Subject: Develop, Produce and Deploy MAGPIX-Based Immunoassays THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP) OR A REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS (RFQ); IT IS STRICTLY A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION (RFI). NEITHER UNSOLICITED PROPOSALS NOR ANY OTHER KINDS OF OFFERS WILL BE CONSIDERED IN RESPONSE TO THIS RFI. NO CONTRACT WILL BE AWARDED PURSUANT TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. 1.0 DISCLAIMER: This RFI is issued solely for information and planning purposes and does not constitute a solicitation. Neither unsolicited proposals nor any other kind of offers will be considered in response to this RFI. Responses to this notice are not offers and will not be accepted by the Government to form a binding contract. Responders are solely responsible for all expenses associated with responding to this RFI. All information received in response to this RFI that is marked Proprietary will be handled accordingly. Responses to the RFI will not be returned. At this time, questions concerning the composition and requirements for a future RFP will not be entertained. 2.0 SUBJECT: The Diagnostic Systems Division of the U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) is conducting market research to determine the availability of production of tag-less recombinant proteins from target agents in stably transformed Drosophila cell lines. These proteins will be critical reagents for development of antigen and antibody detection assays. 3.0 Background: The Diagnostic Systems Division within USAMRIID develops orthogonal diagnostic test systems for targets of military interest, as well as for emerging infectious diseases. In order to improve our diagnostic capabilities for potential biowarfare agents and emerging infectious diseases such as the current outbreak of Zaire EBOV in Western Africa, we are currently developing and formatting immunoassays on the MAGPIX platform. To support this mission, USAMRIID requires production of tag-less recombinant proteins from target agents in stably transformed Drosophila cell lines. These proteins will be critical reagents for development of antigen and antibody detection assays. The purpose of this procurement is to obtain critical detection reagents for the development of immunoassays formatted on the MAGPIX platform. This effort includes, but is not limited to, Ebolavirus (EBOV), Lassa fever virus (LASV), Marburg virus (MARV), chikungunya virus, (CHKV), Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHF), and the Eastern, Western, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses (VEE, WEE and EEE). While the first period will be devoted to the production of proteins from LASV and the Zaire strain of the Ebola virus (ZEBOV) based on USAMRIID's current mission, option periods may include the same production or other appropriate targets as determined by USAMRIID's mission. The objective of this work is to develop and deploy MAGPIX-based immunoassays which will comprise part of an orthogonal detection system supporting the ZEBOV outbreak currently occurring in Western Africa, as well as other DoD laboratories and/or other regions for future outbreaks. Once deployed, these diagnostic systems support both disease surveillance and the public health response to such outbreaks. 4.0 Response Instructions: Respondents should address the following in their capabilities statement which shows: The ability and timeline to produce significant quantities of immunologically relevant ZEBOV and LASV antigens from Drosophila cell cultures. The resulting proteins will be used specifically for the development of MAGPIX-based assays, and these assays require specific conjugations of proteins with beads and/or other reagents, therefore responders to this RFI shall show the ability and timelines for developing immunoassay reagents for the MAGPIX platforms. Please include your CAGE Code and DUNNS number as well as the commercially of this requested service. 5.0 CONTACT INFORMATION: Any and all questions related to this RFI shall be directed to
[email protected]. All information regarding Capabilities Statements or any other proprietary information relative to this RFI shall be submitted via email to
[email protected] no later than 1:00 pm E.S.T. on 3/30/2015.