SUBSCRIPTION TO NEXTBIO RESEARCH DATABASE & INTERGRATED TOOLS RFQ-RT-16-00001 Notice of Intent The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with NextBio Research for a one year license to use the NextBio database and integrated tools. This procurement is recommended to be processed without full and open competition. NextBio¿s ¿Research and Translational Medicine¿ system is a web-based discovery platform that provides a practical way to mine vast quantities of complex biological, clinical and literature data. The database integrates the world¿s genomic information in ways that enable researchers to develop biomedical insight, incorporating correlative, data-driven discovery that accelerates research by combining semantically structured data and simple user interfaces. Preliminary studies using NextBio have been conducted by EPA scientists in collaboration with the National Institute of Environmental Health Studies (NIEHS). NextBio queries identified chemicals known to activate the transcription factors as expected as well as identified a number of chemicals not previously known to activate that transcription factor. These studies validate the power of the database for classifying chemicals into different adverse outcome pathways. The license will be used to derive, test and validate additional signatures that will be used in adverse outcome pathway prediction. The database is useful for all areas of molecular toxicology and will be open to EPA scientists using genomics to classify chemicals. NextBio is the only complete database and web-based tool that is available that can be used for prediction of key events in adverse outcome pathways. NextBio has a number of unique features not offered by any other publically available database or query tool. NextBio Research is the only vendor capable of providing the above referenced license. The circumstance permitting is FAR 6.302-1 ¿Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements¿. All interested parties who believe they can provide the required services should fully explain their capabilities and qualifications in writing within 10 days from the date of this announcement and provide itemized pricing that is sufficient to make a determination that competition is feasible. The intent of this notice is to determine if any other source(s) exist, and therefore, no solicitation is available. Consequently, anyone failing to provide the aforementioned and instead chooses to merely submit a routine letter requesting a copy of the statement of work or more information about the project will be ignored. The information received to this notice will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct a competitive procurement. Please submit response to Marsha Johnson at
[email protected] or to the U.S. EPA, Attn: Marsha Johnson (AA-005), RTP Procurement Operations Division, 109 Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. No telephone or faxed requests will be honored.