Biomedical Assay Laboratory for the Division of Intramural Population Health Research

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WILL BE ISSUED VIA FEDBIZOPPS ON OR AFTER March 19, 2018. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) conducts research on a variety of topics pertaining to human reproduction and development, child and adolescent health and behavior, and care of pregnant women, among other topics. Both observational and interventional research studies are designed and implemented by DIPHR scientists, and most research includes collection of a diverse array of data and bio specimens. This effort is for laboratory analysis services to measure the concentrations of a vast number of biomarkers from an array of bio specimens. All bio specimens are collected using approved protocols and are de-identified prior to banking in NICHD-supported repositories. The contractor shall receive no identifying or personal health information about the study subjects. A wide range of specimen types are collected including whole blood, cord blood, buffy coats, plasma, serum, urine, saliva, tissues (e.g. placenta, omental fat), hair, nail clippings, follicular and seminal fluid, semen, and new born blood spots. DIPHR requires analysis of this diverse collection of specimen types for a multitude of factors, including concentrations of reproductive and other hormones; dietary biomarkers; cytokines; indicators of metabolic function including analysis of fatty acids, triglycerides, and glucose; immune function markers including expression analysis of cell-sorted T cell subpopulations; low levels of C-reactive protein; extraction of DNA for whole exome, whole genome and methylation analysis; RNA isolation and expression analysis; identification of naturally occurring phytoestrogens and metabolites; the flexibility to measure different analytes using multiplex and ELISA techniques; and proteome analysis. In addition to the above, specific activities required would include, but not be limited to: isolation of RNA from 1,400 Pagane tubes and to use of the resulting RNA in expression analysis to characterize the products of genes related to asthma, allergy, and inflammation, with particular attention to the expression of Foxp3; LC/MS measurement of caffeine, theobromine, and paraxanthine from 1,000 serum specimens; and feasibility testing of the development of a high-throughput technique to assess DNA denaturation and fragmentation in sperm. It is anticipated that a cost-reimbursement Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract will be awarded, for a period of performance of 10 years, beginning approximately September 17, 2018. The RFP is anticipated to be posted on or about March 19, 2018 on Fedbizopps (FBO) website: http://www.fedbizopps.gov. The due date for submission of proposals in response to the RFP is anticipated to be on or about June 4, 2018. Information in the anticipated RFP supersedes any information in this pre-solicitation announcement. This acquisition has been designated as full and open competition under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715. Any questions concerning this announcement must be submitted by email to the following two Contracting Officers: Megan Gnall, megan.gnall@nih.gov, Lola St. John, kelluml@mail.nih.gov This is not an RFP and this announcement does not commit the Government to award a contract. The reference number to be used for this announcement is: RFP NIH-NICHD-DIPHR-2018-5. All correspondence must cite the reference number as provided.