Contact Points
Primary Contract Specialist
Secondary Contracting Officer
The external light environment has a significant impact on innate mammalian behaviors such as circadian rhythms, thermoregulation, sleep, affect, memory, and learning. The retina is the primary environmental light sensor in mammals, and it conveys light information to the brain through retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) are a specialized subset of photoreceptive neurons that modulate non-image-forming visual behaviors in the mammalian brain by projecting to more than 20 brain nuclei outside of the classical image formation system.
While the projections of ipRGCs have been studied in detail, a comprehensive understanding of the cellular and molecular architecture of ipRGC-recipient brain regions is currently lacking. Additionally, light responsiveness in ipRGC targets can vary based on time-of-day and cell type-specificity. To better comprehend critical light-driven behaviors, it is crucial to understand the neuronal architecture of ipRGC-recipient regions and which neuronal populations in the brain respond to changes in illumination.
In order to elucidate cell type diversity and light-response properties of ipRGC-recipient brain regions, SLCR is currently engaged in a large-scale effort to analyze gene expression in hundreds of thousands of cells from these regions using single cell RNA-sequencing. Such large data requires specialized bioinformatics expertise and the development of novel algorithms and analytical pipelines.
Specific Requirements:
The Contractor shall:
- Provide expertise in single cell RNA-seq experimental design and analysis;
- Provide expertise in transcriptional analysis of multimodal and cross-species data;
- Provide expertise in the use of bioinformatics analysis tools and algorithms;
- Provide assistance in the preparation of transcriptomics analyses for publication;
- Provide assistance in the organization of data and analysis pipelines in SLCR; and
- Provide expertise and prior work experience in a biomedical setting, with diverse types of scientists.
Interested parties may identify in writing their interest and capability in response to this requirement. 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 Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), 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 closing date and must reference the announcement. Responses may be submitted electronically to the attention of the contract specialist. Fax responses will not be accepted.
All responsible sources may submit a bid, proposal, or quotation which shall be considered by the agency.