PANDAS Data and Samples

INTRODUCTION
This is a pre-solicitation non-competitive (notice of intent) synopsis to award a contract without providing for full and open competition. THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED.
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order to the University of Missouri on a sole source basis for detailed clinical information and crucial biological specimens obtained from children evaluated in Missouri.

NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE
The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 611310 with a Size Standard of $27.5 Million.

REGULATORY AUTHORITY
The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2019-01 dated December 20, 2018.

This acquisition is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures, Subpart 13.106-1 (b) (1), Soliciting from a single source and is not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. Contracts awarded using FAR Part 13-Simplified Acquisition Procedures are exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6-Competition Requirements.
DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), National Institutes of Health (NIH) is in need of detailed clinical information and crucial biological specimens obtained from children evaluated in Missouri. Samples must be from 50 children meeting with abrupt onset neuropsychiatric symptoms (PANS and PANDAS). The phenotypic profiles and biospecimens of these children will be compared against those obtained from children living in other geographically diverse sites (Massachusetts, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota and California). The Missouri patient profiles also will be compared against data and samples previously obtained at NIMH in order to ascertain temporally-related changes in clinical presentation, microbial virulence and host reactivity. The clinical information and biological specimens will help NIMH investigators to accomplish four specific aims:
1. Identify unique and distinctive clinical, paraclinical and laboratory features of acute-onset neuropsychiatric symptoms among children meeting criteria for PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome).
2. Determine the role of environmental pathogens, such as Group A streptococci, in disease onset and recurrences.
3. Investigate factors influencing host susceptibility and resistance.
4. Elucidate the role of immune dysfunction in PANS or its subgroups.
The samples and data must be accompanied by consent forms from the 50 patients and will remain on site throughout the contract period (and beyond, per institutional requirements for consent documents.)
The Government will award a purchase order resulting from this notice to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the Statement of Work (SOW) will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered.
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE:
The anticipated period of performance is twelve months from date of award. A firm fixed price purchase order is contemplated.
INTENDED SOURCE:

University of Missouri
115 Business Loop 70W
Mizzou North, Room 501
Columbia, MO 65211-0001

CLOSING STATEMENT
THIS SYNOPSIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this notice. Responses to this notice shall contain sufficient information to establish the interested parties' bona-fide capabilities for fulfilling the requirement and include: unit price, list price, shipping and handling costs, the delivery period after contract award, the prompt payment discount terms, the F.O.B. Point (Destination or Origin), the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov."

A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. The information received will normally be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether to proceed on a non-competitive basis or to conduct a competitive procurement.

All responses must be received by the closing date of this notice and must reference the solicitation number. Responses may be submitted electronically to michellececilia.cecilia@nih.gov and valerie.whipple@nih.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted.

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