NOT-LM-01-001: VISIBLE HUMAN PROJECT ANATOMICAL ISSUES

Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS)
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VISIBLE HUMAN PROJECT ANATOMICAL ISSUES

Release Date:  March 22, 2001

NOTICE:  NOT-LM-01-001

National Library of Medicine

The National Library of Medicine (NLM), in partnership with the National 
Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), the National Eye Institute 
(NEI), the National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders 
(NIDCD), the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Mental 
Health (NIMH), the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke 
(NINDS), and the National Science Foundation (NSF) seeks to obtain competitive 
proposals for the award of one or more completion type, cost reimbursement 
contracts.  The goal of the project is to rectify anatomic methodology issues 
cited as negative outcomes from anatomic observations (lessons learned) of the 
Visible Human Project (VHP).  This project will involve the development of a 
Visible Human Project Sequential Standard Method to address and solve the 
anatomic methodology issues, and develop tissue enhancements or markers for 
neurovascular structure identification.  Offerors may submit a research & 
development contract proposal which includes:  (1) Human cadaveric fresh tissue 
enhanced MRI and CT with fiducial marking or other frames of reference, for the 
purpose of accurate precise tissue registration and alignment in the acquisition 
of multimodal imaging data,  (2) Establish a set of conditions required for the 
optimum Visible Human embalming fixation method,  (3) Detect vascular structures 
by luminal filling with a colored substance that possesses physical stability in 
cold extreme conditions of cryopreservation and cryosectioning of a Visible 
Human, (4) Determine a chemical marker with the histochemical specificity to 
detect peripheral nervous system structures (nerves) at cold temperature reaction 
conditions that differentiate the image of nerves from adjacent tissues, and (5) 
Develop a digital capture method that includes the testing of polarization of 
light, intrinsic fluorescence, and multispectral imaging data capture. The 
contract(s) will result in two types of deliverables:  (1) a published standard 
method for Visible Human tissue preparation and preservation, for the purpose of 
acquiring Visible Human data; and (2) morphological evidence and scientific data 
which document the research and development basis of the derived standardized 
method. Award(s) are anticipated on or about September 28, 2001.  The period of 
performance of the resultant contract(s) is to be 12 months.  BAA/RFP NLM 
01-106/DJH will be available on or about April 15, 2001.  BAA/RFP NLM 01-106/DJH 
will be available in electronic format only.  Paper copies will not be issued. 
 The BAA/RFP may be downloaded from the National Library of Medicine, Office of 
Acquisitions Management (OAM) home page on the World Wide Web.  OAM's URL is 
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/oam/oam.html.  All responsible sources may submit a 
proposal that will be considered by the National Library of Medicine.  Telephone 
and/or fax requests will not be honored.

INQUIRIES:


Daniel J. Hartinger
Contracting Officer
Office of Acquisitions Management
National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Building 38A/B1N17
Bethesda, Maryland 20894
Telephone: (301) 496-6546
Fax: (301) 402-0642
Email: [email protected]
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