THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATION AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. BASED ON CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPONSE TO THIS SOURCES SOUGHT ANNOUNCEMENT THIS ACQUISITION MAY BE SOLICITED AS A 100% SMALL BUSINESS SET-ASIDE. ALL SMALL BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS (SB, SDB, WOSB, HUBZone, VOSB, and SDVOSB) ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND TO THIS NOTICE. SMALL BUSINESS ORGANIZATIONS MUST HAVE THEIR SIZE STATUS CERTIFIED BY THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. ALL SMALL BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO RESPOND. THE NAICS CODE IS 541712 WITH A SIZE STANDARD OF 500 EMPLOYEES. Description This Sources Sought Notice (SSN) is for information and planning purposes only. It is not a request for proposals and does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation, make an award, or pay any costs associated with responding to this announcement. All submitted information shall remain with the Government and will not be returned. If the need arises, the Offeror would conduct research on radiation-induced immune system aging (immunosenescence) and other late effects of radiation to determine the effects of radiation and aging on the immune and other organ systems and the contribution of such effects to disease development in persons exposed to an atomic bomb explosion. The Offeror would conduct research to understand the mechanisms of radiation and aging and how these factors impact immune aging, to determine the relationship between immune dysfunction and a persistent inflammatory state, and the resulting diseases and infections that may occur with immunosenescence in those who survived an atomic bomb explosion. The Offeror would use specimens obtained from atomic bomb survivors and perform correlative basic science studies in animal models to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of radiation-induced immunosenescence. The Offeror would be required to analyze the effects of ionizing radiation exposure and aging on the hematopoietic stem cells; analyze the effects of ionizing radiation on dendritic cells and their precursors; analyze the effects of ionizing radiation exposure and aging on vaccination responses and investigate methods to augment a robust immune response; develop a comprehensive scoring system for human immune competence as it relates to age and ionizing radiation. Offeror shall demonstrate and document the following in their capability statements: 1. Demonstrated history of tracking for decades the long-term health status of tens of thousands of individuals including men and women from all age groups who were exposed to nuclear weapon-associated radiation of varying degrees. 2. Demonstrated history of conducting prospective and retrospective clinical and basic research studies in atomic-bomb survivors. 3. Access to survivors, databases, and tissue samples (e.g., blood) of atomic-bomb survivors. 4. Demonstrated history of conducting research in atomic-bomb survivors and the impact radiation on the immune system in this population. Offeror is encouraged to submit a capability statement based upon this announcement that demonstrates the Offeror?s qualifications and experience, specifically providing evidence as to their capability to perform the above Requirements and with particular attention to the following: Personnel/Management: adequacy, appropriateness and relevance of expertise, experience, qualifications, and availability of the key professional and technical staff with a project of similar size, scope, and complexity. Past Performance: Past performance is considered essential. In addition to demonstrating that they have met the above qualifications, interested parties shall identify at least three other projects of similar size and complexity. All capable organizations are encouraged to submit capability statements based on this announcement. Interested organizations should submit two copies of their capability statement addressing each of the areas cited above. Please limit responses to 5 pages. Any proprietary information should be so marked. Written capability statements should be received by the Contracting Officer no later than 4:00 P.M., local time on March 21, 2008. Please reference the solicitation number on all related correspondence. No collect calls will be accepted. Facsimile and e-mail transmissions will be accepted. Any proprietary information should be so marked (see Government-Wide Numbered Note 25).

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