Introduction
This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice.
Background
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) supports research related to the basic understanding, treatment and ultimately prevention of infectious, immune-mediated and allergic diseases that threaten millions of human lives. The NIAID Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) supports a comprehensive extramural research program focused on the prevention and control of diseases caused by virtually all infectious agents (with the exception of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)). The NIAID is re-competing the Structural Genomics Centers for Infectious Diseases (SGCID) program, herein now referred to as the Centers for Research on Structural Biology of Infectious Diseases (CRSTAL-ID).
In 2007, the NIAID established two five-year contracts to support the SGCID program. These SGCID centers focused on determining three-dimensional (3D) structures of protein targets of biomedical interest. The SGCID program was re-competed in 2012 and two five-year contracts were awarded to the incumbents. In 2017, the SGCID program was again recompeted and two five-year contracts were awarded to the incumbents (https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/structural-genomics-centers-infectious-diseases-resources):
1. Seattle Biomedical Research Institute (novated to Seattle Children’s Research Institute) (Contract No. HHSN272201700059C)
2. Northwestern University (Contract No. HHSN272201700060C)
Purpose and Objectives
The goal of the CRSTAL-ID program is to continue to support experimental determination of 3D protein structures and other molecules with important biological roles across human pathogens, and pathogen and host proteins involved in host-pathogen interactions. Pathogens include those on the NIAID Category A-C Priority Pathogen lists and organisms associated with emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases: https://www.niaid.nih.gov/research/emerging-infectious-diseases-pathogens.
This CRSTAL-ID program will support research projects that utilize experimental approaches to define the molecular mechanisms of protein targets and gain further insight into the functional roles of these targets. Knowledge from these protein structures and their molecular functions will inform: 1) a structural view of biological processes and pathways which will assist systems-level investigations; and 2) insights into functional mechanisms of the protein target(s), either in complex with other biological molecules or with synthetic compounds. Moreover, the CRSTAL-ID program will support projects that perform structure-guided vaccine design and drug discovery and will conduct evaluation and validation assays required for therapeutic use against infectious diseases. This rational structure-guided approach will improve selectivity, specificity and optimization of drug and vaccine development pipelines. Of critical importance, the CRSTAL-ID program will support projects on antimicrobial resistance and pandemic preparedness for emerging infectious disease threats with a focus on viruses with epidemic or pandemic potential to aid in coordination of NIAID response efforts. The 3D structure information, reagents and services provided by the CRSTAL-ID centers will be made freely available to the broad scientific community.
Project requirements
The purpose of this anticipated solicitation is for scientific support of the CRSTAL-ID program through a) generation of 3D structures for targets derived from bacterial, viral, eukaryotic and other human pathogens using state-of-the-art high-throughput (HTP) technologies and structural biology methodologies including x-ray crystallography, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Cryo-Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM), and structural modeling; b) characterization of molecular functions and biochemical properties of selected targets; c) evaluation of structure-guided design and functional studies of drug targets and vaccine candidates; d) provision of pandemic preparedness and rapid response to emerging infectious diseases threats and programmatic priorities; e) provision of a 3D structure determination service to the external scientific community; and f) dissemination of contract generated resources, including all 3D structure information and reagents.
Anticipated period of performance
It is anticipated that two (2) cost reimbursement, level of effort type contracts will be awarded with a one-year base period of performance beginning on or around June 1, 2022. Awards are expected to include 4 one-year option periods. The Government’s base level of effort requirement is estimated at 31,200 labor hours for each contract year, equating to 15 FTE’s with an FTE being defined as 2,080 hours. In addition to the base level of effort, each year of performance is anticipated to contain an option quantity for up to 12 additional FTEs.
Capability statement / information sought
Sources are expected to have the expertise, personnel, and facilities to meet requirements of this project. Tailored Capability Statements submitted as a result of this announcement should demonstrate the offerors’ qualifications and experience, specifically providing evidence as to their capability to perform this requirement, with particular attention to the following technical areas:
Page Limitations:
Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored Capability Statement not to exceed five pages, excluding resumes. Capability Statements must not include links to internet web site addresses (URLs) or otherwise direct readers to alternate sources of information. Font size must be 10 to 12 points. Spacing must be no more than 15 characters per inch. Within a vertical inch, there must be no more than six lines of text. Print margins must be at least one-inch on each edge of the paper. Print setup should be single-sided on standard letter size paper (8.5 x 11" in the U.S., A4 in Europe). All proprietary information should be marked as such.
Required Business Information:
Number of Copies:
Please submit one (1) electronic copy of your response as follows:
All Capability Statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought notice must be submitted electronically (via e-mail) to Swee Teo, Contracting Officer, at [email protected] in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF). The e-mail subject line must specify HHS-SBSS-75N93021R00009. Facsimile responses will not be accepted.
Common Cut-off Date:
Electronically submitted tailored capability statements are due no later than 3:00PM (Eastern Prevailing Time) on May 5, 2021. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED.
Disclaimer and Important Notes
This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization’s qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Beta.SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.
Confidentiality
No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).”