Brain and Tissue Bank Developmental Disorders

THIS IS A NOTICE OF INTENT, NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL. A SOLICITATION DOCUMENT WILL NOT BE ISSUED AND PROPOSALS WILL NOT BE REQUESTED. The Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD) Branch Center for Development Biology & Perinatal Medicine (CDBPM) Branch, within the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health, intends to negotiate on a sole source basis, under the authority of 41 U.S.C. 253 (c) (1) and FAR 6.302-1(a) (2) (ii) and HHSAR 306.302-1 (a) (2) (ii), a modification to its current contract with the University of Maryland at Baltimore (UMB), entitled “Brain and Tissue Bank for Developmental Disorders.” This four month contract extension is necessary in order to avoid a lapse in contract performance and continue services in its operation of the NICHD Brain and Tissue Bank. This modification will allow UMB to continue uninterrupted services until a new competitive contract can be awarded and the services transitioned. It is very critical that the services provided not to be interrupted, as interruption of this project would result in a loss of valuable specimens. UMB, as the incumbent contractor, collects and houses the tissue specimens from individuals with disorders as well as normal tissue for control studies. UMB has the expertise in rapidly collecting tissue from newly deceased donors, processing the tissue and making it available for qualified researchers through a Material Transfer Agreement. In addition, UMB ensures quality standards for the repository samples including rapid collection of donor tissue, long term storage conditions, fixation procedures and fresh frozen storage conditions. A new contractor would have to develop new protocols to achieve the goals of the bank which may disrupt the distribution of tissue to the research community. This would create unacceptable delays in fulfilling the government’s requirements. However, if there are sources who feel they are able to perform the requirement, they must respond by submitting information (5 page limit) required in Numbered Note 22 within 45 days of publication of this synopsis. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received within 45 days of publication of this synopsis will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. 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. Deliveries should be sent to: Hand Delivered or Delivery Service U.S. Postal Service. NO COLLECT CALLS OR FACSIMILE TRANSMISSIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED. RESPONDENTS MAY SUBMIT THEIR CAPABILITY STATEMENTS VIA E-MAIL IN ADDITION TO 2 HARD COPIES.