SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF THE PERINATOLOGY RESEARCH BRANCH, DIVISION OF INTRAMURAL RESEARCH, NICHD Release Date: February 10, 2000 NOTICE: HD-00-002 SOURCES SOUGHT: NICHD-SS-00-01 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) seeks interested and qualified potential sources to support the Perinatology Research Branch (PRB), Division of Intramural Research. Support services would include providing access to a large, stable patient population of pregnant women with a high rate of adverse outcome, who seek prenatal, intrapartum, and post-partum care at a single site located at a University-based medical center within the US. The site must have established residency programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics, and Pathology, and accredited fellowship programs in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, and Human Genetics. The NICHD seeks dedicated space for operation of the PRB, staffing of non-professional and certain professional support positions, communications and computer support, and support for the operation of several laboratories. Background The mission of the PRB is to conduct clinical and laboratory research in maternal, fetal, and neonatal diseases responsible for perinatal morbidity and mortality, and to train health care professionals in perinatal medicine and related disciplines. The Branch emphasizes a multi-disciplinary approach and utilizes expertise from clinical disciplines (obstetrics, neonatology, perinatal pathology), basic sciences (molecular and developmental biology, biochemistry, physiology, etc.), and clinical epidemiology to improve the etiologic understanding, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disorders related to maternal and infant mortality. The PRB currently has, or is developing, research protocols addressing the following areas: 1) application of functional genomics to the study of genes and up or down regulation in preterm and term parturition, 2) application of molecular biology techniques (i.e., DNA analysis) to determine genetic predisposition to complex and common obstetrical problems such as preterm labor, premature rupture of membranes, pre-eclampsia, and intrauterine growth retardation, 3) studies of the role of in vivo maternal and fetal inflammation as mechanisms of disease in the great obstetrical syndromes, 4) imaging of the human fetus and uterus with bi-dimensional and tri-dimensional ultrasound to assess fetal anatomy, growth and function, as well as non-invasive studies of fetal cardiovascular hemodynamics, 5) studies of the role of infection in preterm labor and development of long-term sequelae in the offspring, such as cerebral palsy and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 6) studies of conditions associated with maternal death such as amniotic fluid embolism, postpartum hemorrhage, and sepsis, 7) the use of molecular pathology to understand normal and abnormal placentation and its relationship to adverse pregnancy outcome, and 8) randomized clinical trials of interventions to prevent premature birth. The Branch and the NICHD have, and will retain, complete authority and jurisdiction for the development, direction, and execution of the PRB scientific agenda, research priorities, and training mission. Expectations of Potential Contractor A service contract is anticipated to support the operations of the PRB, which shall be relocated to dedicated facilities owned or leased by the contractor for the specific purpose of this contract. The successful contractor shall meet the following requirements or possess the following resources at the time of proposal submission: 1. An obstetrical service with at least 4,500 deliveries per year at a single site, 2. Patients with a high rate of the following adverse pregnancy outcomes: preterm delivery less than 32 weeks, intrauterine growth retardation, pre- eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, congenital anomalies, maternal sepsis, and postpartum hemorrhage, 3. Level III newborn intensive care unit capable of providing Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) support, 4. A prenatal clinic in which patients seek prenatal care in early gestation so that longitudinal studies can be conducted, 5. Expertise to provide support services to the Branch in the following areas: functional genomics and bioinformatics, perinatal epidemiology, infectious diseases in obstetrics, molecular pathology, and flow cytometry, 6. Accredited sub-specialty Board fellowships in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Neonatology, and Human Genetics, and willingness and capability to expand these fellowships as required by the Perinatology Research Branch, 7. On-site pediatric sub-specialties including pediatric neurology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric surgery and neurosurgery, 8. Capability to provide a minimum of 25,000 square feet of space over a five-year period of contract performance. The space must be located in accordance with the Government"s needs. Upon award, 2,000 square feet of space will be required, an additional 12,000 square feet of space, with renovations, must be available within six months of the contract award. Space must be available in close proximity to the patient source in order to initiate contract performance, 9. Demonstrated ability to support strong clinical and basic science research efforts. The contractor must be able to provide support for research programs encompassing randomized clinical trials of labor management, prenatal diagnosis, perinatal cardiology, fetal endoscopic diagnosis and surgery, and human developmental and molecular embryology, 10. An AAALAC accredited animal care facility. Scope of Services Required Under Contract The contractor must be able to provide a wide range of support services including secretarial, clerical, technical, nursing, sonographic and data management services, which shall be required for the execution of the research mission of the PRB. The contractor also shall provide the services of medical technologists, developmental psychologists, programmers, obstetricians, neonatologists and other health care personnel as required by the Government to service the PRB mission and/or augment specific protocols undertaken by the PRB. The contractor shall be required to provide and renovate space necessary for use of NICHD, PRB personnel (scientists and supporting personnel) and contractor personnel. All space shall be renovated by the contractor to NICHD and PRB specifications and shall be considered as Government-leased space for the sole purpose of performance of this contract. Renovated space shall include office and administrative space, a Prenatal Diagnostic Center and laboratory space, and a separate Intrapartum Unit in close proximity to the contractor"s labor and delivery floor. Space-related services to be required shall include housekeeping, telecommunications, computer support, security, parking, utilities, and maintenance. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine the availability of organizations capable of providing the services stated herein. Interested organizations should submit a letter of interest and complete a brief Capability Profile that summarizes key capabilities. The Capability Profile may be obtained electronically at http://www.nichd.nih.gov/stand/sources/prb or by phone or FAX request. Your response, composed of a brief cover letter and completed Capability Profile, should be submitted, via E-mail, FAX, or mail, within 30 days of the date of this publication, to: Mr. Charles W. Grewe Contracting Officer Contracts Management Branch, OAM, NICHD 6100 Executive Boulevard, Suite 7A07, MSC 7510 Bethesda, MD 20892-7510 Telephone: 301-496-4611 FAX: 301-402-3676 E-mail: nichdcmb@mail.nih.gov


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