A--TB Vaccine Testing and Research Materials

The Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) supports a comprehensive program in all aspects of tuberculosis (TB) research (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/dmid/tuberculosis/ ), including the biology and physiology of the pathogen, host/pathogen interaction, host response to infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) animal models of infection and disease, as well as research leading to the development of improved vaccines, drugs and diagnostics. To advance research in TB and accelerate development of novel vaccines, the NIAID is supporting the Tuberculosis Research Materials and Vaccine Testing Contract, currently awarded to Colorado State University (http://www.cvmbs.colostate.edu/microbiology/tb/top.htm), to provide researchers with standardized reagents and vaccine testing services. This contract has proven to be an essential component of support for national and international TB researchers and the NIAID is now re-competing this contract to maintain such a valuable resource. Since the resurgence of TB in the US during the early 1990s, NIAID has steadily increased funding through its TB programs to support research needs and provide state of the art resources to the community to keep pace with the rapid advances in the field. During the past 10 years, major milestones have been achieved in TB research, marked by the completion of the genome of M. tuberculosis (Mtb), the creation of genetic tools to manipulate the pathogen, insights into the immunology of host responses to infection as well as the physiology of the microbe. These advances have led to a transition from basic research to include applied studies for the development of novel vaccines, the identification of promising drug candidates and the evaluation of novel diagnostic methods. This contract enables and facilitates the participation of researchers, many of whom are without the required BSL3 facilities needed to culture quantities of Mtb or evaluate candidate vaccines and drugs, in basic and clinical research projects that require these resources. This contract will provide standardized research materials, such as inactivated microorganisms, purified protein, lipid and carbohydrate antigens, culture filtrates, nucleic acid constructs and post-genomic reagents. Furthermore, this contract will fund development of advanced techniques and customized tools for the preparation of mycobacterial reagents and genomic analysis of gene expression in mycobacteria and animal models of TB disease. Data generated by these tools will assist the research community by creating standards for laboratory evaluations of commonly studied mycobacterial strains, and vaccine candidates and adjuvants. Furthermore, the contractor will provide expert guidance in the design, execution, and analysis of targeted experiments for the evaluation of vaccine candidates, adjuvants and immune-modulators. It is anticipated that this contract will have a seven year performance period beginning approximately September 30, 2004. RFP-NIH-NIAID-DMID-04-21 will be available electronically on or about October 06, 2003, and may be accessed through the NIAID Contract Management Branch (CMB) Home Page by using the following electronic address and instructions: NIAID/CMB Home Page (via the WWW): Use http://www.niaid.nih.gov/contract to access the NIAID/CMB Home Page. Once at the NIAID/CMB Home Page, click on the - Requests for Proposals link and then click on - RFP-NIH-NIAID-DMID-04-21. Responses to this RFP will be due approximately on February 06, 2004. Any responsible offeror may submit a proposal for consideration by the Government. All information required for the submission of an offer will be contained in the electronic RFP package. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract. No collect calls will be accepted. P.O.C. Hank Durand, Contract Specialist, DHHS, NIH, NIAID, DEA, CMB, 6700-B Rockledge Drive, Rm. #2230, Bethesda, MD 20892-7612 (FedEx - 20817-7612) e-mail: hd43g@nih.gov 301-451-3688 (Phone) 301-402-0972 (Fax) Original Point of Contact Hank Durand, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-451-3688, Fax 301-402-0972, Email hd43g@nih.gov - Jacqueline C. Holden, Senior Contracting Officer, Phone 301-496-7119, Fax 301-402-0972, Email jh55b@nih.gov