Rodent and Vector-borne Diseases Surveillance Study

The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, IAW FAR 6.302-1(a), with the Royal Centre for Disease Control, in Thimphu, Bhutan as the only responsible source that can provide the Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences (AFRIMS) with rodent - and vector- borne diseases surveillance studies in collaboration with the Ministry of Health in Bhutan.

The objectives of this requirement are:

• Provide training to relevant hospital staff (clinicians and laboratory technicians) in the surveillance sites on specimen collection, storage, transportation of specimens, and universal precautions;

• Collect biological specimens (i.e., whole blood DBS, serum) and patient data sheet related to this study (i.e., diagnostic results, demographic information with no other personnel identifiable information) collected from an approved protocol;

• Collect rodent tissues, ectoparasite, and specimen data sheet (i.e., species identification of captured rodent and ectoparasite, location, and GPS coordinates) in accordance with a relevant approved protocol;

• Coordinate with AFRIMS staff in transportation of patient biological specimens (whole blood and serum), rodent tissues and ectoparasite to USAMD-AFRIMS for storage and laboratory testing at AFRIMS.