Office of Naval Research, 800 North Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660

A -- BASIC AND APPLIED MEDICAL RESEARCH IN COMBAT CASUALTY CARE SOL BAA 00-003 DUE 051600 POC Dr. J. Majde-Cottrell, (703) 696-4055, E-mail majdej@onr.navy.mil (1) General Statement of Research Need The Office of Naval Research (ONR) is soliciting preproposals and proposals directed at basic and applied medical research focusing on combat casualty care, particularly the diagnosis and treatment of major injuries, blood loss and shock. Of specific interest are hemorrhagic shock mechanisms and therapeutics; methods for inducing metabolic down-regulation; hemostasis and simultaneous antibiosis of large wounds; blood products and red cell substitutes stable to storage under extreme temperature conditions; acute pain control; and non-invasive diagnostics suitable for use in the field. The goals of the ONR Combat Casualty Care program are presented in more detail on the Internet at http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/personnel/. The following aspects of hemorrhagic shock, hypothermia research, and product development are of particular interest (POC: Dr. J. Majde-Cottrell, 703-696-4055, E-mail majdej@onr.navy.mil): (1) mechanisms of the shock response to trauma, especially cytokine induction by neural, neuroendocrine or other mediators stimulated by hemorrhagic shock; (2) novel therapeutic interventions for shock; (3) design, testing, evaluation and side-by-side comparison of both FDA-approved volume replacement fluids and fluids with other therapeutic benefit in hemorrhage; (4) drug substitutes for large volume fluids that maintain cardiovascular function or additives for conventional resuscitation fluids that reduce volume requirements; (5) improved delivery of fluids to hypotensive casualties; (6) novel approaches to metabolic down-regulation that facilitate casualty transport; and (7) treatments for physiological sequelae of induced whole-body hypothermia. With respect to hemostasis and oxygen delivery (POC: CDR S. Ahlers, 703-696-0367, E-mail ahlerss@onr.navy.mil) products with the following capabilities are sought: (1) hemostatic agents or devices that are affordable and capable of achieving hemostasis and antibiosis of large extremity and soft tissue wounds; (2) lyophilized blood components that can be stored long-term with minimal refrigeration; (3) red cell substitutes free of vasoactivity and immunosuppressant activity that function without exogenous oxygen support. With respect to pain control (POC: CDR S. Ahlers, 703-696-0367, E-mail ahlerss@onr.navy.mil) products that control pain without cognitive and motor impairment are sought. With respect to non-invasive diagnostics (POC: CDR S. Ahlers, 703-696-0367, E-mail ahlerss@onr.navy.mil) lightweight, portable technologies for enhanced diagnosis of injuries in the combat casualty by minimally trained personnel are desired. In addition to the above areas, any novel approaches that may save lives on the battlefield or maintain functionality of the casualty will be considered, especially those that identify risk, protract or mitigate adverse sequelae, or enable mission completion without medical consequence. Techniques and technologies suitable for use by first responders or limited license practitioners are a priority. Decision support system integration into diagnostic and therapeutic technologies is important. It is not the intent of this solicitation to establish new facilities; investigators should be able to demonstrate the required research capability and the necessary facilities. Preproposals/proposals whose main objectives are to conduct analyses, literature reviews, or program evaluations are not encouraged. (2) Instructions for Preparation of Proposals Offerors are invited to submit five (5) copies of a preproposal formatted as described on the Internet at http://www.onr.navy.mil/sci_tech/personnel/. The preproposal should not exceed three pages of text and should include an estimate of overall costs (including indirect) for a three year effort. A curriculum vitae of the principal investigator(s) should be appended together with any supporting information, such as reprints or preprints, that will assist in the evaluation of the preproposal. Offerors submitting the most promising preproposals will be invited to submit a full technical and cost proposal on all or part of their preproposal submission. However, any such invitation does not assure a subsequent award. Any offeror may submit a full proposal even if its preproposal was not identified as promising or if no preproposal is submitted; however any full proposal submission would be made without the benefit of feedback prior to full proposal submission. The initial deadline for preproposals will be 1600 EST, 8 February 2000 for the next funding cycle that begins 1 October 2000. Full proposals will be required by 1600 EST, 16 May 2000, with a completed DoD Animal Use Protocol when animals are employed. Any proposal that involves the experimental use of human subjects must include a separate evaluation, by the organization's committee for protection of human subjects, of proposed technical approaches and associated risks. This evaluation must conform with current Department of the Navy instructions relating to the use of human subjects. Proposal format instructions are also provided at the above Web site. Offerors must state in their preproposals and full proposals that it is submitted in response to this BAA. Exceptionally meritorious proposal submissions may be considered for funding prior to 1 October 2000. Preproposals received after 1600 EST, 8 February 2000, or proposals received after 1600 EST, 16 May 2000, may still be considered for the next funding cycle if funds are available. This BAA provides no funding for preproposals or subsequent proposal development purposes. All preproposals will be acknowledged. Preproposals will not be returned after evaluation. (3) Criteria for Selecting Proposals, their Relative Importance, and the Method of Evaluation Preproposal and full proposal submissions will be evaluated on the 1) overall basis of innovation and scientific merit; 2) programmatic relevance of the proposal; 3) the qualifications and experience of the proposed principal investigator and key personnel; 4) the offeror's capabilities, related experience, facilities, techniques or unique combinations of these that are integral factors for achieving the proposal objectives; 5) socio-economic merits of the proposal and 6) realism of the proposed cost and availability of funds. For awards made as contracts, the socio-economic merits of each proposal will be evaluated based on the extent of commitment in providing meaningful subcontracting opportunities for small business, HUB zone small business, small disadvantaged business, woman-owned small business concerns, and historically black colleges and universities and minority institutions (HBCU/MI). The standard industrial classification code is 8731 with the small business size standard of not to exceed 500. In addition, contract proposals that exceed $500,000 submitted by all but small businesses must be accompanied by a Small Business Subcontracting Plan in accordance with FAR 52.219-9. HBCU/MI's, as determined by the Secretary of Education to meet requirements of 34 CFR Section 608.2 and 10 U.S.C. Paragraph 2323(a)(1)(C), are particularly encouraged to participate, though no portion of this BAA has been set aside. This CBD notice itself constitutes the BAA as contemplated by FAR 6.102(d)(2). Awards may take the form of a contract, cooperative agreement, grant, or other agreement. Unless otherwise stated herein, additional written information is not available. No formal RFP or other solicitation regarding this announcement will be issued. Requests for the same will be disregarded. Preproposals and proposals should be submitted by the due dates cited in the BAA to the responsible POC at the Office of Naval Research, Attention 341 (the responsible POC), Room 823, 800 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660. The listed technical POC should be used for express mail purposes. Questions regarding contractual matters relating to this BAA should be directed to: Office of Naval Research, Attention Brian Glance (Code 252), Room 720, Ballston Towers One, 800 N. Quincy St., Arlington, VA 22217-5660, by telephone (703) 696-2596, or by e-mail to glanceb@onr.navy.mil. Posted 12/27/99 (W-SN411434). (0361)

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