Using Rodent Behavorial Models to Identify Substance Abuse Pharmacotherapies

NIDA intends to solicit proposals for preclinical evaluation of test compounds as potential pharmacotherapies for substance abuse. To this end, the offeror and technical personnel need to have the capability and experience to conduct experiments evaluating compounds in the mouse locomotor activity, rat drug discrimination, rat conditioned place preference, mouse stressed-inducted potentiation of conditioned place preference, and rat self-administration paradigms. The offeror and technical staff also need to have experience conducting these types of experiments using cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotene, THC, and hallucinogens. Evidence of experience must be documented through publications using the relevant behavioral models listed above. In addition, the offeror needs to have the dedicated laboratory space, animal care facilities, and equipment required to conduct these behavorial assays. Proprietary compounds will be evaluated using established protocols, and the resulting data will be utilized by the Addiction Treatment Discovery Program (ATDP) of the NIDA Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences (DTMC). Mandatory Criteria; 1. DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) RESEARCH REGISTRATION; This project involves the use of scheduled drugs under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Due to the nature of the compounds which will be evaluated under this contract, it is mandatory that offerors possess at the time of award a DEA Research Registration for Schedules II to V in order to handle substances under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. In addition, the offerors must either possess or demonstrate the ability to obtain a DEA registration for Schedule I controlled substances. 2. ANIMAL WELFARE: This research involves the use of animals. The offeror must demonstrate its understanding and compliance with the NIH Guide for Care and Use of Laboratory Animals. The offeror shall submit evidence that its proposal was reviewed and approved by the institution's Animal Care and Use Committee and that the institution has an Animal Welfare Assurance on file with the Office of Extramural Research (OER), Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW). This policy is also available on the internet at http://www.grants.nih.gov/grants/ola/olaw.htm. NIDA anticipates the award of a single fixed-price level of effort contract with a base period of six months and four one-year option periods. The use of option quantities may also be included. RFP No. N01DA-18-8936 will be available electronically on or about February 20, 2018. You can access the RFP through the FedBizOpps (URL:http://www.fedbizopps.gov or through the NIDA website at the following address: (URL:http://www.drugabuse.gov/funding/funding-opportunities/nida-requests-contract-proposals-rfps). All information required for the submission of an offer will be contained in or accessible through the RFP package. Responses to the RFP will be due on or about March 22, 2018. NIDA will consider proposals submitted by any responsible offeror. Based upon market research, the Government is not using the policies contained in Part 12, Acquisition of Commercial Items, in its solicitation for the described supplies or services. However, interested persons may identify to the contracting officer their interest and capability to satisfy the Government's requirement with a commercial item within 15 days of this notice. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract.