Request for Proposals (RFP) Notice: Preclinical Medications Discovery and Abuse Liability Testing for NIDA

Notice Number: NOT-DA-16-039

Key Dates
Release Date: August 17, 2016

Related Announcements
None

Issued by
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

Purpose

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) intends to solicit proposals from offerors having the capability to perform the following: organizations must have in-house capability to perform in vivo rodent and primate pharmacology studies on potential pharmacotherapies for substance use disorders and on new drugs of abuse. This contract will be utilized by the Addiction Treatment Discovery Program (ATDP) within NIDA's Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences. Data gathered on potential pharmacotherapies will be used by the ATDP and NIDA's Medications Development Program. The data generated with new drugs of abuse will be provided to the DEA and FDA by NIDA. Testing shall include but shall not be limited to: evaluation of compounds in operant models of behavior, including responding for food reinforcement and intracranial self-stimulation, and evaluation of compounds against withdrawal from abused substances such as nicotine. Testing will also possibly include the evaluation of compounds in other animal models relevant to drug abuse and addiction, the assessment of the in vivo receptor activity of novel compounds, and the evaluation of compounds for their ability to produce, block or prevent physical dependence in rodents and/or primates. Contractors will be blinded to the identity of proprietary test compounds, and all compounds will be evaluated using protocols and experimental parameters as specified by the NIDA Contracting Officer's Representative. Standardized, detailed reports with graphs will be prepared and submitted promptly to the NIDA Contracting Officer's Representative for each compound tested. The number of compound evaluations will vary significantly from year to year. However, it is expected that 10-20 compounds per year will be evaluated in operant behavioral models in rodents and 4-6 per year compounds will be evaluated for their effects on withdrawal in rodents. It is anticipated that 2-3 compounds per year will be evaluated in other relevant animal models (e.g. assessment of in vivo receptor activity and of effects on physical dependence in rodents or primates).

Mandatory criteria:

Listed below are mandatory qualification criteria. The qualification criteria establish conditions that must be met:

1. DEA research registration: This project involves the use of scheduled drugs under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. Due to the nature of compounds which will be evaluated, the Offeror shall indicate possession of a current DEA registration for Schedule II-V substances prior to award, and must obtain DEA registration for Schedule I controlled substances after contract award.

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 and that the institution has Animal Welfare Assurances in accordance with the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals prior to award.

NIDA anticipates the award of one cost-reimbursement, level of effort-type contract for a base period of one year with four one-year options to extend performance. Furthermore there will be additional option quantities for each period for additional labor hours and costs (supplies, animal purchases, animal per diem, equipment, etc.) related to completing the statement of work.

RFP No. N01DA-17-8932 will be available electronically on or about August 30, 2016. You will be able to access the RFP through FedBizOpps (URL: http://www.fedbizopps.gov or through the NIDA website at the following 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 45 days after release of the RFP. 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.

Inquiries

Please direct all inquiries to:

Mark McNally
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Phone: 301.443.6677
Email: mcnallyme@mail.nih.gov