Contracts Management Branch, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, NIH, Executive Building, Suite 7A07, 6100 Executive Blvd MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510

A -- BASELINE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY OF SHIGELLA INFECTION IN CHILDREN SOL NICHD-IRM-SS-00 POC Contact Mya Nwe Hlaing, Contracting Officer, 301/496-4611 E-MAIL: Mya Nwe Hlaing, HlaingM@HD01.nichd.nih.gov. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is planning to award a contract with Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Vietnam using other than full and open competition to provide baseline epidemiological study of shigella infection in children. 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: 1) Vietnam is one of the few places in the world where S. dysenteriae is endemic. 2) A recent study on etiology of diarrhea in a commune near Hanoi showed that S. dysenteriae and S. flexneri are prevalent in that area. 3) The health care infrastructure is well established which surveillance and case detection required for a field trial. 4) The microbiology laboratory in the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology is capable of isolating, identifying and storing strains of Shigella. 5) The Vietnamese Principal and Co-Principal Investigators have a track record of research in vaccine evaluation and epidemiological study on shigella. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine whether there are other sources with the requisite qualifications to perform the work described above. Capability statements should be submitted within 45 days of publication of this synopsis to: Mya Nwe Hlaing, Contracting Officer, CMB, NICHD, NIH, Executive Building, Room 7A07, 6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510 OR if by OVERNIGHT mail 6100 Executive Blvd., Rockville, Maryland 20852. (See Numbered Note 22) (0013)

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