Notice of Intent to Sole Source to Duke Clinical Research Institute Pulmonary Research Program

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Office of Acquisition Services (OAS) on behalf of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) intends to award a sole source firm fixed priced simplified purchase order for services of a biomarker analysis to research Long-term Respiratory Morbidity. The purpose of this project is to understand the prevalence of long-term respiratory morbidity in styrene-exposed workers. The sites for this project are Bellingham, WA and Kelso, WA, which were the sites of two reinforced plastic boatbuilding plants that closed in 1989 and 1993, respectively. The study will be done by conducting a medical and job history questionnaire, performing lung function testing, color vision assessment, and blood testing for biomarkers of lung damage or inflammation. The goal of the biomarker analysis will be to study if biomarkers can be used as a surveillance tool for occupational lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or obliterative bronchiolitis. In this part of the study, blood specimens from all study participants will be analyzed for biomarkers associated with lung injury caused by obliterative bronchiolitis, including Krebs Von Den Lungen-6 (KL-6), club cell secretory protein (CCSP), hyaluronan (HA), and interleukin 8 (IL-8). In addition to the biomarker analysis, a subset of study participants, based on clinical signs and symptoms consistent with occupational lung disease associated with styrene exposure will have their blood specimen undergo a discovery-based proteomic analysis. In participants with previous high styrene exposure and severe respiratory symptoms or lung function abnormalities, the Pulmonary Research Program at Duke Clinical Research Institute will perform a discovery-based proteomic analysis to investigate potential serum proteins and their associated biological pathways that occur in occupational obliterative bronchiolitis. Finally, the lab will provide an analysis report to NIOSH. This contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR 13.106-1(b) (SAP) and 41 U.S.C. 3304(c)(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 seven (7) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the government. 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. 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 the Contracting Specialist, Willie Moss, at [email protected] by 4:00 PM EST on 07-21-2020. No telephonic quotes shall be considered.