SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Postmortem Human Brain Collection – Northern Virginia District - Small Business Sources Sought Notice
- Notice Date
- 8/25/2016
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3155, MSC 9593, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20892
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SBSS-16-735
- Archive Date
- 9/14/2016
- Point of Contact
- Keshia McDonald, Phone: 301-827-5301, Nancy Lamon-Kritikos, Phone: 301.480.2447
- E-Mail Address
-
keshia.mcdonald@nih.gov, nancy.lamon-kritikos@nih.gov
(keshia.mcdonald@nih.gov, nancy.lamon-kritikos@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Small Business Sources Sought Notice - Postmortem Human Brain Collection – Northern Virginia District Background Information: The mission of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is to transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure. For the Institute to continue fulfilling this vital public health mission, it must foster innovative thinking and ensure that a full array of novel scientific perspectives are used to further discovery in the evolving science of brain, behavior, and experience. In this way, breakthroughs in science can become breakthroughs for all people with mental illnesses. Human Brain Collection Core (HBCC requests the services of the Virginia State Department of Health/ Northern Virginia District and Constance R. DiAngelo, M.D. to collect human postmortem human brain tissue, various specimens at autopsy, and medical/toxicology information that may be of interest to the NIMH for research into the neurobiology of major mental disorders. The donated postmortem human brain tissue and specimens will be used by the HBCC for research into the neurobiology of complex mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, substance abuse and suicide) in order to better understand the basis of these disorders. This research will hopefully lead to improved diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of these illnesses and their consequences. Purpose and Objectives for the Acquisition: The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge of how affected postmortem human brain tissue deviates from normal control postmortem human brain tissue to help us fully characterize neurological or psychiatric disorders. The HBCC, in the National Institute of Mental Health explores the causes, consequences and potential treatments of numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our research is supplemented by studying postmortem brain tissue from both psychiatrically healthy and afflicted individuals in order to establish the neuropathological changes underlying these complex neuropsychological disorders. Project Description/Scope of Work: The National Institute of Mental Health, Human Brain Collection Core (HBCC) requests the services of the Virginia State Department of Health/ Northern Virginia District and Constance R. DiAngelo, MD to collect human postmortem human brain tissue, various specimens at autopsy, and medical/toxicology information that may be of interest to the NIMH for research into the neurobiology of major mental disorders. The donated postmortem human brain tissue and specimens will be used by the Human Brain Collection Core for research into the neurobiology of complex mental disorders (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, substance abuse and suicide) in order to better understand the basis of these disorders. This research will hopefully lead to improved diagnosis, treatment and/or prevention of these illnesses and their consequences. The purpose of this study is to gain knowledge of how affected postmortem human brain tissue deviates from normal control postmortem human brain tissue to help us fully characterize neurological or psychiatric disorders. The HBCC in the National Institute of Mental Health explores the causes, consequences and potential treatments of numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders. Our research is supplemented by studying postmortem brain tissue from both psychiatrically healthy and afflicted individuals in order to establish the neuropathological changes underlying these complex neuropsychological disorders. On a daily basis, Northern Virginia Medical Examiner (NoVA ME), Dr. Williams, must review case documents for potential donation and determine which cases may be eligible for HBCC research, in particular those who have signed organ donor cards and others with a reasonable suspicion of a history of mental or neurological illness, particularly schizophrenia as well as healthy controls across the lifespan. Once a case is selected, NoVA ME will contact HBCC personnel and must provide: 1) the general background of the case; 2) information regarding whether the deceased is an organ donor; and 3) the name and telephone number of the deceased next-of-kin. HBCC staff will promptly contact the next-of-kin of the decedent to obtain consent (via a recorded telephone call) to utilize the deceased subject's brain and skull contents (including dura, pituitary, pineal, and upper cervical spinal cord), blood and hair sample for research. HBCC staff will also solicit the release medical records. Once consent is obtained by HBCC personnel, the NoVA ME is notified to extract the brain, a full-length hair sample with a small piece of contiguous scalp, and 40cc of blood. The NoVA ME will begin extraction promptly upon notification of approval from the NIMH; whenever possible, the process should begin within 24 hours of death; unless approved by the NIMH Project Officer, specimens extracted beyond 48 hours will not be accepted for donation. The NoVA ME will provide to the HBCC any relevant information related to a specimen including cause and manner of death, relevant history and/or toxicology in order to allow optimal characterization of the specimen provided this information does not compromise the forensic evaluation of the case. HBCC staff will generally retrieve the brain and blood samples on a daily basis from the NoVA ME office located in Manassas, VA. Only in rare circumstances will the specimens be shipped by the NoVA ME to the NIMH. Shipments must be received no later than seven days from extraction and are to be delivered on weekdays, 8:00am through 5:00pm. Prior to shipping, the NIMH shall be contacted with shipping details, including the overnight courier tracking number. NoVA ME will properly prepare and package specimens in accordance with all Federal, State and City regulation. It is important to note that the NoVA ME is expert at selecting cases that qualify for HBCC research and in obtaining pertinent psychiatric medical history information necessary for our analyses. As required, the NoVA ME supplies HBCC with a report which includes, cause of death, family/medical histories, and any toxicology results. This information is imperative for the full characterization of any specimens to be included in the HBCC postmortem research study. Required Contractor Experience: 1. The contractor has a medical degree and specializes in forensic pathology. The contractor has experience working at the Medical Examiner Office and extracting human brains. 2. The contractor is a medical doctor, and a certified pathologist in Virginia. 3. A minimum of five years of experience in MEO is required. Deliverables: Timely submission of deliverables is essential to successful completing this requirement. The contractor will begin extraction promptly upon notification of approval from the NIMH; whenever possible, the process should begin within 24 hours of death; unless approved by the NIMH Project Officer, specimens extracted beyond 48 hours cannot be accepted for donation. The contractor will provide to the HBCC any relevant information related to a specimen including cause and manner of death, relevant history and/or toxicology in order to allow optimal characterization of the specimen, provided this information does not compromise the forensic evaluation of the case. The specimens will be shipped by the contractor to the NIMH. Prior to shipping, the NIMH shall be contacted with shipping details, including the overnight courier tracking number. The Laboratory of Neuropsychology, NIMH share full ownership of all deliverables provided under this contract including reports and data. Government Responsibilities: HBCC NIMH will provide neuropathology reports after the examination of the donated cases. Macroscopic reports will be provided within 48 hours from the time of obtaining brain tissues, and microscopic reports will be provided in 2-3 months. No workspace or computers will be provided to the contractor. The contractor will have no access to the government facilities. The contractor will have the right to use the data on neuropathological examination of the brain collected at the NIMH, and will use these data as part of autopsy report. Anticipated period of performance: The anticipated period of performance is one year (12 months) from date of award.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NIDA-01/HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-SBSS-16-735/listing.html)
- Record
- SN04241792-W 20160827/160826000309-0107b277bbf2266fa659fe2a3290d771 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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