Notice of Intent to Sole Source

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to award a sole source option period to Abt Associates for additional research pertaining to evaluating the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among essential workers through a project named “Research on the Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in Essential Response Personnel” (RESPONSE). 

Contract 75D30120C08150 was awarded in response to a competitive Broad Agency Announcement issued in 2020.  All interested and qualified contractors were invited to propose research projects to meet the CDC’s identified topic-based needs.

This study, unique to the Contractor, presents a novel solution and design to the BAA topic for which it was submitted.  CDC selected the Contractor’s research proposal for award and as a result issued Contract 75D30120C08150. This study began in April 2020.

Because Abt Associates has completed all study activities to date, manages subcontracts with existing study sites, and has established systems to conduct all required evaluations, Abt Associates is uniquely qualified to address CDC's expanded tasks and period of evaluation and is the only responsible source who can supply these services.  Abt Associates currently operates a large prospective cohort of over 4,000 participants and they are able to extend these activities and address CDC’s needs in an efficient and effective manner.  This collaboration and their use of common surveillance and laboratory methods ensures that CDC is able to compare and combine results across cohorts in a valid, reliable, and timely manner. It is essential that the new required information be added to this network in a way that is comparable and collapsible with the existing study results to date. 

This contract is for services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 and 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals.

This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the government.  A determination by the government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the government.  Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.  Any quotation/response should be emailed to Christina McMichael at wpn6@cdc.gov by 5:00 PM EST on February 19, 2022.