ESTABLISHMENT OF A RESEARCH RESOURCE FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF
GENETIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE DEVELOPMENT
OF ANENCEPHALY
RELEASE DATE: December 6, 2002
NOTICE: NOT-ES-03-005
RFP-NIH-ES-03-04
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS), National Institutes of Health, intends to solicit
proposals for the purpose of establishing a research resource
to identify factors that independently or through
interaction(s) with genetic factors, foster the development of
anencephaly. Anencephaly, is a neurulation cranial defect in
which the skull bones, forebrain, and cerebrum are partially
or totally absent. Part 1 of the project, the design and
planning phase, will take approximately one year to complete.
Part 2 of the project, the recruitment phase, will take
approximately four years to complete. The major tasks in this
study are to: (1) recruit up to 500 family triads at a rate of
125 family triads per year (father, mother, baby) in which the
mother is carrying or has had an anencephalic baby (only fetal
cadaveric tissue obtained following an elective abortion, from
a stillborn baby or after the baby dies if liveborn, will be
used in this study); (2) collect fresh tissue from the
anencephalic fetuses and use this to isolate DNA and, if
possible, to establish cell lines; (3) collect blood from the
parents, and if available also from the siblings, and isolate
DNA, plasma and serum from the blood; (4) measure RBC folate
levels in the mother's blood; (5) create and administer a
comprehensive questionnaire to collect epidemiological data
from the parents; (6) enter sample tracking and other data
into a central database using the internet, and (7) after
isolating DNA and establishing cell lines from the triads'
blood and tissues, the contractor(s) will aliquot and freeze
all DNA, plasma and serum aliquots, and cell lines, and ship
these to the niehs or a designated archive. These samples will
at a later date be assayed for genetic polymorphisms and
levels of potential toxicants associated with increased risks
for anencephaly. (The fetal tissue collected under this
contract will not be used for the derivation of human
embryonic stem cells or transplantation studies, and
therefore, does not fall under the National Institutes of
Health guidelines for research using human pluripotent stem
cells (DHHS Code of Federal Regulations, 65 CFR 69951,
effective August 25, 2000). The estimated period of
performance is five years. The government estimates that
approximately 29,640 direct labor hours may be required to
complete this project. This acquisition is 100% set aside for
small business concerns, for which the size standard is 500
employees. The NAICS code is 541710. The anticipated release
date of the RFP is January 8, 2003 with proposals due by
February 26, 2003. Interested organizations should request
either a streamlined or full RFP package. If no selection is
made a streamlined version of the RFP will be provided, which
will include only the statement of work, deliverables and
reporting requirements, special requirements, mandatory
qualification, and technical evaluation criteria. Requests may
be telefaxed, or e-mailed to the points of contact listed
below. Electronic copies of the CBD synopsis and RFP will be
made available on the internet at
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/dert/rcb/rfp.htm on or about January
8, 2003. Government-wide numbered notes 1, 22, 26.
Original Point of Contact
Velvet Torain, Contract Specialist, Phone 919-541-0400, Fax
919-541-2712, Email torain@niehs.nih.gov
Juanita Clement, Contract Specialist, Phone 919-541-7893, Fax
919-541-2712, Email clement1@niehs.nih.gov
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