National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Contract Management Branch, Solar Bldg., Room 3C07, 6003 Executive Blvd. MSC 7610, Bethesda, MD 20892-7610

A -- DAIDS SPECIMEN REPOSITORY POC Merilee Rahe-Stoline, Contract Specialist, (301) 496-2508 The Division of AIDS (DAIDS), National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH), is soliciting proposals ONLY from SMALL BUSINESS FIRMS under Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code 8731 with the capacity to serve as the Central Repository for domestic and international HIV epidemiology studies, HIV vaccine trials, and other clinical research studies supported by the NIAID/DAIDS. The proposed contract requires expertise and experience in the following areas: the management of a biohazardous specimen repository; the management of a computerized inventory; and coordination and cooperation with other contractors and study sites in the transfer of samples both to and from the Repository. In general, the Contractor shall: (1) handle clinical specimens (e.g., secure, receive, catalog, process, store, and disburse) from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, other cohort participants and recipients of candidate HIV vaccines derived from theNIAID DAIDS study sites; (2) provide a computerized specimen inventory management system in a format identified and approved by the Project Officer; (3) provide adequate cold-storage facilities for clinical specimens and experienced professional personnel to support specimen handling and repository management, (4) provide labeling and shipping procedure training and oversight to sites; (5) report progress to the Project Officer and provide specimen availability summaries as requested by the Project Officer; and (6) ensure an orderly and safe transition of the Repository from the incumbent Contractor and to a successor Contractor, if necessary. This is an announcement for an anticipated Request for Proposal (RFP). RFP-NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-99-02 will be available or about August 31, 1998 electronically and may be accessed through the NIAID Contract Management Branch (CMB) Homepage, by the following electronic address and instructions: NIAID/CMB Homepage (via the World Wide Web): Access by: http://www.niaid.nih.gov/contract and select the "RFP's" link. Proposals in response to this RFP will be due on or about November 6, 1998. Any responsible offeror may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Government. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract. It is anticipated that approximately one cost-reimbursement contract will be awarded for a maximum period of seven (7) years. Point of Contact: Merilee Rahe-Stoline, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Contract Management Branch, Solar Building, Room 3C07, 6003 Executive Blvd., Bethesda, MD 20892. Electronic Mail Address: mr29k@nih.gov. Telephone: 301-496-2508. FAX: 301-402-0972. No collect calls will be accepted. Posted 08/14/98 (W-SN237374). (0226)

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