NIA central biorepository data coordination and systems management

Added: Aug 17, 2017 12:43 pm BACKGROUND

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), conducts and funds various longitudinal and clinical studies on aging that generate or have generated a collection of biological specimens (biospecimens) and related phenotypic and clinical data/resources pertaining to these research activities. The NIA's Division of Geriatrics and Clinical Gerontology is establishing the NIA Central Biorepository to provide a state-of-the-art inventory system for the storage and distribution of biospecimens and related data/resources. All of these activities are in support of future research initiatives. The collections of patient and control biospecimens and related data/resources from many different studies in a single repository is a valuable resource with which investigators can more rapidly validate clinical hypotheses and algorithms for clinical decision making. These collections considerably contribute to advancing the development of prognostics, markers, and therapeutics for conditions related to aging and to a better understanding of the aging process.

The main purpose of this project is to provide data coordination and systems management for the NIA Central Biorepository. In this project, clinical data/resources are related to biospecimens including, but not limited to, serum, plasma, urine, genetic materials such as DNA, buccal cells, and Epstein-Barr virus cells and cell pellets. All of these, collected during the conduction of studies supported by NIA.

The Data Coordination and Systems Management will serve as a data coordinating center to facilitate efficient distribution of data-related to biospecimens. As an archive and distributor of highly usable datasets, the Data Coordination and Systems Management also allows re-analysis of these data and, where relevant, of specific biospecimens, thus encouraging work by investigators at different levels of development, those proposing novel approaches, and others not included in the originally funded studies.

The Contractors responsible for the NIA Central Biorepository Data Coordination and Systems Management and for the NIA Central Biorepository Biological Specimens Storage shall collaborate to develop tools to facilitate management and use of the NIA Central Biorepository resources.

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

The proposed acquisition will comprise of the following types of activities:

• Technical and administrative infrastructure: Maintenance of biorepository inventory, receipt, testing accuracy, completeness and validity of electronic databases.
• Maintain stored databases, develop descriptive variables to facilitate search, link phenotypic data.
• Maintaining confidentiality of subjects.
• Maintain a public forum, including a website, as a resource for users and a tool for public education about the NIA Central Biorepository resources.
• Web-based system to support potential applicants, submission and processing of applications requesting resources or inclusion of collections in the NIA Central Biorepository.
• Work collaboratively with the NIA COR to promote use of NIA biospecimens and related data/resources.
• Work in a cooperative fashion with the NIA COR, steering committee and Scientific Review Committees.
• Security, Back-up systems, and plan for disaster recovery.
• Quality Assurance/Quality control systems.
• Communication and transition plan.

It is anticipated that one (1) cost reimbursement type contract will be awarded. The anticipated period of performance is for one (1) year plus four (4) option years. This acquisition is being competed under full and competitive procedures under FAR Part 15. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541990 with a standard size of $15 million.

A request for proposal (RFP) is anticipated to be posted on or about September 18, 2017. This proposed acquisition was previously publicized under sources sought notices HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-RDSS-17-028 and HHS-NIH-NIDA(AG)-SBSS-17-028.

This is not an RFP and this announcement does not commit the Government to award a contract. No collect calls will be accepted. No facsimile transmissions will be accepted.