6555--Brain Tissue Samples PTSD Research

The Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Health Administration (VA) is seeking a contractor to provide postmortem brain tissue for PTSD research at the Durham VA Medical Center. The solicitation, identified as 36C24625Q0712, requires a qualified vendor to supply brain and related tissue specimens from donors with and without PTSD or depression. The research, led by Dr. Douglas E. Williamson, aims to validate blood-based biomarkers of PTSD and identify neuroanatomical, genetic, and protein changes associated with stress disorders. The project's key objectives include examining brain regions responsible for PTSD symptoms and comparing tissue from affected and control subjects. Proposals must be submitted by May 12, 2025, at 5:30 PM EDT, with the solicitation following the NAICS code 621991 (Blood and Organ Banks) and Product Service Code 6555 for Human Tissue and Cadavers.

The contract is an unrestricted solicitation with a potential value of $40 million and a performance period from May 15, 2025, to May 14, 2026. No specific set-aside designations are applied to this opportunity. The contract requires monthly invoicing and seeks to recover brain tissue samples that meet precise inclusion criteria. The place of performance is the Durham VA Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, where researchers will conduct detailed analyses of the procured tissue specimens. The solicitation does not specify the exact quantity of tissue samples required, but emphasizes the need for high-quality specimens from carefully selected donors to support comprehensive PTSD research. Potential contractors should be prepared to meet stringent scientific and logistical requirements for tissue collection, preservation, and delivery.