Biomedical Analysis of Human Biospecimens for the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research

The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research intends to solicit proposals to award an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract to an organization to conduct various studies focusing on a spectrum of health effects in men, women, and children that rely on quantification of analytes in biological specimens such as blood, urine, adipose tissue, follicular fluids, and seminal fluids.  The Division needs a variety of banked specimens analyzed for concentrations of various hormone levels, dietary biomarkers, and indicators of metabolic function among other analytes.  A range of analyses are of interest to the Division, though priorities include: measuring 25(OH)D2, 25(OH)D3, total 25(OH)D, and 1,25(OH)2D3; assay of total IgE, allergan-specific IgE, characterization of T cell subpopulations; cell sorting for collection of CD4+ and Treg subpopulations, measurement of Fox3p levels in T cells; real-time PCR to identify asthma markers; extraction of DNA from whole blood, urinary leukotrienes including leukotriene E4; measurement of DHEA from saliva; analyses of male and female steroid hormone levels; identification of naturally occurring phytoestrogens and metabolites; the flexibility to measure different analytes using multiplex and ELISA techniques; and quantification of metabolomics, proteomics, and genome-wide association studies.

The anticipated contract type will be a hybrid Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract that will allow for the issuance of task orders with cost reimbursement and fixed price components for a five year period of performance.  Further details will be provided in the Request of Proposal (RFP).

The RFP is anticipated to be posted on or about May 10, 2013 on FedBizOpps (FBO) website:  http://www.fedbizopps.gov   The due date for submission of proposals in response to the RFP is anticipated to be on or aboutJune 14, 2013.  Information in the  anticipated  RFP supersedes any information in this pre-solicitation announcement.  This acquisition has been designated as a full and open competition under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS code 541380).  Any questions concerning this announcement must be submitted in writing to Megan Gnall at megan.gnall@nih.gov, Contracting Officer or addressed to NICHD Contracts Management Branch, Office of Acquisitions, NICHD, NIH, 6100 Executive Blvd., Room 7A-07, MSC 7510 Bethesda, Md.  20892-7510 (if hand-delivered or sending by delivery service - use Rockville, MD and Zipcode 20852.  No collect calls will be accepted.  This is not an RFP and this announcement does not commit the Government to award a contract.  The reference number to be used for this announcement is:  RFP NIH-NICHD-DESPR-2013-12.  All correspondence must cite the reference number as provided.