NIH, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, COB, HLVD Contracts Section, 6701 ROCKLEDGE DR MSC 7902, BETHESDA MD 20892-7902

Q -- CARDIAC SURGERY AND CORONARY ANGIOPLASTY SERVICES FOR THE CARDIOLOGY BRANCH SOL NHLBI-HI-96-02 DUE 043096 POC Robert A. Julia, Contracting Officer (301) 435-0340/Fax (301) 480- 3338. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Division of Intramural Research (DIR), has a continuing requirement for cardiac surgery and coronary angioplasty services in support of its Cardiology Branch. Approximately 1 to 2 patients per week, on average, are referred for surgery on an elective, urgent, or emergent basis, mostly for angioplasty, coronary artery bypasses, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, valve repair/replacement, and pacemaker or internal defibrillator implantation. The specific procedures, the exact quantities, and the patients for whom they will be required can not be known or predicted at this time. Indefinite delivery type contracts will be used to permit obligating funds as needs arise. Surgery/angioplasty services will be ordered only as needed; funds obligated under each contract/purchase order will be limited to the best diagnostic estimate of the specific services required, taking into account the availability of third-party insurance payments. In addition, the contractors' personnel will be consulted frequently with regard to specific needs of patients. Conferences may be required. It should be noted that the services described above are to be obtained within the context of the Institute's programs. Purchased surgery services are required to be collaborative in nature and intent. It is anticipated that NHLBI cardiologists will need to participate in the post-operative care or peri-operative care of certain patients. NHLBI physicians must be given free access to non-privileged, non-confidential surgery records and other non-privileged, non-confidential medical data/records concerning their patients. In many instances (to be specifically listed in each order for surgical services), pathology specimens and data will be required to be delivered to Pathology Branch, DIR, NHLBI. The subject Request for Proposals is expected to generate pricing lists and pricing methodologies to be used for ordering such surgical procedures as may be required for a five-year period beginning September 1, 1996. The project is expected to begin September 1, 1996 and to cover the need for these services through August 31, 1997 with four successive one-year options. Potential contractors must be fully certified and accredited hospitals with current experience performing cardiac surgery/coronary angioplasty in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws pertaining to such services, including but not limited to possession of a valid certificate of need. Offers will be solicited from hospitals which are presently performing cardiac surgery and angioplasty within a sufficiently reasonable distance of the National Institutes of Health to permit timely transfer of emergency or seriously ill patients and consultation on-site by the patients' NHLBI cardiologists. Thirty minutes' travel by private automobile is considered the outer limit for the Government's medical staff; this time limit is essential to permit timely consultation to NIH patients in hospital and to minimize disruption to normal patient scheduling in the Clinical Center. Sufficient multiple and/or partial awards, anticipated at one to four contracts, will be made to ensure the availability of the full range of surgical services and operating room capacity which are anticipated to be needed. This is not a Request for Proposals. RFP NHLBI-HI-96-02 will be realeased o/a March 29, 1996 with proposals due o/a April 30, 1996. (0068)

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