This is a Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding the availability and capability of all qualified sources to perform a potential requirement.

This notice is issued to help determine the availability of qualified companies technically capable of meeting the Government requirement and to determine the method of acquisition.  It is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government to issue a solicitation or ultimately award a contract.  Responses will not be considered as proposals or quotes.  No award will be made as a result of this notice.  The Government will NOT be responsible for any costs incurred by the respondents to this notice.  This notice is strictly for research and information purposes only.

Description:  Assay kit for quantification of serum/plasma on one 96-well plate of a Simoa 4-plex assay for human Abeta40, Abeta 42, GFAP, NF-light

Background: The current project will investigate the biology of cognitive resilience and cognitive impairment, including for Alzheimer disease (AD) in participants in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA).  The current project makes use of stored biospecimens from BLSA participants assessment to investigate potential biomarkers and mechanistic factors, including Abeta40, Abeta 42, GFAP, and NF-light. This project requires the use of high throughput equipment and sensitive assays for the identification biomarkers in serum/plasma of Abeta40, Abeta 42, GFAP, NF-light. 

Purpose and Objectives: These biomarkers will provide important insights into the biological underpinnings of cognitive resilience and cognitive impairment years before any symptoms would be apparent.  New insights may lead to novel treatments to help prevent or delay AD.

Project requirements:

 96 well plate assays and all necessary reagents to include:

• • Complete kit for running one 96-well plate of a Simoa 4-plex assay for human AB40, AB42, GFAP and NF-light, using technology that combines high selectivity and efficiency of transfer for selected ions symmetrically across the isolation window.
  • Complete kit for 96-well plate of a Simoa assay for Abeta40, Abeta 42, GFAP, NF-light.
  • Complete assay kit for running one 96 well plate (or 96 tubes) of target analyte. Includes calibrator concentrate, calibrator diluent, beads detector, SBG, RGP, and sample diluent. Novel ETD HD-high dynamic range ETD provides significantly increased fragment ion coverage.

Anticipated period of performance: Not applicable.

Other important considerations: Brand-name or equal to Quanterix

Capability statement /information sought. Clearly indicate whether respondents must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement, “white paper,” answers to questions/issues, etc. This may include requests for:

• respondents’ opinions about the difficulty and/or feasibility of the potential requirement or proposed acquisition, possible solutions and approaches that may currently exist in the marketplace, and information regarding innovative ideas or concepts;

• information regarding respondents’: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information;

• general information regarding the respondent’s estimate or rough order of magnitude of the effort or time that may be required for completion of the work. (NOTE: This type of information may only be requested as part of an RFI. However, care must be exercised in requesting such information. Information requested must be: (a) necessary; (b) broad in scope; and (c) used for planning purposes only. Detailed estimates must not be requested.);

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2” x 11” paper size, with 1” top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of the project requirement and in the capability statement /information sought paragraphs stated herein.  A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to ten (10) page limit.  The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references, if requested.

The response must include the respondents’ technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

All responses to this notice must be submitted electronically to the Contracting Officer.  Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Renee Dougherty, Contracting Officer at e-mail address [email protected].

The response must be received on or before July 20, 2020, 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time.

  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 presolicitation 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).”