Notice of Intent to award sole source contract. This is not a solicitation. The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island (Network Contracting Office (NCO 1 - New England) 650/90C intends to negotiate and award a contract for research services to W. Xia, small business, sole-proprietor, Boston, MA (DUNS: 806952458). The research and services are described as follows: The Contractor shall identify biological markers of disease and design, develop, implement, test and provide assays for said biomarkers, to be used in conjunction with near-infrared optical spectroscopy for the minimally invasive detection, diagnostic evaluation and monitoring of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related neurodegenerative disorders, including mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). It is expected that this work will be an implementation of the concepts outlined in Xia, et al. Arch Neurol. 2009; 66(2):190-199. Performance shall be provided in close collaboration with Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital, Bedford, MA (Bedford VAMC) and according to specifications developed jointly by Bedford VAMC and Contractor. The data, assays and services provided shall be comprised of: 1) Specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays to examine in vivio levels of beta-amyloid (A-beta) oligomers, monomeric A-beta ?of various peptide lengths and other putative biomarkers for AD and related disorders in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and brain tissue of patients with sporadic AD at various stages, including very early or pre-symptomatic AD. 2) Acquisition and delivery of data and demonstration of the correlation of assayed biomarkers in vivo with "pre-symptomaitc" AD and the prognostic value of such biomarkers for predicting progression to overt clinical dementia. 3) Correlation of peripheral fluid and/or tissue assays with more clinically validated biomarkers, such as CSF A-beta/?tau ration, PIB-PET imaging, and anatomic or functional MRI imaging data. 4) Correlation of biological markers predictive for progression to dementia with near-infrared spectroscopy. 5) Longitudinal studies demonstrating utility of peripheral biological markers of AD, near-infrared spectrosocopy and both together for monitoring progression of AD. 5) A diagnostic algorithm incorporating demonstrated prognostic value of near-infrared optical spectroscopy plus plasma AD biomarkers for predicting progression of "pre-symptomatic" individuals to overt clinical AD. The authority for this action is FAR6.302-1 Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. This notice contains information current through FAC 2005-57. The NAICS is 5141712. The FSC/PSC is AN92. No solicitation will be posted to this site. Interested persons may contact the Contract Specialist regarding this procurement and may identify capabilities for items of this kind Contract Specialist: John Young, 401-459-4760 x 1588,
[email protected]. A decision not to compete this requirement is based upon this notice, the responses to this notice and the Justification and Approval to be posted to this site. Service Disabled and Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB and VOSB) contracting with VA are to self-register in VetBiz if seeking consideration under PL 109-461 (www.vetbiz.gov - Vendor Information Pages - VIP) All contractors are required to be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (www.ccr.gov). Contractors should complete On-Line Representations and Certifications (https://orca.bpn.gov/). Consult your State Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) for technical assistance with these requirements. (http://www.dla.mil/db/procurem.htm)