Contracts Management Branch, NICHD, National Institutes of Health, Executive Building, Suite 7A07, 6100 EXECUTIVE BLVD MSC 7510, BETHESDA MD 20892-7510

R -- SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE PERINATOLOGY RESEARCH BRANCH OF THE E NICHD SOL RFP NICHD-IRB-97-03 DUE 031497 POC Contact Miss Virginia A. DeSeau, 301-496-4611, Contract Specialist The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is planning to award a contract for the provision of services in support of the Perinatology Research Branch (PRB) of the Intramural Division of the NICHD. BACKGROUND: The mission of the PRB, as a part of the Intramural Division of the NICHD, is to conduct clinical and laboratory research in maternal, fetal and neonatal diseases responsible for perinatal morbidity and mortality. The PRB emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach to improve the etiologic understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders related to infant mortality. The PRB will conduct original research and train specialists in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, Pediatric Pathology and other related fields. The NICHD, through the PRB, will have complete authority and jurisdiction for the development, direction and accomplishment of the scientific agenda, research priorities and training missions. SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER THE CONTRACT: The scope of these services is broad and includes the following: 1) Provision of dedicated space to house the PRB. The contractor shall provide and renovate space (either its own or other dedicated areas) for use of the PRB personnel (scientists and supporting personnel) and contractor personnel. A minimum of approximately 20,000 square feet of space will be required to be phased in over a five year period; within six months of the contract award, approximately 12,000 square feet of space, with renovations, must be available to initiate contract performance. Renovated space shall include office and administrative space, a Prenatal Diagnostic Center and laboratory space, plus separate Intrapartum Units in close proximity to the contractor's labor and delivery floor. The Government shall provide substantially all of the office furniture, computer equipment and laboratory/scientific equipment needed for contract performance, with title to such remaining with the Government; 2) Access to sufficient pregnant patients and newborns for the execution of the research agendas of the PRB and for training NICHD clinical fellows in maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology, pediatric pathology, human genetics and perinatal epidemiology. Approximately 2,000 deliveries per year are required (see Contractor Expectations below); 3) Support services required to operate the PRB, e.g., housekeeping, environmental (utilities), telecommunications, computing, database management, security, medical library, project and administration management, secretarial, etc.; 4) Professional services required to execute specific research agendas of the PRB, e.g., maternal-fetal medicine specialists, neonatologists, pathologists, developmental psychologists, nurses, sonographers, database development specialists, computer hardware and software specialists, programmers, histology technicians, pathology assistants, medical technologists, laboratory technicians, audio-visual specialists, graphic artists, etc. These services shall be required through work assignment/task orders or on a fee for services basis as necessary; and, 5) Access to an approved animal care facility and support services for the development of animal models of maternal and fetal diseases as required for the execution of research agendas of the PRB. The initial period of performance is anticipated to be five years. CONTRACTOR EXPECTATIONS: A service-type contract will be awarded to support the PRB, which will be located in dedicated facilities available from the contractor for the specific purposes of this contract. The successful contractor shall meet the following requirements: 1) Is an organization that has the academic, clinical and scientific environment required to attract qualified clinical and basic research trainees and staff along with services necessary for the support of clinical and laboratory research conducted by the PRB; 2) Is located within one hour driving distance from the campus of the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland; 3) Has the ability and willingness to provideaccess to a large obstetric population (approximately 2,000 deliveries per year) for recruiting an at-risk population (approximately 30 percent high-risk) during pregnancy and that will support the conduct of longitudinal studies for the follow-up of the neonates. The contractor shall provide support for research programs encompassing randomized clinical trials of labor management, prenatal diagnosis, perinatal cardiology, fetal endoscopic diagnosis and surgery, and developmental and molecular embryology; 4) Has a level III Newborn Special Care Unit; 5) Has the clinical population and expertise to support successful applications to the appropriate sub-specialty Boards for an additional two fellows per year in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, one per year in Neonatology, and one per year in Pediatric Pathology; 6) has an AAALAC accredited animal care facility; and, 7) has the ability to provide an informatics unit and programs in perinatal epidemiology, e.g., biostatisticians, data managers, programmers, etc. This announcement is a new solicitation. It is anticipated that one cost-reimbursement, service contract will be awarded for a period of five (5) years. The issuance of this RFP NICHD-IRB-97-03 will be on or about March 14, 1997 and proposals will be due by 4:00 PM on May 30, 1997. This solicitation will be provided in two formats: the boilerplate information of the Request for Proposal (RFP) will be provided in hard copy while the Statement of Work and other selected information will be provided on 3 1/2 inch discs in WordPerfect 6.1 (WordPerfect 5.1 may be provided by request). The discs including the Statement of Work and other appropriate information (e.g., background information and technical evaluation criteria) will be provided on initial request, which will enable the determination of whether your organization has the interest, capability and resources to devote to the preparation of an offer to the Government for the performance of a contract if selected for an award. This information should be sufficient for this determination without the need of all of the boilerplate information, which includes the Uniform Contract Format prescribed for Government-wide applications and specific instructions and provisions for the submission and review of proposals. The boilerplate information will be provided only upon specific request. Those organization desiring a copy of the above RFP may send their written request to Ms. Virginia A. DeSeau at the address listed above, by fax at (301) 402-3676 or by e-mail at deseaug@hd01.nichd.nih.gov. All requests must cite the RFP number above. All sources who consider themselves qualified are encouraged to submit proposals. (0036)

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