Pre-Sol_Notice_CV_MRI_Program.pdf

PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE

Title: NHLBI Cardiovascular MRI Program

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) anticipates posting a request for proposal (RFP) seeking contractor support to provide support services for the NHLBI Cardiovascular Program, on or about February 27, 2018.

The National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)’s Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Group is dedicated to the development of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques for the study of cardiovascular diseases in humans. The group has made substantial advances in the field of cardiovascular MRI making MRI more feasible for the diagnosis and treatment of ischemic and non-ischemic heart disease in patients. Currently, the NHLBI is focused primarily on the following research areas:

- Advanced characterization of myocardial tissue and the relationship between these characteristics and disease processes;

- Exploring the role of quantitative MRI measures of myocardial perfusion at rest and during stress;

and,

- Validate methods for quantitative analysis of diastolic function of the heart.

The NHLBI’s Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Group requires a state-of-the-art clinical research environment to conduct cardiovascular MRI research. The group seeks to exploit the technical staff, resources and patient network of an established medical center to improve research outcomes and cut down on operating costs. The purpose of this contract is to 1) secure a dedicated MRI facility wherein the NHLBI may perform its research, and 2) acquire professional services to support the NHLBI’s research. This contract will assist the NHLBI in accomplishing the following specific aims:

- To better understand the MR characteristics of acute myocardial infarction.

- To characterize fat and water in myocardium and other tissue, particularly in specific cardiomyopathies.

- To use T1 mapping to characterize the extracellular volume fraction and diffuse myocardial fibrosis in various cardiomyopathies.

- To use MRI to predict which patients will respond better to specific interventions (e.g. valve replacement, trans-myocardial laser therapy).

- To develop methods for quantifying diastolic function of the heart.

This announcement is not a request for proposals and although one award is anticipated, the Government is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this announcement. The RFP will be available on FedBizOpps and FedConnect. Prospective offerors are responsible for downloading the RFP and all attachments. It is also the offerors’ responsibility to monitor FedBizOpps for the release of any amendments to the RFP.