1. Solicitation Number: 75N95019Q00327

2. Title: Whole Genome CRISPR Screen

3. Description:

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.

Background: The National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) is a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with the mission to catalyze the generation of innovative methods and technologies that will enhance the development, testing and implementation of diagnostics and therapeutics across a wide range of human diseases and conditions. The Stem Cell Translation Laboratory (SCTL) is a state-of-the-art research facility within NCATS' Division of Pre-Clinical Innovation dedicated to addressing the scientific and technological challenges in the iPSC field. The SCTL uses an integrated technological approach to better understand pluripotent stem cell biology and thereby leverage drug discovery and regenerative medicine.

Purpose and Objectives: Through chemical screens, SCTL has developed a proprietary small molecule cocktail named "CEPT". "CEPT" greatly improve hESC and iPSC survivial under various stressful conditions, such as cell dissociation, 3D culture, cryopreservation and others. Now, SCTL aims to advance its understanding of stem cell survival and cellular stress response by using Whole Genome CRISPR screens provided by the vendor. Identification of target genes critical for cell survival will guide SCTL's effort to further optimize its key strategy and share the information with the public.

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:

Part One: Cell line evaluation and optimization for CRISPR screening
1. The contractor will receive from SCTL one clone of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) WA-09 and SOP for cell culture.
2. The contractor will receive from SCTL hESC growth media and supplements, or equivalent PO for these consumables.
3. The contractor will assess growth rate and antibiotic selection sensitivity of WA-09.
4. The contractor will determine the conditions for CRISPR screening.

Part TWO: CRISPR screening in hESCs
1. The contractor will transduce, select and expand transduced cells. Two whole-genome gRNA libraries will be screened including CRISPRko and CRISPRa libraries.
2. The contractor will send back to SCTL frozen vials of transduced cells covering the transduced libraries.
3. The contractor will screen for cell outgrowth under two seeding conditions (250k cells/cm2 and 10k cells/cm2) in duplicate. Screen maintenance will be kept at 300x coverage for 12 population doublings.
4. The contractor will collect the cell pellet, purify DNA, amplify and prepare Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) libraries.
5. The contractor will perform NGS analysis, screen QC and Hit calling to generate the project report including statistical analysis and data visualization.

Anticipated period of performance: Period of performance will be 20 weeks after the vendor receives the hESC line (WA-09) from SCTL.

Other important considerations: SCTL requires the vendor to perform Whole Genome CRISPR Screen service. Specifically, two whole-genome gRNA libraries should be included in this project.

1. CRISPR Knockout (CRISPRko) screening service will be conducted using the GeCKOv2 whole genome library and a high performance all-in-one vector system to provide improved performance in a rapid workflow.
2. CRISPR Activation (CRISPRa) screening provides the capacity to study gain of gene function which allows broadening the range of possible applications.

Requested Response: The intent of this sources sought notice is to define the procurement strategy (e.g. set-aside, sole source, unrestricted) for a solicitation that NCATS intends to post soon. Interested contractors are requested to respond by (1) identifying how their proposed product meets or exceeds each of the seven salient charactistics listed above, by number; and (2) providing product literature, white papers, or capability statements that demonstrate their bona fide ability to supply such an instrument within the time frame described above.

In addition, please state your business size status and whether you are the manufacturer or authorized distributor of the device you propose.

Please note that NCATS is particularly interested in small business sources. If you are a small business, please state the type of small business (small business; HUBZone; service-disabled, veteran-owned; 8(a); veteran-owned; woman-owned; or small disadvantaged businesses) and your 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.

The respondent must also provide their DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business and any other information that may be helpful in developing or finalizing the acquisition requirements.

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

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 Specialist. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be submitted to Jessica Adams, Contract Specialist at [email protected].

The response must be received on or before August 27, 2019 at 11:00am, 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 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).