National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contracts Management Branch, 6100 Bldg., Suite 7A07, 6100- Executive Blvd MSC 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510

A -- SPERM PRODUCTION IN TESTICLES OBTAINED AT AUTOPSY SOL DESPR-98-14 POC Harvey Shifrin/301-496-4611 The Epidemiology Branch of the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research, NICHD, NIH is seeking a collection of preserved testicles or testicular wedge biopsies fixed within 15 hours of death and obtained at a single coroner's office from approximately 250 men who died of homicides, accidents, drownings, or suicides. The deaths should have occurred at least ten or more years ago. The person or persons with such a collection should be able to obtain at the same coroner's office additional testicular specimens and blood from 500 or more men who die of similar causes over the next three years. One testis should be fixed and a specimen stored in glutaraldehyde/formaldehyde. A specimen from the contralateral testis should be stored separately at -70 degrees centigrade. The person or persons should also be experienced in conducting accurate histometric evaluations of testicular tissue and be willing to perform histometric evaluations of all specimens. Any organizations who feels that they have the required testicular samples and are able to perform the required histometric evaulations should send a brief statement of their capabilities to: Harvey Shifrin, Contracting Officer, CMB, OAM, NICHD, 6100 Building, Room 7A07, MSC 7510, 6100 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510. The responses should be recieved no later than 45 days after the publication of this notice. This notice is for the purposes of determining if sources exist who are capable of performing this study. It does not commit the Government to issue a solicitation or make any award as a result of the capability statements. (0239)

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