it is very import to continue to DNA services that include Gene Synthesis, VectorArk Cloning, and Express Plasmid Preparation.

The statutory authority for this sole source requirement is 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1) as implemented by FAR 13.106-1 only one responsible source and no other supply of service will satisfy agency requirements. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. All responsible sources that could provide comparable services may submit a capability statement that will be considered by email (subject line to reference NOI-NIAID-2181581) to Rita Davis at rita.davis@nih.gov, by 11:00 am eastern standard time Monday, August 14, 2023. All responses received by the closing date of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government.