SOLICITATION NOTICE
99 -- Publication Consultant Services
- Notice Date
- 10/28/2008
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541690
— Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Rockledge Dr. Bethesda, MD, Office of Acquisitions, 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7902
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7902
- Solicitation Number
- NHLBI-PB-AR-2009-015-RCO
- Response Due
- 11/12/2008 5:00:00 PM
- Archive Date
- 11/27/2008
- Point of Contact
- Rosie C Owens,, Phone: (301) 435-7920, Kathleen Marsden,, Phone: 301.435.0364
- E-Mail Address
-
rowens@mail.nih.gov, marsdenk@nhlbi.nih.gov
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A SOLE / SINGLE SOURCE, NON-COMPETITIVE NOTICE. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. This sole/single source, non-competitive notice is prepared in accordance FAR Parts 5 and 13. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. FAR Part 6 – Competition Requirements, is not applicable to contracts awarded using the simplified acquisition procedures of FAR Part 13, not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. This announcement constitutes the only notice; proposals are not being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The resultant acquisition will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13, simplified acquisition procedures and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular FAC 05-27 (as of September 17, 2008). The total estimated amount of this contract is NOT expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold of $100,000.00. The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industry Classification System code 541690, with size standard of $7.0. Market Research conducted by the Government in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10, Market Research, has determined that only LCYU Consultants can perform the requisite services specified herein. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisition (OA), for the National Institute of Arthritis intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source noncompetitive basis to LCYU Consultants, 6610 Pyle Road, Bethesda, MD 20817-5440: to consult and complete three (3) ongoing scientific journal publications. BACKGROUND The Intramural Research Program (IRP) of the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) is committed to a comprehensive program of scientific innovation and excellence in the areas of arthritis, muscle, bone, skin and rheumatology. Within the IRP, the Laboratory of Muscle Biology under the leadership of the Chief, Kuan Wang, Ph.D. focuses, among other goals, on the molecular structure of skeletal muscle in an effort to better understand the mechanism of muscle contraction in order to improve therapies for muscle diseases X-ray diffraction has been used as one of the methods of choice since it is one of the few non-invasive techniques such that molecular structures can be determined at atomic resolution while the muscle is fully functioning. The long term goal of our research is to understand the molecular processes underlying muscle contraction. Muscle contraction is a result of interactions between the proteins, myosin and actin by using adenosine triphosphate (ATP) as the energy source. The mechanism of transforming the energy stored in the molecule ATP (chemical energy) to mechanical energy (moving objects) has been a subject of intense research for many years. The reason for such strong interest is that most of the motile processes in living cells such as cell division and nutrient transport, appear to follow similar principles as those found in muscle contraction. The knowledge gained from studying muscle contraction thus far has benefited research work in many other dynamic cellular functions. Focused on the study of changes in actin and myosin that enable the muscle to produce force and to move objects. Although the sliding filament model of muscle contraction is well accepted, the structural details of the mechanism have proved to be difficult to establish because the underlying processes are rapid (millisecond time scale) and the interactions are not synchronized. However, it is known that as the myosin molecule (acting as an enzyme) hydrolyses ATP, it passes through several intermediate states. One way to study the structural details is to study structures of each individual state within the ATPase cycle. For this purpose, we have been using ATP analogues that trap the myosin molecules in individual intermediate states. X-ray diffraction is the technique of choice, since it is one of the few non-invasive techniques that allow direct observation of molecular structures in living muscle cellsIn recent years, Dr. Leepo Yu and a research team discovered, among other accomplishments, that the structure of myosin filament in muscle cells directly reflects the state of the nucleotide bound at the active site of the myosin molecules and the readiness of muscle to contract. The team further introduced the concept that there are multiple conformations coexisting simultaneously in the myosin molecules. These findings greatly facilitated the research in ways to control contraction. However, further evidence is needed to fully establish the validity of these new concepts. Task Performed are as follows: 1.During the contract period the consultant shall perform some control experiments that will be carried out and a required revision will be completed and resubmitted to the journal. The effects of binding blebbistatin to myosin on the filament structures. A manuscript “Stabilization of Helical Order in the Thick Filaments by Blebbistatin. Further Evidence of Coexisting Multiple Conformations of Myosin” has been submitted to the Biophysical Journal for publication. 2.During the contract period the consultant shall conduct some X-ray experiments that will be carried out (see (4) below ) and a manuscript will be prepared for submission for publication. A tentative title will be: “Mechanical and Biochemical Characterization of the Fast Psoas Muscle from the Model Mice for Pompe Disease” 3.During the contract period the consultant will collaborate with Drs. Paul Plotz, Nina Raben and Robert Horowits, all of IRP, NIAMS on the mechanical biochemical and structural characterizations of the fast skeletal muscle in the mice model of Pompe Disease, and a manuscript will be prepared for submission for publication. 4.All of the projects stated will fulfill the mission of NIAMS in supporting research into the causes, treatment and prevention of musculoskeletal diseases and obtain proprietary data. These experiments are needed to complete the projects (1) - (2), X-ray diffraction experiments. The consultant will advise and consultant with a research team to carry out X-ray diffraction experiments at the National Synchrotron Light Source, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY. Note: The results will benefit the government’s need for research in the areas related to muscle and cardiovascular diseases. The consultant service level of effort is not to exceed 640 hours. The period of performance is from date of award to March 15, 2009. The Government anticipates that there will be one performance based service contract awarded for this requirement. Sole Source: Dr. Yu is a world renowned expert in studying muscle structure and function. Her specialty is applying x-ray diffraction techniques to living muscle cells. There are only few research teams in the world that conduct such experiments with comparable accomplishment. The research team discovered the relation between thick filament structure and the state of the myosin. The projects (1)-(2) stated above are further extension of that discovery. With her experience, expertise and exposure to proprietary data only Dr. Yu will be able to continue and complete the projects. Deliverables: The consultant will meet the needs of the NIAMS, as they arise, within general guidelines provided by the assigned Project Officer (PO). This will be in the form of specific monthly written reports as set by the PO. A final inspection and acceptance of all work performed of experiments and data analysis by the consultant will be performed by technical assistance from IRP, NIAMS personnel. Place of Performance: Government will provide laboratory space on the NIH Campus and, computing facilities and travel expenses to the National Synchrotron Light Source. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. The resulting acquisition will be entered into pursuant to the acquisition authority set forth in FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 253(c) (1) and HHSAR 306-302-1. Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 15 days after publication of this synopsis will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract 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. Inquires to this notice, referencing number NHLBI-PB-(AR)2009-015-RCO may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisition, Procurement Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6144, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Rosie C. Owens, Contract Specialist. Response may be submitted electronically to rowens@nhlbi.nih.gov or marsdenk@hlbi.nih.gov and by fax to (301) 480-3345. Responses will only be accepted if dated on or before 5:00pm on November 12, 2008, and signed by an authorized company representative.
- Web Link
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- Place of Performance
- Address: Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-0001, United States
- Zip Code: 20892-0001
- Zip Code: 20892-0001
- Record
- SN01697225-W 20081030/081028215151-299add3d35ab695b859253f87d2810b3 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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