A -- Maintenance of NHLBI Biological Specimen Repository

The Division of Blood Diseases and Resources of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) seeks one contractor to maintain a repository of blood specimens from NHLBI-sponsored studies and to make appropriate specimens available to the scientific community for use in research related to transfusion-transmitted diseases and disorders of the blood, lung, or cardiovascular systems. At the time of contract award, it is anticipated that the repository will consist of 4 million specimens contained in 165 freezers and 6 liquid nitrogen chests, with a total capacity of 4,000 cubic feet. Specific requirements of this project include: 1) move current biological repository and government furnished equipment; 2) maintain serum, plasma, and cell repository; 3) prepare aliquots from selected specimens; 4) prepare and ship panels of aliquots or specimens; 5) add specimens to repository; 6) perform virologic and serologic assays; 7) inventory control; and 8) ensure an orderly transition of the repository to a successor contractor at contract expiration. The intended procurement is a recompetition of contract N01-HB-87144 awarded to BBI-Biotech Research Laboratories, Inc. RFP No. NHLBI-HB-05-06 will be issued on or about February 2, 2004. One cost reimbursement (performance-based) type contract is expected to be awarded and the contract period is six years with an approximate start date of March 1, 2005. The RFP may be accessed at the following URL location: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/inits/index.htm#rfp