Contracts Management Branch, NICHD National Institutes of Health, Executive Building, Suite 7A07, 6100 Executive Blvd MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510

A -- BRAIN AND TISSUE BANK FOR DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS SOL SS-NICHD-CRMC-96-00. Contact Mrs. Lynn Salo, 301/496-4611. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) has a continuing requirement to systematically obtain, process, store and distribute to research investigators high quality brain and other tissues obtained premortem (i.e., biopsy, surgery), or postmortem from ``unaffected'' (control) individuals and from those who have been diagnosed to have cytogenetic abnormalities such as Down syndrome, mitochondrial encephalomyopathies, lysosomal disorders, PKU and other aminoacidopthies, maternal PKU, Rett syndrome, leukodystrophies, dyslexia, autism, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Most of the unaffected or control tissues will be obtained through a close and ongoing working relationship with a local medical examiner's office. It was intended in 1991 that two contracts be awarded, each for five years, to establish repositories that would be dedicated to this project. In actuality, only one was awarded, the University of Maryland in Baltimore. Another procurement process was initiated which lead to an award to the University of Miami two years after the award was made to the University of Maryland. The two facilities have been holding joint meetings semi-annually with NICHD staff and have collaborated in developing a common research protocol and database, developed a videotape about the two facilities, and they have been able to refer to each other to expedite tissue procurement with a minimum of postmortem delay. The NICHD intends to extend the Maryland contract for two years using other than full and open competition in accordance with 41 USC 252 (c) (1), FAR 6.302-1. At the end of the two-year extension, when the five-year award to the University of Miami will expire, an open competition through an RFP will be announced for the simultaneous recompetition of the two research resources. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine whether there are other sources capable of meeting the Government's requirements as described above. Capability statements should be submitted within 45 days of publication of this synopsis and include details specifying how they would carry-out this work. Capability statements should be submitted to Mrs. Lynn Salo, NIH, NICHD, CMB, Executive Building, Room 7A07, 6100 Executive Boulevard, MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510. See Numbered Note 22. (099)

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