SPECIAL NOTICE: DEVELOPMENT OF TREATMENT STATEGIES FOR SEVERE ACUTE 
RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (SARS)   266-01-SARSTreatment

RELEASE DATE:  April 25, 2003

NOTICE: NOT-AI-03-026

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
 (http://www.niaid.nih.gov)

RECEIPT DATE: May 16, 2003

DESCRIPTION

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National 
Institutes of Health (NIH), DHHS is seeking capability statements from 
organizations with the expertise to develop therapies to be used in the 
treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).  The purpose this 
effort is to identify commercial entities capable of entering into the 
discovery, development and production of chemical entities with antiviral 
effect against the newly recognized coronavirus that causes Severe Acute 
Respiratory Syndrome or SARS.  The respondent should consider the following 
elements:

1.  The U. S. government is mindful of the epidemiologic exigencies created 
by the emergence of this new virus and wishes to accelerate the development 
of appropriate interventions where possible.
2.  The research and development needed to obtain an antiviral therapy that 
will satisfy regulatory requirements of the FDA.
3.  The possible need to provide substantial supplies of this material.
4.  The ability to conduct preclinical and clinical testing of the product.  
5.  Documented history of successful development of an antiviral drugs for 
use in other indications in the United States is essential.
6.  The U.S. government may also provide access to samples of the SARS virus.  
The research and development will require BSL-3 level facilities if work is 
proposed with the SARS virus in the laboratory.

NIAID is interested in receiving letters of interest and capability 
statements from interested organizations.  Interested organizations should 
submit their capability statements that contain descriptions of their 
potential development plans, and their research and development capabilities 
and interests.  Any perceived barriers to the conduct of this research should 
also be indicated.  The capability statements, along with any supporting 
documentations should not exceed 15 pages.  It is also requested that 
interested organizations indicate their overall cost estimate for their 
proposed effort.  The NIAID is not requesting a detailed cost proposal but 
rather an overall estimate of the effort per major line item.  Capability 
statements and letters of interest will be kept confidential and will help in 
determining the need for an RFP to support research and development 
activities and in assembling a potential source list for distribution of any 
resultant RFP.  This is not a Request for Proposals and does not commit the 
Government to award a contract now or in the future.  No solicitation is 
available at this time.  Submission of any information based on this request 
for information is purely voluntary.  Please specify, if applicable, the 
small business size status of your company (See Federal Acquisition 
Regulations, Part 19).  No collect calls will be accepted.  Submit your 
responses to Sharon Kraft, Contracting Officer, at the address listed in this 
special notice.

266-01-SARSTreatment will be available electronically on or about April 22, 
2003 and may be accessed through the Internet on the Contract Management 
Branch Homepage, located at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/contract and will be 
posted on FedBizOpps at  http://www.eps.gov/servlet/Documents/R/634421. 
Responses to this Special Notice will be due on Friday, May 16, 2003.  

Contracting Office Address:

National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
Contract Management Branch 
6700-B Rockledge Drive
Room 2230, MSC 7612 
Bethesda, MD, 20892-7612

Point of Contact:

Sharon Kraft, Contract Specialist, Phone 301-402-5825, Fax 301-402-0972, 
Email [email protected]

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