SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS AND GYNECOLOGIC HEALTH
- Notice Date
- 2/3/2006
- 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 Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contracts Management Branch 6100 Executive Blvd., Suite 7A07, MSC7510, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7510
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7510
- Solicitation Number
- RFP-NIH-NICHD-2006-04
- Response Due
- 4/21/2006
- Description
- The Epidemiology Branch is one of three intramural Branches within the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics and Prevention Research at the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD). The Epidemiology Branch conducts original research on all aspects of reproductive, perinatal and pediatric epidemiology using a variety of study designs and methods. The Epidemiology Branch intends to empirically evaluate the relation between select environmental chemicals and the gynecologic disorders in the context of varying comparison groups. The goal of this reproductive epidemiologic study is to identify environmental contaminants that may adversely affect gynecologic health with a particular focus on endometriosis. The specific exposures of interest include persistent hormonally active environmental agents (e.g., polyhalogenated aromatic hydrocarbon chemicals such as PCBs), persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCs), and newly emerging persistent compounds (e.g., polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and perfluorinated chemicals (PFOS, PFOA). Biomarkers of lifestyle factors purportedly associated with risk of endometriosis (e.g., cotinine, phytoestrogens) also will be assessed. Menstruating women, aged 18-44 years (women at risk of developing endometriosis), of any racial/ethnic group comprise the target study population. Although it is possible for men on hormonal therapy to develop and be diagnosed with endometriosis, the rarity of the condition among men and its appearance only in the presence of hormonal therapy makes their inclusion in this study impractical. Likewise, minor girls are unlikely to eligible given that adolescents are rarely diagnosed because affected individuals generally do not undergo laparoscopy for several years following the onset of signs and symptoms. The many complexities associated with the diagnosis of endometriosis (such as laparoscopic visualization with or without histologic confirmation and the selectiveness of women seeking gynecologic medical care in comparison to the target study population) pose methodologic challenges for assessing the etiology of endometriosis including environmental contaminants. To this end, the two comparison groups of women will be studied to facilitate interpretation of the study results. Study participants will be sampled from women undergoing diagnostic/therapeutic laparoscopy or laparotomy. To ensure sufficient power to detect differences in serum concentrations, approximately 850 women undergoing laparoscopy/laparotomy will need to complete the study protocol, of which half will comprise women with newly diagnosed endometriosis. An additional 187 population controls also will be needed to serve as a second comparison group. The NICHD is soliciting proposals from qualified organizations that wish to serve as a site for the conduct of this study. The NICHD anticipates that up to two sites will be needed to meet the overall recruitment goals. Therefore, the NICHD plans on issuing up to two contract awards for 27-month completion-type contracts, with two separate Phases, for this procurement. Each site will be expected to successfully enroll and retain: 1) women in whom endometriosis is newly diagnosed either by laparoscopy or laparotomy; 2) women undergoing laparoscopy or laparotomy in whom no endometriosis is diagnosed including women undergoing tubal sterilization without underlying gynecologic disease; and 3) women randomly selected from the referent population for women in the laparoscopy/laparotomy cohort who report no history of endometriosis or other gynecologic disease. This procurement is defined as code 541710 under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). It is anticipated that the RFP will be available on or about February 21, 2006 through the FedBizOpps website at http://FedBizOpps.gov. All proposals must be submitted on or before the due date and time stated in the RFP to: Gwennifer Epps, Contract Specialist, NICHD R&D Contracts Management Branch, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 7A07, MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892-7510 (if sending by overnight carrier, use 6l00 Executive Boulevard, Suite 7A07, Rockville Maryland, 20852). The reference number to be used for this announcement is: RFP-NIH-NICHD-2006-04. All correspondence must cite the reference number as provided. Questions may be directed to Gwennifer Epps, Contract Specialist, at Phone 301-435-8867 and E-mail eppsg@mail.nih.gov or Charles Newman, Contracting Officer, at Phone 301-435-6960 and E-mail cn43m@nih.gov. The Government does not intend to release hard copies of the RFP. The Government also reserves the right to cancel this procurement at any time prior to contract award. This announcement does not commit the Government to award a contract. Numbered Note 26 Applies.
- Record
- SN00979710-W 20060205/060203211834 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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