Clinical Support Services for the Clinical and Research Efforts of the NINDS Stroke Branch, Section on Stroke Diagnostics and Therapeutics, NINDS, NIH

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is continuing its active and ongoing clinical research investigations of stroke and traumatic brain injury conducted by the NINDS Stroke Branch, Section of on Stroke Diagnostics and Therapeutics, NIH, (hereinafter identified as NINDS SDTS) that have been provided under a series of contracts since 1999. The NIH/NINDS Stroke Diagnostics and Therapeutics Section (SDTS) was formed in 1999 with the mission of performing innovative translational research in acute stroke. In 2008, the SDTS expanded to include the study of TBI. The SDTS has been primarily focusing on studying acute stroke and TBI with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The goal of the SDTS is to make scientific advances toward new stroke therapies through the development, validation, and testing of imaging markers for use in clinical trials and practice and to improve the understanding, pathophysiology, and diagnosis of TBI. This project is a continuation of a long-term collaborative effort the NINDS SDTS has had with local hospitals (10+ years) to provide clinical support services to conduct clinical research into acute cerebrovascular diseases and traumatic brain injury. Due to the requirement to see patients during the acute phase of their stroke or brain injury the research program cannot be conducted at the NIH Clinical Center (CC). Thus this internal research effort has been supported and conducted at off-site acute care hospitals. Prospective Offerors are apprised that there are two mandatory qualification criteria. The mandatory qualification criteria establishes conditions that must be met at the time of receipt of the Offeror's proposal in response to the solicitation in order for your proposal to be considered any further for award. 1) Offeror must be located within 15 miles of the NIH Campus (9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20892). Since the goal of this program is to evaluate acutely ill patients, the proximity of the hospital to NIH is critical to permit clinical and scientific staff the ability to travel quickly from NIH to Contractor's site to manage the care these patients. 2) The Offeror shall have achieved Primary Stroke Center Certification or Comprehensive Stroke Center Certification by The Joint Commission and, for hospitals in Maryland, the additional certification as Primary Stroke Center by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medicine Services Systems (MIEMSS) Stroke Designation It is anticipated that two awards will be made for a period of five years in August of 2014. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP). THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION ANNOUNCEMENT ONLY. A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WILL BE ISSUED ON OR ABOUT APRIL 9, 2014. The RFP will be made available electronically only via the FedBizOpps website (http://www.fbo.gov). Offerors are responsible for routinely checking the FedBizOpps website for any possible solicitation amendments that may be issued. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which shlal be considered by the agency.