Study of Metabolomic Effects of Heavy Metal Exposures in Rats

THIS IS A SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. THERE WILL NOT BE A SOLICITATION AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

This notice is a market research tool being used to determine the availability and adequacy of potential sources, particularly small businesses, prior to determining the method of acquisition and issuance of a solicitation.

USAMRAA is seeking firms capable of studying metabolomic effects of heavy metal exposures in rats. The project will consist of customized sample preparation, evaluation of samples for the presence of metabolites utilizing LC-MS, GC-MS & GC-FID, data processing, statistical analysis, and preparation of a final report.

The following deliverables will be required:

1. A relative concentration profile of all small-molecule entities, including complex lipids (named and unnamed chemical structure), which can include endogenous compounds, xenobiotics, as well as their metabolites, extracted from the samples and detected by LC-MS, GC-MS or GC-FID systems.

2. Fully quantitative profile of concentration and fatty acid composition of neutral and polar lipid classes.

3. A full statistical analysis of the resulting data, which typically consists of univariate significance tests (t-tests, ANOVA, repeated measures analysis, etc.) with adjustments made to account for the multiple testing, and, if appropriate, classification analysis.

4. An in-depth biochemical interpretation and analysis of selected, significant, named compounds (i.e. known chemical structure) using pathway analysis tools.

The Government is conducting a metabolomic assessment of fecal and intestinal digesta samples from heavy metal-exposed rats. These samples will be used to identify potential biomarkers for metal exposure that can be used in advanced surveillance of pre-, during, and of post-exposure to hazardous chemical agents and environmental hazards. We currently require a metabolomic, small-molecule survey of the control vs. treatment animals. In addition to the small-molecule analysis, we require a quantitative, intact lipid panel, including ether lipids, to evaluate and compare the total abundance of major lipid classes, potential changes to specific intact lipids that are present in the sample matrices of interest, and chemical identification of major isomers present in the composition of lipids of interest. Importantly, we require the compilation and comparison of the small-molecule and lipid data, in a descriptive and detailed data analysis report, that includes statistical analyses.

The Government anticipates a single firm-fixed-price contract with a Period of Performance of three (3) months. Upon review of industry response to this Sources Sought Notice, the Government will determine the most appropriate acquisition strategy for this requirement. All interested parties are requested to submit a brief capabilities statement package (no more than 10 pages in length) to the contracting office. These packages must demonstrate each party's ability to perform the required services, as well as its prior experience with similar requirements.

Responses are due on Friday April 17, 2015 by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

The Government is not obligated to and will not pay for any information received from potential sources as a result of this notice.

Capabilities statements must be submitted electronically to SAMANTHA.L.CONNORS.CIV@MAIL.MIL.

Questions regarding this notice should be addressed to Samantha L. Connors via email at SAMANTHA.L.CONNORS.CIV@MAIL.MIL.