A -- In Vitro and Animal Models for Emerging Diseases and Biodefense

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, intends to negotiate and award modifications under its existing indefinite delivery indefinite quantity contracts with Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH; the Centre for Applied Microbiology Research, Porton Down, Salisbury, UK; Southern Research Institute, Frederick MD; the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX; SRI International, Menlo Park, CA; University of Chicago at Illinois, Chicago, IL; Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM; and IIT Research Institute, Chicago IL. The contracts? current period of performance will not be affected by these changes. These contracts were a part of a multiple award made under RFP NIH-NIAID-DMID-03-39 and RFP NIH-NIAID-DMID-04-40 for the project titled ?In Vitro and Animal Models for Emerging Diseases and Biodefense.? The contract numbers are N01-AI-30061, N01-AI-30062, N01-AI-30063, N01-AI-30065, N01-AI-40005, N01-AI-40093, N01-AI-40094, N01-AI-40095, and N01-AI-40096 respectively. The award of these modifications and resulting increase in the contract ceilings will allow the NIAID to utilize more fully the capabilities of these Contractors to meet our needs as outlined in our Biodefense Research Agenda. These contracts were initiated to bridge the gap between basic research or early target/lead identification and preclinical/advanced product development. They have become a valuable means of supporting advanced product development and with the creation of Project BioShield, it is likely that NIAID will need more early and advanced product development than originally anticipated. Therefore, these contracts will be modified to increase the current contract ceilings to a level based on the scientific parts awarded so that additional task orders can be competed and awarded in accordance with FAR Part 16.505 to support this increased demand and allow NIAID to maintain ready and available resources in this area. The original contracts were awarded using full and open competition procedures. NIAID intends to negotiate and award these modifications under the authority of 41 USC 253(c)(1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1. NIAID wishes to capitalize on the current testing capabilities of these Contractors to accomplish the additional effort anticipated. This is not a request for competitive proposals. However, interested parties who believe that they are capable of fulfilling this requirement may identify their interest by providing clear and comprehensive information supporting their claim. Please include contact person(s) and phone number(s), and identify the type of business, e.g. educational institution, small business, large for profit, research non-profit, etc. The Government will consider any such information received within 45 days of the publication date of this notice. A determination by the Government not to compete this requirement is solely within its discretion. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no responses are received within 45 days, the Government shall negotiate and award these modifications to the Contractors listed above. See Government-wide Numbered Note 22. No collect calls will be accepted.Point of Contact Yvette Brown, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-451-3686, Fax 301-480-4675, Email ybrown@niaid.nih.gov ? Sharon Kraft, Senior Contracting Officer, Phone 301-496-0612, Fax 301-480-4675, Email skraft@niaid.nih.gov