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 because 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.

Background / Purpose / Objective: The National Institute on Aging (NIA), Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience (LBN) investigates the biological mechanisms underpinning cognitive resilience during aging. Through several recent and ongoing projects, LBN is studying the metabolic correlates of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in the brain. In the proposed project, NIA wish to extend these studies to study the metabolic basis of cognitive resilience using human and rat brain tissue samples. Using quantitative and targeted metabolomics analyses of brain and blood tissue samples, we have identified abnormalities in several metabolic pathways that are associated with severity of AD pathology in the brain and expression of clinical symptoms. Some older individuals appear to be cognitively resilient as they do not show signs of cognitive impairment despite significant AD pathology in the brain. NIA wish to further understand this phenomenon by performing identical quantitative and targeted metabolomics analyses of autopsy-derived brain tissue samples from human subjects comparing APOE ε4 carriers to non-carriers. The rationale for this study is that comparing regional brain metabolic profiles in relation to APOE genotype, the most robust genetic risk factor for AD, will provide unique insights into how this AD risk gene regulates brain metabolism. Comparing these metabolic signatures to those associated with AD pathology (derived from prior studies) may help identify the metabolic basis of APOE-mediated risk for AD and cognitive resilience in APOE ε4 non-carriers. The second goal of the study is to compare regional brain metabolic profiles in a rat model of cognitive aging developed by NIA Researchers. NIA will perform quantitative and targeted metabolomics to examine regional brain metabolic changes in three groups of rats; aged-cognitively-impaired (AI), aged-cognitively-unimpaired (AU) and young unimpaired (YU). These studies will allow NIA to identify metabolic changes underlying cognitive resilience during aging.

Project Requirements: Independently and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all the necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and facilities, not otherwise provided by the Government as needed to perform the Statement of Work below.

The main objective of the requirement is but not limited to the following: (1) Perform quantitative targeted metabolomics assays on 71 human brain tissue samples (APOE ε4 carriers and non-carriers) from non-demented individuals and 90 rat brain tissue samples from the AI, AU and YU groups to measure the concentrations of small metabolites in the following classes: (a) Amino Acids, Acylcarnitines, Lipids, Hexoses, Biogenic Amines & Polyamines, (b) Phosphatidylserines, (c) Phosphatidylglycerols. (d) Phosphatidyethanolamines, (e) Ceramides. (f) Free oxysterols and cholesterol, and (g) Free fatty acids; (2) Perform statistical analysis (accuracy, sensitivity, specificity) to identify small metabolite markers in brain that are associated with AD pathology and in serum that predict incident AD; and (3) Return all unused specimens to their place of origin.

Level of Effort: The level of effort is for a Senior Research for 960-labor hours for the 12-month period of performance.

Government Responsibilities: Provide adequate quantities of archived brain tissue samples to the contractor to enable the performance of the metabolomics assays detailed above.

Delivery or Deliverables: Electronic copy of excel spreadsheet including absolute concentrations of all assayed metabolites in brain and blood samples to be delivered within 364 calendar says of receipt of samples by the contractor. The timely submission of this deliverable is essential to successful completing this requirement.

Reporting Requirements: The contractor is required to provide written progress reports every 2 months for the contract period September 2019 through September 2020. The progress report shall cover all work completed during the specified period and shall present the work to be accomplished during the subsequent period. This report shall also identify any problems that arose and a statement explaining how the problem was resolved. This report shall also identify any problems that have arisen but have not been completely resolved and provide an explanation. Reports should be as follows: (1) Microsoft Excel spreadsheet with absolute brain tissue concentrations for metabolites listed above on all brain samples provided to the contractor; (2) Microsoft WORD document detailing all the technical aspects of the experimental methodology used including coefficients of variation (CV) of the assays, specimen usage, and success/failure rate of the assay; and (3) Microsoft WORD document summarizing the clinical utility measures of the best serum and brain metabolite markers associated with AD.

Data Rights: The National Institute on Aging shall have unlimited rights to and ownership of all deliverables provided under this contract including reports, recommendations, briefings, work plans and all other deliverables. This includes the deliverables provided under the basic contract and any optional task deliverables exercised by the contracting officer. In addition, it includes any additional deliverables required by contract change. The definition of "unlimited rights" is contained in Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) 27.401, "Definitions." FAR clause 52.227-14, "Rights in Data-General," is hereby incorporated by reference and made a part of this contract/order.

Technical Criteria: The Government will award a contract resulting from this requirement on the basis of best value, technical factors and price considered. Technical factors together shall be considered more important than price and all technical evaluation factors. Factor 1: Technical Approach. The Contractor's proposal shall address each area of the statement of work requirements in sufficient detail to demonstrate a clear understanding of the efforts to be performed and the skill level required to perform them. Approach shall be evaluated for expertise in mass spectrometry-based quantitative assay methodology outlining capability to assay the specific metabolites/metabolite classes specified in the SOW. Capability in these areas shall be viewed favorably. Factor 2: Past Performance: The Contractor shall provide details of at least one prior project on frozen human brain tissue samples that assayed the specific metabolites/metabolite classes specified in the SOW. Past Performance shall be evaluated for relevance to the current requirement.

Anticipated period of performance / delivery date: The Government anticipates the month of award is September 2019 for a 1-year period of performance.

Other important considerations: The response may cite any other information that is necessary for potential respondents to understand the nature of the potential requirement or proposed acquisition.

Capability statement /information sought. The government is interested in soliciting capability statements from all qualified Offerors demonstrating their ability to perform this effort. At a minimum, respondents to this notice must provide, as part of their response, a capability statement to include the following: (1) information regarding the 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 a similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and, (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information; (2) respondents' 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, (3) any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirement.

INFORMATION SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS:
Respondents should provide responses accordingly: (1) submit information electronically. No telephone or facsimile responses will be accepted; (2) format capability statements using Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF including attachments, resumes, charts, etc. Use single space, 12 font minimum and 8 ½ x 11 size paper; (3) organize material in such a manner that clearly identifies and address capability requirements and provide an executive summary; (4) capability statement should not exceed ten (10) pages including references; (5) DUNS number; (6) respondents must send via email to Debra C. Hawkins Contractor, Acquisition Policy Analyst II, at [email protected]; (7) responses should be received no later than August 16, 2019, 12:00 Noon Eastern Time; and (8) include respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

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 provide the product or perform the services specified herein. 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 Federal Business Opportunities. 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).