This presolicitation notice is amended to clarify that the Government anticipates that one cost-reimbursement contract award with options will be made for a period of six years beginning on or about June 01, 2013. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to establish an Echocardiography (ECHO) Reading Center as part of the Hispanic Community Health Study-Study of Latinos study renewal. The HCHS-SOL involves a clinical examination (Visit 2) of the cohort that includes repeat and new measures to be performed in June 01, 2013 thru May 31, 2019; as well as continued follow-up contact and clinical events surveillance of the cohort through May 31, 2019. The Echo Reading Center's effort is expected to begin on June 01, 2013 thru May 31, 2019. The HCHS-SOL began in 2006 in four U.S. communities (San Diego, CA; Chicago, IL; Bronx, NY; and Miami, FL). Approximately 16,000 Hispanic/Latino men and women between 18 and 74 years of age were recruited between 2008 and 2011 across communities. A baseline examination (Visit 1) was performed during that period of time. The objectives of the renewal of the HCHS-SOL program are to 1) further investigate the apparent paradox of high socioeconomic adversity, substantial cardiovascular and pulmonary disease (CVPD) risk factor burden, and low CVPD prevalence and mortality in Hispanics; 2) identify putative causes for diseases and conditions highly prevalent in Hispanics (e.g. diabetes, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), left ventricular hypertrophy, and gestational diabetes mellitus); 3) describe the transformation of health-related risk and protective factors related to migration, acculturation, and length of time living in the U.S.; 4) assess the impact of socioeconomic factors, cultural values, risk behaviors, and medical care access on health in Hispanics; and 5) investigate genetic effects, gene-gene interactions, and gene-environment interactions in relation to measured phenotypes in this uniquely admixed population. These objectives will be accomplished through annual follow-up and a second examination (Visit 2) of the existing cohort. The HCHS-SOL Echo Reading Center contractor shall be responsible for tasks, including but not limited to the following: 1. Propose and determine structural and functional parameters for the echocardiography measurements for Visit 2; 2. Develop the Visit 2 protocol for performing the echocardiography examination; 3. Train and certify Field Centers echocardiography technicians, and train and certify echocardiography readers at the Echocardiography Reading Center; 4. Perform readings and information abstractions of echocardiography measurements obtained during Visit 2; 5. Track the receipt, reading and storage of the echocardiography images received from the Field Centers in an electronic database; at the end of the contract period plan for the long-term storage of the archived echocardiography images; and 6. Participate in the analysis and interpretation and publications of the echocardiography data, and 7. Based on the Visit 2 protocol, develop the criteria for urgent findings and alerts, and report them accordingly to the Field Centers and the Coordinating Center. This announcement is not a Request for Proposal (RFP), although one (1) award is anticipated, the Government is not committed to award a contract pursuant to this announcement. The RFP, NHLBI-HV-13-07, detailing the specifics of the project as well as information pertinent to the development of an offeror's proposal will be available electronically on or about March 09, 2012 and may be access through the Internet at the following URL location: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/funding/inits/index.htm#NHLBI-HV-13-07 and will be posted to Federal Business Opportunities website at: http://www.fedbizopps.gov under the NHLBI posting section. No paper copies will be available. Proposals will be due on or about May 28, 2012. It is anticipated that one cost-reimbursement contract award will be made for a period of six years beginning on or about June 01, 2013. Offerors are responsible for downloading their own copy of the solicitation and amendments and for routinely checking the Internet site for any possible solicitation amendments that may be issued by the Government. The advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract. Original Point of Contact: National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, Rockledge II - Room 6100, 6701 Rockledge Drive - MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902 (use 20817 for express mail) Primary Contact Michael White, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-435-0335, Fax 301-480-3432, E-mail michael.white2@nih.gov Secondary Contact Tara Knox, Contracting Officer, Phone 301- 402-0834, Fax 301-480-3432, E-mail knoxt@mail.nih.gov
