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 and Objectives:

The Intramural Research Program (IRP) in the National Institute on Aging (NIA) is comprised of nine scientific laboratories, the Translational Gerontology Branch, and ten core facilities.  The research program has three focus areas: Neuroscience, Aging Biology and Translational Gerontology. IRP scientists conduct research in many different disciplines that range from basic science to clinical research and epidemiology. Medical problems, which typically affect older persons, are studied in depth using the tools of modern laboratory and clinical research, with a translational perspective.  The central focus of our research is understanding age-related changes in physiology and the ability to adapt to environmental stress.  This understanding is then applied to developing insight about the pathophysiology of age-related diseases.  The program seeks to understand the changes associated with healthy aging and to define the criteria for evaluating when changes should be considered pathologic and require treatment.   Thus, in addition to studying common age-related diseases, such as  Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, stroke, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, diabetes and cancer, NIA also explore the determinants of healthy aging as possible targets for interventions aimed at improving health and quality of life in the older population at large.

To better understand the potential impact of calorie restriction in human populations NIA has embarked on a collaborative effort to explore the impact of environmental temperature on the effects of caloric restriction in mice.  By performing a series of studies in young and aged mice, NIA will seek to determine the effects of thermoneutrality on physiologic changes and the regulation of circulating metabolites in response to calorie restriction. This will include an examination of how induction of transcriptional changes in key metabolic organs by calorie restriction is affected by environmental temperature and allow us to determine how changes in the gut microbiome in response to calorie restriction are altered under thermoneutral conditions. NIA further anticipate that changes in the gut microbiome may contribute to many of the changes in circulating metabolites that are observed with calorie restriction and that changes in body temperature may be responsible for mediating some of these effects. The proper implementation and execution of these studies will require regular guidance by a senior researcher with extensive experience in studying the effects of environmental and body temperature on aging and anti-aging interventions.  Additionally, an experienced Consultant will be able to help ensure the appropriate interpretation and presentation of the data generated in the course of this work.

Project Requirements:

The contractor shall independently provide support services to satisfy the overall operational objectives of NIH and NIA.  The contractor shall provide the following consulting support services:

Provide expertise and consultation to Dr. de Cabo concerning ongoing research within the IRP. 

Provide input on scientific efforts being pursued within the IRP, especially the design and implementation of studies described in the recently funded interlaboratory project proposal looking at the impact of environmental temperature on the beneficial effects of caloric restriction.

Assist in the compilation and interpretation of data from studies comparing the effects of caloric restriction carried out in mice under thermoneutral and sub-thermoneutral temperatures.

Support efforts to design follow up studies stemming from the proposed work on caloric restriction and environmental temperature and assist in the writing and editing of a proposal to extend funding for the currently approved interlaboratory proposal for an additional year.

Technical guidance and direct assistance in writing and editing of meeting abstracts, internal documents, IRP communications, manuscripts, funding proposals, etc.

Contribute to the conceptualization, writing and editing of scientific protocols on issues related to aging and environmental/body temperature both in animal models and humans.

Conduct literature searches and identify critical references for documentation and scientific articles.

Deliverables:

Provide weekly written electronic progress reports to NIA which describe all work completed monthly and present all work to be accomplished during the subsequent period. Reports shall identify any difficulties that arose in the performance of the required tasks during the specified period as well as how difficulties were resolved. Should any difficulties not have been resolved, the report shall provide an explanation and plans for full resolution.

Key Personnel:

The contractor employee providing service shall be considered key personnel.  The contractor employee must meet the following key personnel requirements:

• The candidate must have a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent. 

• Exceptional English writing skills, with a proven track record of high-quality publications in peer-reviewed journals.

• Prior experience as a scientist, overseeing a research program, with responsibilities related to the above, is critical.

• Experience in age-related research field and the impact of body temperature and ambient temperature on aging and anti-aging interventions.

Anticipated Period of Performance: 

The anticipated period of performance is for (12) months from the date of award.

Capability Statement:
Small business concerns that believe they possess the capabilities to provide the required services should submit documentation of their ability to meet each of the project requirements to the Contracting Officer. The capability statement must specifically address each of the project requirements separately.  Additionally, the capability statement should include 1) the total number of employees, 2) the professional qualifications of personnel as it relates to the requirements outlined, 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. Small businesses must also provide their Company Name, DUNS number, Physical Address, and Point of Contact Information.

Interested small businesses are required to identify their type of business, applicable North American Industry Classification System Code, and size standards in accordance with the Small Business Administration. The government requests that no proprietary or confidential business data be submitted in a response to this notice. However, responses that indicate the information therein is proprietary will be properly safeguarded for Government use only. Capability statements must include the name and telephone number of a point of contact having authority and knowledge to discuss responses with Government representatives. Capability statements in response to this market survey that do not provide sufficient information for evaluation will be considered non-responsive. When submitting this information, please reference the solicitation notice number.

All capability statements sent in response to this Small Business Sources Sought Notice must be submitted to Fred Ettehadieh, Contracting Officer, by 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. Facsimile responses are not acceptable.

Disclaimer and Important Notes:

This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in the response.  No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your 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 review of the responses received, pre-solicitation and solicitation notices may be published in SAM.gov.  However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.  The solicitation release date is pending. 

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).