SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- NHGRI Sample Repository for Human Genetic Research
- Notice Date
- 8/4/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7902
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7902
- Solicitation Number
- NHLBI-HG-06-05
- Response Due
- 9/19/2005
- Archive Date
- 10/4/2005
- Description
- The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute intends to negotiate on a non-competitive basis [on behalf of the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)] with the Coriell Institute for Medical Research for an NHGRI Sample Repository for Human Genetic Research pursuant to the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in FAR 6.302-1. This is a five-year requirement for the acquisition, establishment, maintenance, and distribution of lymphoblastoid cell lines and DNA samples, and the establishment and maintenance of community outreach to the communities from which blood samples used to create the cell lines and DNA were donated. Coriell will perform the following services: (1) take in new samples, establish and characterize permanent cell lines from the samples, and maintain and distribute the cell lines; (2) prepare, store, and distribute purified, high-quality DNA samples prepared from cell lines in the Repository; (3) maintain a computerized, comprehensive database providing detailed information on each cell line and DNA sample, and provide a web-based electronic catalog that lists the cell lines and DNA samples, any pre-formed sets of samples, and information about the samples in an easily accessible form; (4) publicize the Repository?s collection through distribution of information by a variety of means, publication of descriptions of the collections in relevant journals, paid advertisements, and other activities; (5) establish and maintain ongoing interactions with the communities that provided the samples through the production of newsletters and reports, visits to the donor communities, organization of visits from the donor communities to the repository, and providing funding for the Community Advisory Groups (CAGs). The Coriell Institute is currently providing some of these services as part of a sole-source contract with the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS). However, the number of samples collected for NHGRI-supported projects and the need for expanded donor community interactions have now exceeded the capacity of the current NIGMS contract. Therefore, NHGRI has a need to establish its own contract for these services. The Coriell Institute is a non-profit organization established in 1946. It houses the world?s largest collection of human cell lines. Under the NIGMS contract, Coriell obtained samples for the International HapMap Project. The HapMap Project is the first international, large-scale project for which the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has provided funding in which samples were collected on a population basis for human genetic variation research. The consent forms for the Project (approved by the Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) of the relevant institutions in all participating countries and signed by the donors) specifically stated that the samples would be sent to and maintained at Coriell. In addition, the international government approvals that were obtained in order to allow the export of the samples to the U.S. were obtained with the understanding that the samples would continuously be maintained at Coriell. Coriell underwent extensive scrutiny of its policies in order to obtain the approvals from these foreign governments. Moving the samples would necessitate several negotiations, including obtaining revised IRB approvals from multiple institutions in multiple countries, an extremely onerous process involving extensive duplication of effort, with an uncertain outcome. Apart from these legal obstacles, moving the samples at this time could seriously erode the relationships of trust with the donor communities that have now been developed. There is no assurance that consent would be granted by the various government officials and donor communities to move the samples, risking the loss of millions of dollars worth of research. Although these considerations apply only to the HapMap samples, not to any additional samples to be collected in the future for other projects, it can be expected that similar issues with the communities that donate those samples will arise. In addition, it would be administratively inefficient and expensive for NHGRI to establish two separate repositories, one for the HapMap samples and another for the additional future samples to be collected. The repository functions of the Coriell Institute are vital to NHGRI?s mission of providing human cell lines and DNA samples from a unique and invaluable resource to biomedical researchers and NHGRI?s promise to maintain ongoing outreach with the donor communities. Coriell is the only repository in the U.S. with experience in both: (1) the transformation, authentication, and distribution of human cell lines and human DNA; and (2) extensive ongoing interactions with communities in the U.S. and abroad that have donated samples for large-scale population-based research (as distinct from interactions with individual sample donors). Thus, Coriell is the only facility in the country capable of performing all the requirements that would be acceptable to the countries and communities where samples were and will be collected. The National Institutes of Health knows of no other organization that can provide these services. Interested respondents may submit written capability statements demonstrating the ability to provide the same repository materials and distribution center, as well as the facilities and staffing to perform these services, as described above. All responses must be received at the following address within 45 days from the date of publication of this synopsis to be considered: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch, Rockledge II, Room 6138, 6701 Rockledge Drive, MSC 7902, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7902, Attention: Lynn Furtaw. Responses providing insufficient information will not be considered. This is not a Request for Proposals nor is an RFP available. See Numbered Note 22.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Contractor site
- Record
- SN00862214-W 20050806/050804211850 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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