BIOMARKERS FOR RHEUMATIC AND SKIN DISEASES

Release Date:  January 29, 2001

NOTICE:  NOT-AR-01-004

RFP AVAILABLE:  NIH-NIAMS-BAA-01-05

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases is 
seeking proposals from prospective offerors to identify, characterize, and 
evaluate biochemical/biological markers to assess rheumatic and skin disease 
risk, onset, progression and response to treatment.  For the purpose of this 
solicitation, biomarkers are defined as cellular, biochemical, molecular, or 
genetic alterations by which a normal, abnormal, or simply biologic process 
can be recognized, or monitored.  Biomarkers are measurable in biological 
media, such as in tissues, cells, or fluids.  The following describe the 
technical objectives of this initiative: (1) To conduct translational research 
in the biology and pathogenesis of rheumatic and skin diseases that directly 
leads to development, characterization and testing of biomarkers for early 
disease diagnosis, assessment of disease risk, evaluation of disease course 
and treatment responses, (2) To conduct early phase evaluation of promising, 
analytically proven biomarkers or technologies, (3) To develop new biomarkers 
and biomarkers expression patterns, (4) To develop high throughput, sensitive 
assay methods for biomarkers for early diagnosis, risk assessment and  
treatment response, and (5) To conduct early phase clinical/epidemiological 
studies, e.g., cross-sectional, retrospective, to evaluate predictive value of 
biomarkers. 

It is anticipated that two to three cost reimbursement contract awards will be 
made for a period of three to five years beginning on or about September 30, 
2001.  The solicitation NIH-NIAMS-BAA-01-05 will be available electronically 
on or about fifteen days from the date of this notice and may be accessed 
through the Internet at the following address:  
http://www.nih.gov/niams/grants/rfp/rfplist.htm.  Proposals will be due on or 
about April 4, 2001.  Offerors are responsible for downloading their own copy 
of the solicitation and amendments and for routinely checking the Internet 
site for any possible solicitation amendments that may be issued by the 
Government.  All responsible sources may submit proposals which will be 
considered by the Government.  The North American Industrial Classification 
System (NAICS) code for this acquisition is 541710.  This advertisement does 
not commit the Government to award a contract.

Inquiries may be directed to:

Elizabeth Shanahan
Contracting Officer
Contracts Management Branch, EP
National Institute of Arthritis and 
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Natcher Building, Room 5AS13A
45 Center Drive, MSC 6500
Bethesda, Maryland  20892-6500
Telephone: 301-594-2543
FAX: 301-480-5996
Email address: shanahae@mail.nih.gov

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