Opportunity: CRISPR-CAS9 Genomic Screening

CRISPR-CAS9 Genomic Screening The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Office of Research and Development (ORD) National Center for Computational Toxicology (NCCT) has a requirement to obtain contractor support for a proof-of-concept study to use a genetic platform based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated nuclease Cas9 (CRISPR-CAS9) to delete specific genomic loci in human cells. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to issue a solicitation for a contractor to furnish all resources with the potential exception of test chemicals including the necessary personnel, material, equipment, services, and facilities to perform the tasks outlined in the Statement or Work (SOW). This includes general contract management and oversight functions such as meetings and teleconferences with EPA to review issues, problems, and performance. The EPA will specify and provide the compounds. The Contractor shall provide treatment and sample processing protocols and describe how the process will ensure quality of assay/measurement results. The contractor shall provide exposure of chemicals supplied by EPA to K562 cells treated with a CRISPR-Cas9 system and a sgRNA library targeted to 3000-5000 genes of toxicological relevance. The contractor shall perform all work in compliance with federal, state, and local environmental laws and regulations. The EPA¿s intent of this synopsis is to state the Government¿s intention to award this requirement as a firm-fixed price purchase order using Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). The solicitation number is RFQ-RT-17-00046 and is being issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The EPA has determined that this solicitation will be issued as a total small business set-aside with competition limited to small business concerns classified as such under the requirement¿s North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code. The NAICS Code for this procurement is 541712 ¿ Research and Development, Physical, Engineering, Life Science. It is anticipated the Request for Quotation (RFQ) will be issued on or about May 19, 2017. The resultant contract will be awarded in accordance with the solicitation procedures outlined in FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). Offerors will be asked to submit a technical and cost submittal for the purchase order, as well as relevant past performance information. All responsible sources categorized as a small business under the stated NAICS Code may submit a quotation which shall be considered by the Agency. The announcement will be posted at the website referenced below. The requirement is being solicited under solicitation RFQ-RT-17-00046. The solicitation and amendments will be available at and posted on FedConnect, the EPA¿s governmental web portal, and synopsized on FedBizOps, the Government¿s government-wide point of entry (GPE). This notice, the RFQ, and any amendments will be available via the internet at the following URL: https://www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/Default.htm. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required supply in accordance with the stated specifications should submit a quote via FedConnect by the closing date stated in the RFQ. Consequently, any respondents failing to provide the aforementioned data but instead choosing merely to submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the RFQ will not be honored. You must register with FedConnect as an interested party to submit questions and to view responses. Vendors can register with FedConnect at www.fedconnect.net/FedConnect/. For assistance in registering or for other FedConnect technical questions please call the FedConnect Help Desk at (800) 899-6665 or email at support@fedconnect.net. FedConnect is a web portal that connects agencies and vendors to streamline the process of doing business with the federal government. Through FedConnect contractors will be able to receive, review and respond to contract pre- and post-award actions and documents such as correspondence, request for quotation, tasking instruments and contract modifications. The use of FedConnect also furthers the EPA¿s commitment to moving towards a paperless acquisition environment by reducing its carbon footprint and conducting its business in an ecologically friendly manner. There is no charge to use FedConnect. In addition, all prospective offerors must be actively registered in the System for Award Management (SAM). Registration in SAM facilitates registration for FedConnect and is required to receive a contract/purchase order award by the Federal Government. Please note that vendors MUST have their SAM profile set to ¿public,¿ otherwise FedConnect will not be able to access the SAM information required to validate vendor credentials. Registration may be completed and information regarding the registration process may be obtained at http://www.sam.gov. There is no charge for registration in SAM. PLEASE NOTE: NO FURTHER SYNOPSIS OR INFORMATION WILL BE POSTED TO FEDBIZOPS. It will be the offeror's responsibility to frequently check the same site where the solicitation is to be posted, FedConnect, for any amendments, changes to the RFQ issue and closing date and additional information. All contractual and technical questions must be submitted in writing (via FedConnect / e-mail). Telephone questions will not be accepted. The Government is not obligated or committed to award any contract as a result of this notice. Hard copies or diskettes will not be available. Telephone and fax requests will not be honored. The EPA point of contact for this requirement is Contract Specialist Harold L. Day, Jr. Please address any comments or questions to the following: Harold L. Day, Jr., EPA RTP POD OARM, EPA Research Triangle Park, NC, Code AA005. Contact information: Email address ¿ day.harold@epa.gov; Telephone number - (919) 541-4719.