Notice of Intent to Sole Source In accordance with FAR 6.302-1 The Naval Medical Logistics Command (NMLC) intends to award a sole source contract under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 to George Mason University for administrative, logistical, field collection, and analytical support required to fulfill Navy entomology Center of Excellence (NECE) pathogen surveillance missions in SOUTHCOM. NECE and associated collaborators contribute to an exceptional repository of Global Emerging Infections Surveillance’s (GEIS) febrile and vector-borne infection data hosted by the Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch (AFHSB) to ensure medical readiness of global US and partner nation forces by improving infectious disease surveillance, prevention, and response. NECE plays a key role in supporting national strategic interests though engagement and exchange with academic research, foreign health, and military partners. In absence of accurate updated vector and disease risk assessments developed through NECE research partnerships, US military forces will be compromised, resulting in an increase of disease non-battle injury (DNBI) casualties and directly diminishing US defense capabilities. George Mason University (GMU) will screen rapid diagnostic test strips for medically relevant arboviruses. This work will include, but is not limited to, developing sampling approaches that cover multiple Ministry of Health hospitals in Haiti and whenever possible in Dominican Republic, managing permits and approvals for shipment of samples to partner labs, coordinating field activities with in-country collaborators and study team, analyzing findings, and generating monthly and quarterly reports documenting study progress. The work will also involve communicating with research partners, transferring earmarked funds to in-country collaborators, providing training when appropriate, and assisting all partners as needed. GMU, specifically project PI and POC Dr. Von Fricken, has the field/laboratory expertise and trained personnel both in the US and Haiti where the fieldwork will be performed. Neither Haiti nor the Dominican Republic presently have the infrastructure to support this work. The estimated award date is 15 September 2022. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive proposals and no solicitation document exists for the requirement. Sources interested in responding to this notice are required to submit a capability statement that includes management, technical data, and cost information, in sufficient detail and with convincing evidence that clearly demonstrates the capability to perform the required work. All capability statements received by the due date of this notice will be considered by the Government. A request for documentation or additional information or submissions that only ask questions will not be considered as an affirmative response. A determination by the Government not to compete based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement or to proceed with a sole source contract. Capability statements are due by 2:00 PM Local Time, 16 August 2022. Capability statements shall be submitted by e-mail ONLY as a Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF attachment to the following address:
[email protected]. Please note, a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition will be posted within 14 days of award.