Solicitation Number:

NHLBI-HL-08-20

Notice Type:

Solicitation

Synopsis:

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is about to solicit proposals from all interested organizations for a study entitled: CHEARS (Children Ebstein's Anomaly Research Study). Specifically, a contractor will be selected to assist in the recruitment of approximately 900 families over a three year period from communities in Ukraine. Children with Ebstein's anomaly/tricuspid valve disease (referred to as case) will be recruited to the study, as will their parents. Controls will be recruited from the same neighborhoods as the cases (children with Ebstein's anomaly) and will also include the parents. Controls will be matched by age, sex and region of origin to cases in a ratio of two (2) controls for each case. If neither parent is available, at least one other blood relative will be recruited in place of the parents. The more general diagnosis of tricuspid valve disease is to be included in the selection of participants, since often those with mild forms of Ebstein's are not appropriately diagnosed. The subjects will be interviewed by a physician, and medically evaluated by Doppler echocardiography. Blood, cheek and saliva tissue samples will be collected to obtain DNA for a genome wide association analysis. Usually each family will only need to be seen once. A goal of CHEARS, although not a requirement to be performed or funded as part of this acquisition, is the identification of the genetic basis for Ebstein's anomaly, a birth defect involving malformation of the tricuspid valve of the heart. Such findings may yield insight into disease mechanisms that may provide novel diagnostic tools as well as therapeutic strategies for medical remediation of this often life threatening and debilitating congenital heart disease. (The analyses associated with the collection of samples will take place at the NHLBI.)
The Government anticipates that one contract will be awarded for a three-year duration. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541712. The Request for Proposals, numbered RFP-NHLBI-HL-08-20, will be available on or about April 8, 2008 on the FedBizOpps Web site at http://www.fedbizopps.gov. See the Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Rockledge Drive Bethesda postings. Proposals will be due on or about May 22, 2008. Prospective offerors are responsible for downloading the RFP and all attachments. Offerors are responsible for monitoring the FedBizOpps Web site for the release of the solicitation and any amendments.

Contracting Office Address:

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Rockledge Dr. Bethesda, MD, Office of Acquisitions 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7902, UNITED STATES

Place of Performance:

Ukraine

Primary Point of Contact.:

Secondary Point of Contact:

Point of Contact(s):

Kristiane Cooper, Contracting Officer, Phone 301-435-6671, Fax 301-480-3430, Email kh22k@nih.gov - Nora Rivera, Contract Specialist, Phone (301) 435-0712, Fax (301) 480-3430, Email nr85c@nih.gov