Microvascular Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)

NOTICE OF INTENT TO ISSUE A CONTRACT. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to contract to The Research Foundation of SUNY (State University of New York) at Buffalo, 402 Crofts Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260-0001. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has a requirement for a study on Microvascular Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Draft - Brief of the Statement of Work (SOW). Background and Need The contractor will provide the management, coordination, and implementation for a research project that supports the mission of NIOSH by advancing occupational health using existing data and collecting additional data from police officers. Police officers have higher rates of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality than the general US population. This disparity may be related to the higher levels of stress exposures inherent in police work. Research has been conducted on associations between occupational stressors and cardiovascular disease involving the larger blood vessels (macrovascular), but investigations at the arteriolar (microvascular) level (e.g., renal and retinal arterioles) have been far more limited. It is possible that exposure to occupational stressors may initially lead to adverse microvascular changes prior to any detectable adverse macrovascular abnormalities. It is also possible that different biological mechanisms may be involved in adverse microvascular as opposed to macrovascular outcomes associated with occupational stress exposures. However, to the best of our knowledge, no published studies examining the associations between occupational stressors and microvascular subclinical CVD exist. Reliable standardized measures are now available for assessing damage to these microvessels. Cystatin C, a cysteine protease inhibitor, is an excellent marker of early renal microvascular damage. It has been shown to be positively associated with arterial elasticity, myocardial infarction, angina, and stroke. Retinal microvascular changes have been shown to be associated with chronic hypertension and clinical cardiovascular disease outcomes. Retinal arteriolar narrowing is also known to be associated with subclinical markers of cardiovascular disease such as increased carotid artery intima-media thickness. This study will be the first to investigate the associations between occupational stressors and microvascular pathology of the retina and kidneys. The information obtained from this study could lead to new knowledge about whether occupational stressors are associated with microvascular cardiovascular disease. The focus on microvascular measures of subclinical cardiovascular disease represents an innovative aspect of this study that has the potential to make unique contributions to the field. Given the high prevalence of clinical cardiovascular disease among police officers (31.5% in one study), any decrease in occupational cardiovascular disease risk factors could have a substantial public health impact. This study will contribute to workers' health by demonstrating the utility of microvascular subclinical cardiovascular disease as a potential screening tool in identifying possible consequences of occupational stress. Study results may lead to development and implementation of effective policies to reduce work stressors and ultimately improve health. Project Objectives The objectives of the project are to manage, coordinate, and integrate these new measurements into an existing follow-up examination where possible, to select and train personnel to perform retinal photography and phlebotomy, and to prepare and ship the retinal photographs and blood specimens to their respective Reading Center and laboratory. Performance of these objectives will allow investigators to research the following hypotheses: (1) Are occupational stressors associated with microvascular subclinical cardiovascular disease in: - Renal vessels (assessed by Cystatin C, a biomarker of early renal damage)? - Retinal vessels (assessed by retinal photography to determine arteriolar narrowing)? (2) Do markers of inflammation (e.g., C-reactive protein), insulin resistance (assessed by resistin), or vitamin D mediate or modify the association between occupational stressors and microvascular subclinical cardiovascular disease? Anticipated period of performance. Approximately four (4) years. Other important considerations. Utilization of police officers from Buffalo NY who have already participated in the BCOPS study to take part in these new examinations of retinal photography and blood analyses. Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are hereby afforded the opportunity to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written capabilities statement and pricing information in the format they choose, not to exceed 10 pages. Please forward product and pricing information to Diane Meeder, Contract Specialist, CDC, Procurement and Grants Branch-V, PO Box 18070, 626 Cochrans Mill Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15236-0070; email contact@example.gov. All vendors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registry (CCR) prior to an award of a federal contract. The website is: www.ccr.gov. This is not a Request for Proposals; however, the Government will review any/all product, capabilities, and pricing information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1, negotiations will be conducted with The Research Foundation of SUNY (State University of New York) at Buffalo, 402 Crofts Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260-0001 as the only source.