B -- Ocular Toxoplasmosis Study

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention intends to issue a sole source purchase order to University of California Los Angeles (Jules Stein Eye Institute Clinical Research), 100 Stein Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7000 for the purpose of providing HLA type/KIR gene frequencies and T. gondii genotype-specific peptide types for 30 patients with severe Toxoplasma ocular disease and 30 patients with mild or no eye involvement. Minimum vendor qualifications are (a) the vendor must perform reference laboratory determination of HLA types and KIR gene frequencies on patients with serological evidence of T. gondii infection, (b) the vendor must interpret data from an ELISA assay for genotype-specific anti-t. gondii antibodies to determine the genotype with which individuals are infected, (c) the vendor must determine the presence or absence of ocular involvement in patients with T. gondii infection and determine the severity of ocular disease if present; the vendor will insure that the same information is collected from other participating sites and obtain that information for analysis, and (d) the vendor must be able to enter into a computer and analyze all study result data and provide a written report summarizing the results. Vendor must also be able to obtain IRB approval for study at two (2) US sites, set up laboratory assays, complete data collection forms, establish procedures for transportation of specimens between study sites and laboratories, and establish computerized database for eventual data analysis. CDC believes that this requirement is met by only one provider. This procurement will be processed under the authority of FAR 6.302-1 and 6.302-2. Only one responsible source and no other sources will satisfy agency requirements. No solicitation is being issued. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement. This procurement is not set-aside for small business. For contractual questions contact Linda M. Young.