Effect of Radiation Quality and Galactic Cosmic Radiation Simulation on the Risk of Carcinogenesis in an Outbred Mouse Model (HS/Npt)
| Location: | Texas |
|---|---|
| Posted: | Sep 11, 2025 |
| Due: | Sep 18, 2025 |
| Agency: | NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION |
| Type of Government: | Federal |
| Category: |
|
| Solicitation No: | 80JSC025IRM001 |
| Publication URL: | To access bid details, please log in. |
APEX Accelerators are an official government contracting resource for small businesses. Find your local APEX Accelerator (opens in new window) for free government expertise related to contract opportunities.
APEX Accelerators are funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the Department of Defense.
The APEX Accelerators program was formerly known as the Procurement Technical Assistance Program (opens in new window) (PTAP).
- Contract Opportunity Type: Sources Sought (Original)
- Original Published Date: Sep 11, 2025 09:24 am CDT
- Original Response Date: Sep 18, 2025 01:00 pm CDT
- Inactive Policy: 15 days after response date
- Original Inactive Date: Oct 03, 2025
-
Initiative:
- None
- Original Set Aside:
- Product Service Code:
-
NAICS Code:
- 541715 - Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
-
Place of Performance:
Houston , TXUSA
1. Background
Astronauts on long-duration space missions are exposed to galactic cosmic rays (GCR) and solar particle events (SPE), creating elevated risks of carcinogenesis, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and central nervous system (CNS) decrements. Traditional inbred animal models have limitations due to genetic uniformity, potentially leading to overestimation of relative biological effectiveness (RBE). Outbred mouse models (HS/Npt) provide a genetically diverse system that better mirrors human populations and may yield more accurate assessments of radiation-induced cancer and related health risks.
2. Objectives
The objectives of this study are to:
1. Determine the effects of radiation quality, dose, and dose rate on cancer initiation, promotion, and progression in HS/Npt outbred mice.
2. Establish RBEs and quality factor estimates for space-relevant radiation exposures.
3. Provide biobanked tissue and comprehensive metadata to support future NASA investigations.
4. (Optional) Assess cardiovascular and CNS outcomes, as well as sex-specific responses, within budget constraints.
3. Scope of Work
The Principal Investigator (PI) shall design and execute experiments utilizing outbred HS/Npt mice supplied by NASA. Work shall include:
- Radiation exposures at technically acceptable laboratory (See attached laboratory technical acceptability requirements sheet), including gamma irradiation, full GCR simulation (acute and fractionated), and single-ion exposures (e.g., 56Fe) where justified.
- Dose coverage relevant to Mars design reference missions (300–450 mGy).
- Survival, tumor incidence, and tumor spectrum analyses.
- Comprehensive tissue collection, preservation, and metadata management.
- Biobanking of required samples per NASA specifications.
- Preparation of interim and final reports.
This is stricly a request for information. The Government has no obligation for award. If interested please provide a capabilities statement.
- HOUSTON TX 77058
- HOUSTON , TX 77058
- USA
- Joshua Hlavenka
- joshua.r.hlavenka@nasa.gov
- Katelyn Jaime
- katelyn.r.jaime@nasa.gov
- Sep 11, 2025 09:24 am CDTSources Sought (Original)
With GovernmentContracts, you can:
- Find more opportunities and win more business
- Receive daily alerts for all new bid opportunities
- Get contract opportunities matched to your business
See also
...and hold the CTRL button on your keyboard and at the same time ...
Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Bid Due: 6/03/2026