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

A -- NEUROPATHOLOGY INVESTIGATION OF INFANT DEATH IN THE ABERDEEN AREA SOL SS-NICHD-CRMC-96-01 POC Contact Mrs. Lynn Salo, 301/496-4611 The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is planning to award another contract to Children's Hospital, Boston (CHB) to continue the neuropathology investigation for the Infant Mortality Study of the Aberdeen Are, Indian Health Services (IHS). This is a case-control study of infant deaths among Native American within the Aberdeen Area that is being conducted by IHS,NICHD, and the Center Disease Control and Prevention. The determination to use other than full and open competition was made in accordance with 41 USC 253 (c)(1) and is based upon the following factors. A neuropathological analysis is necessary to (1) make an accurate classification of cause of death, (2) obtain baseline information on the types and frequency of brain lesions in the population, (3) determine if there is an association of specific brain lesions with risk factors such as prenatal exposure to alcohol or cigarette smoking, (4) investigate brain lesions that may be important in neural mechanism of SIDS. The proposed study will take another three years. The current contractor possesses unique capabilities to continue the data collection in that they have performed all the diagnostic work. They have collected all the specimens for the future neurochemical studies. Currently, the contractor has the laboratory facilities to perform the necessary quantitative studies of subtle neuropathologic lesions. In addition, they have an operational database to collect and analyze the gross and quantitative microscopic neuropathology data from each case and correlate it with clinical and epidemiologic findings obtained from the infant mortality study. The pathology department within the Children's Hospital has established productive working relationships with the forensic pathologists, epidemiologists, clinicians, and representatives of the Aberdeen Area Tribal Health Council. (See Numbered Note 22). An organization capable of performing these tasks without a costly and significant break in work should submit a statement of capabilities with documentation supporting its ability to meet the Government's requirements as described. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine whether there are other sources with the requisite qualifications to perform the work described above. Capability statement should be submitted within 45 days of the publication of this synopsis to: Mrs. Lynn Salo, Contract Specialist, CMB, NICHD, NIH, 6100 Executive Building, Room 7A/07, 9000 Rockville Pike, MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510. (0239)

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