The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to award, on a sole source basis, a contract to Marshfield Clinic, 1000 N. Oak Ave., Marshfield, WI 54449-5703. The Measles-Mumps-Rubela (MMR2) project is a twelve-year study which seeks to determine the long-term persistence of immunity in children after vaccination with a second dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR2). In 1993, after a competitive bidding process, CDC entered into a contract with Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, a research group affiliated with a large health maintenance organization service central Wisconsin. Under the terms of the contract, Marshfield enrolled 300 kindergarten-aged children from among the patients of the HMO, administered MMR2 vaccine, and began drawing sera from them periodically (1 month, 6 months, 2 years, 5 years, 7 years, 10 years, and 12 years post-vaccination) so that long-term immunity could be tested. Marshfield is currently obtaining the 10th year post-vaccination serum draw. The extension of the contract would complete the study by funding Marshfield to acquire the final serum draw from the study subjects 12 years post-vaccination. No other contractor would be able to locate the study subjects and obtain serum from them under the circumstances of the study. A contract shall be issued to Marshfield Clinic. Justification for other than full and open competition is considered due to the fact that Marshfield Clinic is the only organization that can provide the study subjects and obtain serum from them under the circumstances of the study to meet all of the program requirements including cost and time constraints. Note 22 applies herein. The statutory authority permitting other-than-full-and-open competition is 41 U.S.C., 253(c)(1): FAR 6.302-1. Only one responsible source and no other services will satisfy agency requirements. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice is not a request for competitive proposals. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract will be based on responses to this notice and is solely within the discretion of the government. Information received will be considered solely for informational purposes. This procurement is not set-aside for small business. For contractual questions contact Gary Morgan by email at
[email protected] or by fax to 770-488-27778.