1. Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SBSS-17-602

2. Title: Glucose Isotopes

3. Classification Code: 6810 - Chemicals

4. NAICS Code: 325413 - In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing

5. Description:
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.

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.

Background:
MR Spectroscopy Section and Core have been conducting several in vivo carbon-13 (13C) spectroscopy projects on animals and healthy volunteers. Because natural abundance of 13C is only 1%, natural 13C signal is too weak to be detected. Therefore, we need to add 13C enriched chemicals into subjects to increase 13C signal intensity.

During the experiments of 13C spectroscopy, solution of 13C enriched chemicals will be infused or orally administrated into subjects. 13C signals of the brain metabolites and the intracellular environment can be measured using in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy techniques. In these projects, [2,5-13C] glucose will be used in animal studies, and [2-13C] glucose will be used in human studies.

With these 13C labelled chemicals, we will be able to detect brain metabolism and to accurately measure the concentrations of several important metabolites. The 13C MR spectroscopy methods developed in our group is and will be applied to many other research groups in NIMH and NIH for various neural science studies.

Purpose and Objectives:
The purpose is to purchase:
• [2-13C] glucose
• [2,5-13C2] glucose

Project requirements:
• 500 g of [2-13C] glucose
• 15 g of [2,5-13C2] glucose
• Shipping & Handling

The glucose should be Microbiological & Pyrogen Tested for S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, Salmonella.

Anticipated period of performance:
Delivery within 3 months from date of award.

The capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) documentation of ability to provide the required support, 3) any contractor GSA Schedule contracts by which all of the requirements may be met, if applicable, and 4) any other information considered relevant to this program such as:

• 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;

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 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 Contract Specialists and Contracting Officer. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

All capability statements sent in response to this Sources Sought Notice must be submitted to Sneha Singh, Contract Specialist, via email at [email protected] before the closing date and time of this announcement. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to 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 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)."