A -- NIAID TETRAMER FACILITY

Notice Date

September 13, 2000

Contracting Office

National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Contract Management Branch, Room 2230, 6700-B Rockledge Drive, MSC 7612, Bethesda, MD 20892-7612

ZIP Code

20892-7612

Solicitation Number

RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIT-02-04

Response Due

October 30, 2000

Point of Contact

Barbara A. Shadrick, Senior Contracting Officer, phone 301-496-7288; fax 301-480-5253

E-Mail Address

Barbara A. Shadrick (bs92y@nih.gov)

Description

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) intends to negotiate with Emory University for a multiple-year contract to continue the operation of the NIAID Tetramer Facility which was established at Emory University in 1998 and is currently being operated under a subcontracting arrangement with McKesson BioServices Corporation under contract N01-AI-85332. The proposed contract will permit the continued function of the Facility in producing custom made tetramer reagents and supplying them on request for approved scientific research projects and implementing a production facility for quality controlled, custom synthesized tetrameric antigen/major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules for use in detection, enumeration and isolation of antigen-specific T cells. MHC molecules may include any of the alleles of mammalian class I, class II, and non-classical MHC molecules. Emory University possesses a unique capability in tetramer reagent production through its relationship with one of the inventors named on the tetramer patent, and has demonstrated that capability through the production of hundreds of tetramer reagents. These complex reagents are difficult to produce and need to be widely available and of high quality to facilitate progress in immunology and vaccine research. The statutory authority justifying this other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), and FAR 6.302-1(b)(1), unique supplies or services available from only one source. Emory University shall furnish all necessary services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, and processes for a centralized facility that can rapidly produce 1520 tetramer reagents of approximately 0.2 milligrams each per week and ship tetramer reagents to qualified investigators as directed by NIH staff. The facility shall produce recombinant MHC proteins in vitro; purify recombinant MHC proteins; fold HPLC purified peptides into MHC proteins; biotinylate MHC/peptide complexes; complex biotinylated MHC/peptide to specified fluorochromes to produce tetrameric staining reagents; assure quality control of the reagents, including by FPLC chromatography and immunoassays; and ship reagents to requesting investigators. If there are responsible sources who feel that they are able to perform the requirement, they must respond by the closing date noted above. See Numbered Note 22. No collect calls will be accepted.

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20000915/ASOL007.HTM (W-257 SN496253)