NOTICE OF INTENT to Sole Source for Scientific Support Services for Generation and Multiomic Profiling of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Neuronal Models

DESCRIPTION: INTRODUCTION This is a notice of intent, not a request for a quotation. THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) SYNOPSIS TO AWARD A CONTRACT WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with the Oxford StemTech Ltd for Scientific Support Services for Generation and Multiomic Profiling of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-derived Neuronal Models.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE and SET ASIDE STATUS The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541690 – Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services with a Size Standard of $19.0 M. REGULATORY AUTHORITY This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures.

Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13—Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6—Competition Requirements.

FAR Subpart 13.106-1 (b) Soliciting from a single source provides that: For purchases not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold, Contracting officers may solicit from one source IF the contracting officer determines that the circumstances of the contract action deem only one source reasonably available (e.g., urgency, exclusive licensing agreements, brand-name OR industrial mobilization).

The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2024-05, dated April 22, 2024. Delivery Date: 30 days ARO Period of Performance:

08/05/2024 – 08/04/2025 Option(s): None. CONTRACTING WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME) DETERMINATION The determination by the Government to award a contract without providing for full and open competition is based upon the market research conducted. Specifically, Oxford StemTech Ltd. is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the services required by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Section on Developmental Neurogenomics. The intended source is:

Oxford StemTech Ltd. The Oxford Science Park Edmund Hally Road Oxford, UK, OX4 4GB POC: Satyan Chintawar Oxford StemTech Ltd.is the only source that can furnish the requirements, to the exclusion of other sources, because NIH must ensure patient samples are processed in a manner consistent with the uniquely derived control cells that have been reprogrammed, passaged, quality controlled, differentiated and sequenced according to a proprietary pipeline at Oxford StemTech.

NIH is not able to use another provider for this service, because its collaborators in the Section on Developmental Neurogenomics (SDN) are using this pipeline to prepare cells that they will allow continuity for cellular reprogramming and differentiation protocols, as well as closely integrated quality control and bioinformatic pipelines. Having NIH’s cells processed by another provider would invalidate the resulting data. CLOSING STATEMENT THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS.

However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. 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. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.

The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include:

unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Unique Entity ID UEI), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All responses must be received by the closing date and time of this announcement, July 29, 2024, at 12:00 PM EST, and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95024R00104. Responses must be submitted electronically to Diedra S. Prophet, at diedra.prophet@nih.gov. U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted