Research and Development: Protein Kinetic Response to Calorie Deprivation for the US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM)

Subject:  Research and Development: Protein Kinetic Response to Calorie Deprivation for the 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 RFQ will not be entertained.
 

2.0 SUBJECT:   The Military Nutrition Division (MND) is one of four research divisions within the U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM). USARIEM’s mission is to optimize Warfighter health and performance through medical research. USARIEM is internationally recognized as the premiere DoD laboratory for Warfighter health and performance research and focuses on environmental medicine, physiology, physical and cognitive performance, cold weather and high-altitude environments, and nutrition for health and performance.

3.0 BACKGROUND:  USARIEM has a need to determine whole-body and muscle protein kinetic responses to high quality protein intake during graded levels of calorie deficiency. Calorie deficiency and its catabolic effects on whole-body protein status and muscle mass is often unavoidable when subsisting primarily on combat rations during sustained military operations in austere environments. Understanding the effects of graded calorie deficit on whole-body and muscle protein kinetics is critical for USARIEM to devise and test optimized dietary strategies that overcome the catabolic effects of calorie deficit. The knowledge gained from this effort will inform Army Regulation 40-25 (Nutrition and Menu Standards for Human Performance Optimization) and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, Combat Feeding Directorate in their efforts to develop and optimize next generation combat rations for use in future Multi-Domain Operations. This Research and Development (R&D) effort will require the procurement of stable isotopes and biological sample (blood and muscle) analyses to calculate whole-body protein turnover, muscle protein synthesis, and essential amino acid concentrations.

4.0 RESPONSE INSTRUCTIONS:   Respondents should address the following in their capabilities statement:

 MND requires the contractor to assist with the intellectual development of the analytical approach to assess whole-body protein turnover and muscle protein synthesis responses to high- quality protein intake during graded calorie deficits. The contractor will procure the amino acid tracers required for this study (1-13C-leucine, 2H5-phenylalanine, NaH-13CO3) and ensure delivery of the sterile isotope solutions for intravenous administration after their preparation by a licensed compounding pharmacy. The contractor will analyze isotopic enrichments and essential amino acid concentrations in blood and muscle tissue collected at USARIEM. After the analyses are complete, the contractor will provide a comprehensive data report and assist with data interpretation and preparation of scientific reports/peer-review publications, which are separate from quarterly or final reports.

5.0 CONTACT INFORMATION:  Any and all questions related to this RFI shall be directed to Ms. Brenda Mena at brenda.i.mena.civ@mail.mil.  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 Tuesday, 1 December 2020.