Neurohistological Services for Brain Samples

Title: Neurohistology for Neurodegeneration and Glial Phenotype
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Division of Health Effects Laboratory Division (HELD), Toxicology and Molecular Biology Branch Morgantown, WV intends to award a sole source firm fixed price purchase order to FD Neurotechnologies, Inc., PO Box 785, Ellicott City, MD 21041 for neurohistological services for brain samples.
It would be beneficial to stay with the same company using the same methods that were used to acquire the slides we will be comparing these to.

CLIN 0001:
Tissue prep (mouse) cerebrum
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0002:
Tissue prep (mouse brainstem/cerebellum) includes testing and titration
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0003:
Neurodegenemouseion (cerebrum)
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0004:
Neurodegenemouseion (brainstem)
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0005:
Staining cryostat sections (cerebrum)
Quantity of 576 each

CLIN 0006:
Staining cryostat sections (brainstem)
Quantity of 256 each

CLIN 0007:
GFAP immunostaining (cerebrum)
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0008:
GFAP immunostaining (brainstem)
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0009:
lba-1 immunostaining (cerebrum)
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0010:
Lba-1 immuostaining (brainstem)
Quantity of 64 each

CLIN 0011:
Slide box
Quantity of 40 each

CLIN 0012:
Shipping and handling
Quantity of 1 each

STATEMENT OF WORK
Title of Project: Neurohistology for Neurodegeneration and Glial Phenotype
Background and Need:
Histology and immunohistology are critical for visualizing brain damage and various biomarkers relevant to this study. The need for carefully prepared neurohistology slides are also required for publication and presentation purposes. This project requires a vendor with the expertise necessary to prepare neurohistology slides with the quality that publications and presentations demand.
Scope of Work:
Animals for this project will be sacrificed and formalin perfused at NIOSH. The experiment will encompass 64 mice in 16 experimental groups that will be perfused and send for subsequent histology. After perfused brain samples have been collected at NIOSH, the brain samples will be shipped to the histology vendor selected for this work. Briefly, the histology vendor will be responsible for cryoprotection, freezing, sectioning with a cryostat (30 - 40 μm), and collection and storage of 8 sets of free-floating sections in section storage solution at -20ºC for up to 3 years, testing & titration of the primary antibody for colorimetric immunostaining on free-floating sections for mouse brains, neurodegeneration staining with FD neurosilver and fluoro jade B stains, colorimetric
immunostaining with 2 different primary antibodies (antibodies will be provided by NIOSH investigators), and shipping slides back to NIOSH in slide boxes. The slides will be returned within eight weeks, or an alternative timeframe if the project requires a faster turnaround time. The investigators for this project would also prefer a money-back guarantee for prepared slides since the brain samples are very valuable to this study. The investigators will need the selected histology vendor to have an excellent track record for reproducible neurohistology slides. Finally, the investigators will need the sectioning and staining for approximately 64 mouse brains.

Brain samples will be sent once the experiment is completed. As discussed in the scope of work, the histology vendor will section and stain the brain samples and return a box of the prepared slides back to NIOSH. The turnaround time for the brain samples shall be no longer than 8 weeks. Remaining brain samples may be stored on-site at the selected histology vendor or will be returned to the NIOSH investigators.
Deliverables:
NIOSH will ship brain samples to FD Neurotechnologies.
FD Neurotechnologies will ship the finished product to the molecular neurotoxicology lab.
Payment Disbursement:
Work will be started by July 01, 2017/delivered by September 30, 2018

This contract action is for a services for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (SAP) and 41 U.S.C 3304(a) (1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals.

The notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within (15) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the Government. 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. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any quotation/response should be e-mailed to purchasing agent Rebecca Mullenax at rmullenax@cdc.gov by COB on May 20, 2017