The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) intends to negotiate, on a sole source basis, under authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c), with North Carolina State University, of Raleigh, North Carolina, to acquire expert services for the immobilization of proteins in surface bound bi-layer membranes. These services are required for the Optical Technology Division and the Physics Laboratory at NIST, who are tasked with the development of advanced nonlinear optical techniques for healthcare applications, such as tissue engineered medical devices, biological sensors and therapeutic and drug delivery systems.*****Sole source determination is based on the Government's need for very specialized skills in both nonlinear optical techniques and in the preparation of compatible biological samples to be studied by the techniques. The stringent sample requirements are: (a) to attach and confirm the attachment of high purity, vectorally oriented transmembrane proteins in biomimetic membranes bound to SFG compatible substrates under aqueous conditions and at physiological concentrations. Also required is the interactive capability of implementing the sample preparation procedure during the course of a SFG measurement at the NIST Gaithersburg, MD site.*****Professor Stefan Franzen, in the North Carolina State University Chemistry Department, is a world-renowned scientist and the top leader in the field of the attachment of biological molecules to surfaces. Prof. Franzen has developed a process that makes his research group uniquely able to attach, orient and confirm the attachment of the variety of transmembrane proteins and peptides defined by NIST researchers as necessary for the development of the advanced nonlinear optical techniques. In addition, Prof. Franzen possesses expertise in the step by step modification of SFG substrates with NiNTA tags, the expression of transmembrane proteins and peptides with a 6X His-tag, the conjugation and vectoral orientation of the His-tagged protein or peptide to the modified SFG surface under appropriate conditions, characterization of the samples, and confirmation of the sample purity. Thus, North Carolina State University, via Prof. Franzen's group, is uniquely qualified to meet the Government's need.*****The period of performance will be seven (7) months from date of purchase order award.*****No solicitation package will be issued. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations. However, responses received by June 18, 2003, will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete the proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.*****See Numbered Note 26.

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