SME Gene Therapy
This is a REQUEST FOR INFORMATION - SOURCES SOUGHT SYNOPSIS announcement to be used for preliminary market research purposes only. No proposals are being requested or accepted with this synopsis. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSALS AND NO CONTRACT SHALL BE AWARDED FROM THIS SYNOPSIS. The type of solicitation issued in the future will depend upon the responses to this sources sought synopsis. No reimbursement will be made for any costs associated with providing information in response to this synopsis or any follow up information requests.
The purpose of this synopsis is to gain knowledge of interest, capabilities and qualifications of various members of the community to compete and perform a Service Contract.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC) is issuing this request for information (RFI) announcement as part of a market survey for a Service Contract for Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Team Research and Development.
The requirement is listed below:
Task 1 Overview
The Insect Allies program is pursuing scalable, readily deployable, and generalizable countermeasures against potential natural and engineered threats to the food supply with the goals of preserving the U.S. crop system. National security can be quickly jeopardized by naturally occurring threats to the crop system, including pathogens, drought, flooding, and frost, but especially by threats introduced by state or non-state actors. Insect Allies seeks to mitigate the impact of these incursions by applying targeted therapies to mature plants with effects that are expressed at relevant timescales-namely, within a single growing season. Such an unprecedented capability would provide an urgently needed alternative to pesticides, selective breeding, slash-and-burn clearing, and quarantine, which are often ineffective against rapidly emerging threats and are not suited to securing mature plants.
The contractor shall deliver written sections and reviews for monthly customer briefing presentation decks, contribute to discussions during weekly project reviews, and contribute written sections for technical reports/manuscripts submitted in support of the Insect Allies Program. Because much, though not all, of studies executed by this research group incorporate synthetic biology, biotechnology, molecular genomic techniques and concepts, a subject matter expert in these areas with a specific skill set in natural delivery systems to transfer modified genes to plants using insect vectors and the plant viruses they transmit will be essential skills for the contractor. Given the requirement of advanced laboratory techniques such as viral manipulation, insect vector optimization, and selective gene therapy in mature plants, the contractor shall have expertise in the areas of molecular and synthetic biology to provide foundational knowledge in plant virus gene editing and disease vector biology. We have the need for a contractor with the following experience: (1) a PhD degree with 3 to 5 years of experience in synthetic biology, biotechnology, molecular genomic techniques and concepts, knowledge in plant virus gene editing and disease vector biology. The contractor shall provide subject matter expertise in support of the development of novel platform technology for enhancing crop traits within a single growing season by delivering a modified virus to target plants by a mobile insect vector.
Task 1 - Review, Edit and Evaluate Reports
Work Description: A subject matter expert in the areas of molecular and synthetic biology, viral manipulation, insect vector optimization, selective gene therapy in mature plants, virus gene editing, and disease vector biology shall review, edit and evaluate up to 12 documents. The contractor shall evaluate scientific trends in the target areas listed above and assess the quality of experimental designs for gene editing and disease vector biology. The contractor shall conduct interviews with key stakeholders in order to implement plans for continuation of vital program milestones for plant virus gene editing and disease vector biology. The contractor shall participate in weekly status update calls, monthly stakeholder calls and shall contribute written sections to monthly status review presentation decks.
Task 1 Deliverables:
Task 1: The contractor shall contribution of written sections to monthly status review slide deck presentations that incorporate knowledge gained by examination of statements of work, program deliverable documents, and ERDC fact sheets. The contractor shall provide weekly and monthly updates. The contractor shall provide edits and evaluation for up to 12 documents.
Task 1 Period of Performance:
The work described above shall require an estimated range of 50 to 75 hours over a 1 year period after award.
Task 1 Travel:
Non-local travel and expenses shall be required. This task will require travel to attend technical exchange meetings, performer site visits, and research facility inspections.
Task 1 Required Travel: Travel required will not exceed $5,000.00.
Option Task 2
Work Description: A subject matter expert in the areas of molecular and synthetic biology, viral manipulation, insect vector optimization, selective gene therapy in mature plants, virus gene editing, and disease vector biology shall write sections specific to the use of molecular and synthetic biology for enhancing crop traits through modified viruses delivered by mobile insect vectors to target plants. These written sections shall be incorporated into drafts submitted to peer-reviewed journals or as technical reports for ERDC. The contractor shall participate in weekly status update calls, monthly stakeholder calls and shall contribute written sections to monthly status review presentation decks.
Option Task 2 Deliverables:
Task 1: The contractor shall contribution of written sections to monthly status review slide deck presentations that incorporate knowledge gained by examination of statements of work, program deliverable documents, and marketing material for ERDC. The contractor shall provide weekly and monthly updates. The contractor shall provide edits and evaluation for up to 12 documents.
Option Task 2 Period of Performance:
The work described above shall require an estimated range of 50 to 75 hours over a 1 year period after award.
Option Task 2 Travel:
This travel option may be exercised after travel from the initial contract has been expended. This travel option will not exceed $3,000.
The contractor shall perform work as specified. North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) Code applicable to this sources sought is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. The Small Business Size Standard for this sources sought is $15.5 Million.
Interested organizations having access to demonstrated research and capabilities in this area are invited to submit literature, which describes the general approach, previous related work, and a response per the submission instructions below. After review of the response submissions, the Government may contact select respondents to further clarify the candidate materials.
If you have an interest in participating in this type of contract, please provide the following information:
1. Cage code or DUNS number
2. Company information: (type of small business: 8(a), SDB, SDVOSB, etc) Please indicate contact information and email address.
3. Capability Statement: Please include a capability statement not to exceed ten pages.
Interested parties should register on-line and subscribe to receiving procurement announcements related to this sources sought notice at www.fbo.gov. Any questions related to this notice shall be submitted in writing to the point of contact listed below.
All information marked as proprietary information will be safeguarded to prevent disclosures to non-government personnel and entities. Your interest in this response is appreciated. Interested vendors should provide information regarding this announcement no later than 22 July 2019 at 1:00 pm CST to:
E-mail amanda.andrews@usace.army.mil
Amanda M Andrews, Contract Specialist, Phone 6016345249, Email amanda.andrews@usace.army.mil
