Sources Sought Notice

The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), a component of the National Institutes of Health, is seeking qualified small business contractors to establish and operate a Repository of Mouse Models for Down Syndrome through this Sources Sought Notice (RFP 75N94026R00006). The primary services required include breeding and maintaining multiple mouse strains that model Down syndrome, with particular emphasis on the Ts65Dn strain and related models, along with distribution of animals to federally funded investigators, pathogen testing, and phenotype characterization. Prospective contractors must demonstrate prior experience successfully breeding and distributing trisomic mice, possess cryopreservation and embryo implantation expertise, maintain appropriate facilities and equipment, and implement reliable genotyping protocols. This is a market research notice for planning purposes only and does not constitute a formal solicitation; qualified small businesses of all designations (SB, SOB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB) are encouraged to submit capability statements by March 19, 2026, at 4:00 PM Eastern Time to demonstrate their qualifications and prior relevant experience.

The contract carries no small business set-aside designation and anticipates a single cost-reimbursement award with a one-year base period and four one-year option periods for a total performance period of five years. Key operational requirements include maintaining at least 30 breeding pairs per strain, supplying approximately 1,200 to 2,400 mice annually with 75 to 80 percent distributed free of charge to eligible researchers, acquiring new strains as they become available, and convening a quarterly external Scientific Advisory Board. No specific budget range has been disclosed in this Sources Sought Notice, nor has an incumbent contractor been identified. Responses should be submitted electronically in PDF format directly to the Contracting Officer, Gannon White, and Contract Specialist, Gisele Beaudoin, and must include business information, staff qualifications, facility descriptions, resumes for key personnel including the Principal Investigator, and documentation of similar prior work experience.