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

R -- SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE PERINATOLOGY RESEARCH BRANCH, DIVISION OF INTRAMURAL RESEARCH, NICHD SOL NICHD-SS-2000 POC Mr. Charles W. Grewe, Contracting Officer, 301-496-4611 WEB: National Institutes of Health, http://www.nichd.nih.gov/stand/sources/prb. E-MAIL: National Institutes of Health, nichdcmb@mail.nih.gov. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD)/ NIH, seeks interested and qualified potential sources to support its Perinatology Research Branch in its Division of Intramural Research. Such support services would include providing access to a large, stable, patient population of pregnant women with a high rate of adverse outcome, seeking prenatal, intrapartum and post-partum care at a single site located at a University-based medical center within the United States. The site shall have established residency programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics and Pathology and approved fellowships in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology and Human Genetics. The NICHD seeks dedicated space for operation of the Perinatology Research Branch, staffing of non-professional and certain support professional positions, communications and computer support, and support for the operation of several laboratories. BACKGROUND: The Perinatology Research Branch is part of the Division of Intramural Research of NICHD and its mission is: 1) to conduct clinical and laboratory research in maternal, fetal, and neonatal diseases responsible for perinatal morbidity and mortality; and 2) to train health care professionals in perinatal medicine and related disciplines. The Branch emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach and utilizes expertise from clinical disciplines (obstetrics, neonatology, perinatal pathology), basic sciences (molecular and developmental biology, biochemistry, physiology, etc.) and clinical epidemiology to improve the etiologic understanding, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disorders related to maternal and infant mortality. The Perinatology Research Branch currently has, or is developing, research protocols addressing the following areas: 1) application of functional genomics to the study of genes and up or down regulation in preterm and term parturition; 2) application of molecular biology techniques (i.e., DNA analysis) to determine genetic predisposition to complex and common obstetrical problems such as preterm labor, preterm premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth retardation; 3) studies of the role of in vivo maternal and fetal inflammation as mechanisms of disease in Athe great obstetrical syndromes@; 4) imaging of the human fetuses and uterus with bi- dimensional and tri-dimensional ultrasound to assess fetal anatomy, growth and function, as well as non-invasive studies of fetal cardiovascular hemodynamics; 5) studies of the role of infection in preterm labor and development of long term sequela in the offspring, such as cerebral palsy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia; 6) studies of conditions associated with maternal death such as amniotic fluid embolism, postpartum hemorrhage and sepsis; 7) the use of molecular pathology to understand normal and abnormal placentation and its relationship to adverse pregnancy outcome; and 8) randomized clinical trials of interventions to prevent premature birth. The Perinatology Research Branch has, and will have, complete authority and jurisdiction for the development, direction and execution of the scientific agenda, research priorities and training mission. CONTRACTOR EXPECTATIONS: A service contract is anticipated to support the operations of the Perinatology Research Branch which shall be relocated to dedicated facilities owned or leased by the contractor for the specific purpose of this contract. The successful contractor shall possess the qualifications or meet the following requirements at the time of proposal submission: 1) have an obstetrical service with at least 4,500 deliveries per year at a single site; 2) patients shall have a high rate of the following adverse pregnancy outcomes: preterm delivery, < 32 weeks, intrauterine growth, retardation pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, congenital anomalies, maternal sepsis, postpartum hemorrhage; 3) level III newborn intensive care unit capable of providing Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support; 4) have a prenatal clinic in which patients seek prenatal care in early gestation so that longitudinal studies can be conducted; 5) have expertise to provide support services to the Branch in the following areas: a) functional genomics and bioinformatics, b) perinatal epidemiology, c) infectious diseases in obstetrics, d) molecular pathology, e) flow cytometry; 6) have accredited sub-specialty Board fellowships in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology and Human Genetics and willingness and capability to expand these fellowships as required by the Perinatology Research Branch; 7) have on site pediatric sub-specialties including pediatric neurology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric surgery and neurosurgery; 8) be able to provide a minimum of 25,000 square feet of space over a 5 year period of contract performance. The space must be located in accordance with the Government's needs. Upon award, 2,000 square feet of space will be required, and an additional 12,000 square feet of space, with renovations, must be available within six months of the contract award. Space must be available in close proximity to the patient source in order to initiate contract performance; 9) have a demonstrated ability to support strong clinical and basic science research efforts. The contractor must be able to provide support for research programs encompassing randomized clinical trials of labor management, prenatal diagnosis, perinatal cardiology, fetal endoscopic diagnosis and surgery and human developmental and molecular embryology; 10) have an AAALAC accredited animal care facility. SCOPE OF SERVICES REQUIRED UNDER CONTRACT: The contractor must be able to provide a wide range of support services including secretarial, clerical, technical, nursing, sonographic and data management services, which shall be required for the execution of the research mission of the Perinatology Research Branch. The contractor shall also provide the services of medical technologists, developmental psychologists, programmers, obstetricians, neonatologists and other health care personnel as required by the Government to service the Perinatology Research Branch mission and/or augment specific protocols undertaken by the Perinatology Research Branch. The contractor shall be required to provide and renovate space necessary for use of NICHD, Perinatology Research Branch personnel (scientists and supporting personnel) and contractor personnel. All space shall be renovated by the contractor to NICHD and Perinatology Research Branch specifications and shall be considered as Government-leased space for the sole purpose of performance of this contract. Renovated space shall include office and administrative space, a Prenatal Diagnostic Center and laboratory space and a separate Intrapartum Unit in close proximity to the contractor's labor and delivery floor. Space-related services to be required shall include housekeeping, telecommunications, computer support, security, parking, utilities and maintenance. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine the availability of organizations capable of providing the services stated herein. Interested organizations should submit a letter of interest and complete a brief Capability Profile which summarizes key capabilities. The Capability Profile may be obtained electronically at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/stand/sources/prb or by phone or fax request. Your response, composed of a brief cover letter and completed Capability Profile, should be submitted, via e-mail, fax, or mail, within 30 days of the date of this publication, to the following address: Mr. Charles W. Grewe, Contracting Officer, Contracts Management Branch, OAM, NICHD, Executive Building, Suite 7A07, 6100 EXECUTIVE BOULEVARD MSC 7510 BETHESDA, MD 20892-7510, phone: (301)496-4611, e-mail: nichdcmb@mail.nih.gov, fax: (301)402-3676 Posted 02/04/00 (W-SN421937). (0035)

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