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 -- INFLUENZA PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS IN ASIA SOL RFP-NIH-NIAID-DMID-99-27 DUE 121398 POC Mr. Phil Hastings, Contract Specialist, 301-496-0194, Ms. Brenda Velez, Contracting Officer, 301-496-7117 The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases intends to negotiate for a seven year contract with St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital of Memphis, Tennessee. The nature of the work involves the systematic and continuous surveillance for influenza viruses in birds and animals of the World, particularly in Asia, and the production and storage of viruses reagents and technologies to facilitate rapid characterization and the exchange of information. It also involves understanding the fundamental differences between the Eurasian and American lineages of influenza viruses, the molecular changes that occur when influenza viruses transmit to other hosts and the dominance of particular subtypes in their natural reservoirs. It fills an important and compelling public health need to be able to respond rapidly to an emerging influenza pandemic. The Contractor is uniquely qualified to conduct these studies, and this contract will permit access to a geographic area of the world that is fundamental in understanding the transmission of influenza to humans. Inherent duplication of cost to the Government and unacceptable delays in initiating the project make competition unfeasible for the public health importance of the proposed work. Authority 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in FAR 6.302-1. See Numbered Note 22. Posted 10/29/98 (W-SN266600). (0302)

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