Bioinformatics Capacity for HIV Analyses

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to award a fixed-price contract on a sole source basis to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), for building a bioinformatics interface for use by state and local health departments that: 1) meets security and confidentiality standards for HIV surveillance; 2) is user friendly, interactive and can be easily adapted and incorporated into routine surveillance processes; and 3) serves as a mechanism through which state and local health departments can input existing HIV surveillance data, conduct timely HIV transmission network analyses, and produce useful, understandable graphics to inform public health action in real-time. Using methodology and software developed by UCSD, the HIV Incidence and Case Surveillance Branch (HICSB) is able to rapidly and securely analyze more than 100,000 HIV sequences and construct HIV transmission neteworks at the national level. Findings of these network analyses have been presented at national and international conferences and have aided in the understanding of HIV transmission among populations. State and local health departments maintain the regulatory authority to receive HIV laboratory data and other confidential information on persons diagnosed with HIV infection. As such, health departments are uniquely positioned to promptly identify networks of ongoing transmission and rapidly implement appropriate interventions. Unfortunately, the specialized expertise and methodology needed to conduct transmission network analyses is not currently available within state and local HIV surveillance programs. The need for state and local health departments to incorporate HIV transmission network analyses into their portfolios is immediate. Doing so will facilitate prompt identification of networks of ongoing transmission and implementation of appropriate interventions in a timely manner. Modification of existing UCSD methodology will expedite HICSB's ability to provide this capability to local partners because the methodology and software suite already developed by UCSD can be adapted and enhanced to fulfill the project needs. Additionally, UCSD has had experience adapting another tool to meet the stringent security and confidentiality standards required for HIV surveillance. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) for this requirement is 611310. This contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source under the authority of FAR Part 6.302-1 and 10 U.S.C. 2304(c)(1). Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit proposals. This Notice of Intent is not a request for competitive quotations; however, all quotations/responses received within fifteen (15) days of the issuance of this notice will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. Any quotation/response should be emailed to the Contract Specialist, Pat Billins, at contact@example.gov by 2:00pm Eastern Time, Thursday, 13 August 2015.