75N95024Q00530

DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES 

The purpose of this requisition is to obtain human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived astrocytes from adult donors for a critical metabolomics screening study, which is part of our ongoing collaboration with TDB-Bio. This project aims to use these astrocytes as a control group to assess the impact of various drugs on both glioblastoma cells and healthy astrocytes. Our primary goal is to evaluate the differential effects of the tested drugs. Specifically, while we anticipate observing a toxic response in the glioblastoma cell lines, we also need to determine whether these drugs exert any adverse effects on healthy astrocytes. By including iPSC-derived astrocytes as controls, we can identify potential toxicity to non-cancerous cells and ensure that the drugs are selectively targeting cancer cells while sparing healthy ones. This approach is essential for understanding the safety and efficacy profile of the drugs under investigation. It will provide valuable insights into the potential side effects and help in refining therapeutic strategies to minimize harm to healthy tissues, thereby advancing the development of more targeted and safer treatments for glioblastoma.

The focus of our project is to evaluate the effects of various drugs on multiple glioblastoma cell lines, employing a metabolomics approach to analyze drug responses at several time points. This research aims to advance our understanding of the mechanisms underlying drug action and resistance in glioblastoma. By integrating metabolomics with drug testing, we seek to uncover specific metabolic changes associated with therapeutic interventions. Identifying these changes will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of the drugs and potentially reveal novel mechanisms of action that are essential for the development of more effective treatments. Ultimately, this project will contribute to the advancement of translational research by elucidating how different drugs affect glioblastoma cells at the metabolic level, thus facilitating the development of targeted therapies for this challenging and aggressive form of cancer.

SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS

The significant, essential physical and functional elements required for this acquisition are iPSC-derived human astrocytes, specifically sourced from FujiFilm CDI. These astrocytes must meet the government’s objectives by serving as a reliable control group in a project where cancerous cells are treated with AI-selected drugs. The essential functions of these astrocytes include providing a consistent and validated baseline to compare the effects of the drugs on cancerous cells and to assess any potential adverse effects on healthy cells. The required levels of performance include the cells' ability to accurately represent normal human astrocyte behavior and their compatibility with prior experimental conditions established in related research. The Government's minimum acceptable standards are that the astrocytes must be of high purity, maintain physiological relevance, and have been previously validated for use in similar experimental setups, ensuring that they serve as an effective control to accurately assess drug effects and potential harm to non-cancerous cells.

QUANTITY: iCell 1.0=9 vials - iCell 2.0=12 vials

ESTIMATED PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:

Delivery Date within 30 days ARO

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, FujiFilm CDI is the only vendor in the marketplace that can provide the services required by NCATS.

The intended source is:

FujiFilm CDI, 1830 Warner Avenue

Santa Ana, CA, 92705, USA

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 and must reference the solicitation number, 75N95024Q00530. Responses must be submitted electronically to Patricia da Silva, Contract Specialist, at patricia.dasilva@nih.gov and KJ Shaikh, Contracting Officer, at kj.shaikh@nih.gov U.S. Mail and fax responses will not be accepted.