SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Collection and Analysis of Scabies Specimens from Kongwa District, Tanzania
- Notice Date
- 11/13/2012
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Procurement and Grants Office (Atlanta), 2920 Brandywine Road, Room 3000, Atlanta, Georgia, 30341-4146
- ZIP Code
- 30341-4146
- Solicitation Number
- 2013-53910
- Archive Date
- 12/4/2012
- Point of Contact
- Tayaria L Smith, Phone: 7704882797
- E-Mail Address
-
gqq4@cdc.gov
(gqq4@cdc.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Notice of Intent 2013-53910 The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention intends to award a sole source, firm fixed price contract, in accordance with FAR Part 13, using simplified acquisition procedures, to the Kongwa Trachoma Project, Plot 1 Ujenzi Area, P.O. box 124 Dodoma, Tanzania. The Kongwa Trachoma Project will deliver the following performance work statement. Performance Work Statement Collection and Analysis of Scabies Specimens from Kongwa District, Tanzania A. Background and Need Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are a group of painful and debilitating parasitic and bacterial diseases that affect an estimated 1.4 billion of the world's poorest people, many of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. Many NTD programs are using mass drug administrations (MDA) to successfully reduce the prevalence and intensity of infection. The similarity of implementation strategies for NTDs addressed by MDA and the geographic overlap of many NTDs have led to the rapid adoption of integrated NTD programs both by countries and the donor communities. As integrated NTD programs scale-up, effective and practical tools to monitor and evaluate program impact on disease prevalence and morbidity are increasingly needed. The Parasitic Disease Branch (PBD), within the Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria (DPDM) at CDC's Center for Global Health, has as its mission the prevention and control of parasitic diseases in the United States and globally and is responsible for conducting monitoring and evaluation, surveillance and investigations. In this capacity, PBD/DPDM works closely with national NTD programs in endemic countries to refine, create and validate monitoring and evaluation tools that can be implemented as part of an integrated NTD surveillance strategy. Monitoring and evaluation tools include tests such as stool concentration and urine filtration exams to detect schistosome eggs, testing by immunocromatographic card test (ICT) for filarial antigen in the blood, clinical ocular examinations for trachoma, clinical skin examinations and serologic assays. The Parasitic Disease Branch has partnered with the Ministry of Health of Tanzania (MoH) and the Kongwa Trachoma Project (KTP) in an ongoing project to evaluate the performance of monitoring and evaluation tools for three NTDs: lymphatic filariasis, soil-transmitted helminths and trachoma, in eight endemic communities in Kongwa district, Tanzania, a USG focus country. Prior to MDA in these communities, urine samples, stool samples and dried blood spots are being collected from target age groups, and individuals are being clinically examined for signs of ocular trachoma and skin infections. This project will provide an opportunity to collect data on ancillary public health benefits derived from the ongoing MDA with ivermectin, used to treat lymphatic filariasis. Mass drug administrations for NTDs often have ancillary health benefits that could be measured as part of an integrated NTD M&E strategy, and the indirect effect of ivermectin on skin conditions such as scabies is one example of this. The scabbing associated with scabies harbors streptococcal superinfections that can lead to severe downstream effects such as rheumatic heart disease and kidney disease. Treatment with ivermectin may result in important clinical benefits, but empirical data on these public health benefits is lacking and needed to plan more effective interventions. B. Purpose The purpose of this non-severable contract is to allow CDC to assess the benefit of MDA with ivermectin on skin conditions such as scabies as part of an integrated NTD surveillance strategy. The vendor will collect swabs from visible scabies skin lesions and conduct laboratory analyses for bacterial superinfections on the swabs. The resulting data from these analyses will allow CDC to determine the impact of ivermectin treatment on scabies infections and to assess the value of including bacterial indicators within an integrated NTD M&E strategy that could be used in Tanzania and other NTD-endemic countries. C. Performance Work Statement : The scope of work for this contract is indicated below. Under this requisition, the vendor is to conduct the following: 1. Supplies purchases and training of personnel: the vendor will purchase all field and laboratory supplies necessary to carry out the field data collection and laboratory processing and analysis of the scabies swabs. The vendor will train field and laboratory personnel on field data collection procedures and laboratory processing and analysis techniques. Vendor will ensure all IRB approvals are in place. 2. Field data collection of scabies swabs: the vendor will employ trained health personnel to collect de-identified samples from scabies lesions and/or fingertips by using sterile swabs wetted with a skim milk-tryptone-glucose-glycerol broth (STGGB). Swabs will be stored in plastic bags in refrigeration until they can be transported to a laboratory for processing and analysis. 3. Laboratory processing and analysis of scabies swabs: the vendor will employ laboratory personnel trained in scabies swab processing and analysis methods to bacteriologically process and analyze the scabies swabs. Swabs will be cultured on 5% sheep blood agar and/or examined by PCR (Gen-Probe) for determination of streptococci and other bacterial infections. Samples will be processed and analyzed in Tanzania. De-identified data in an Excel spreadsheet will be provided to CDC for further analysis. 4. Reporting: the vendor will submit a final report on all field data collection and laboratory processing and analysis of scabies swabs. D. Period of Performance/Delivery Schedule: The period of performance shall be 7 months, from November 26, 2012, through June 30, 2013. Deliverables shall be as follows: Collection and Analysis of Scabies Specimens from Kongwa District, Tanzania Performance Requirement Summaries In general, the deliverables completed by the Contractor will be evaluated in terms of how well the requirements of the contract are satisfied. The COR or COTR will inspect 100% of deliverables to ensure there is a match between actual and expected performance. If there are discrepancies, the Contract Discrepancy Report (Enclosure 1 below) will be used to communicate these performance concerns to the Contractor, and follow through to ensure performance gaps are closed. The Contracting Officer will be kept abreast of the Inspection findings and means to resolve identified performance concerns. Note: Periodic performance feedback given to the Contractor by the COR or COTR conducting inspection may be of great benefit to the Contractor by providing timely and insightful feedback about any "mid-course corrections" the Contractor may need to make to achieve the contract requirements. In addition, the information obtained from such incremental surveillance activities will form the basis for the COR completing the Performance Criteria and Their Ratings form (Enclosure 2 below). The actual Inspection conducted by the COR or COTR includes using Performance Requirement Summary (PRS). See attachment 1: Attachment 1: Task/Deliverable Performance Standard/ Indicator Acceptable Quality Level(s) Surveillance Method Incentives Checklist of purchased supplies and completed training Timeliness On or before December 3, 2012 Letter (via email) from the vendor reflecting the successful completion of supply purchase and training Positive report regarding performance timeliness and completion of task. Quality A written, general statement from the vendor describing supplies purchased and training that has been completed. De-identified samples and data collected in an Excel spreadsheet and sent to CDC (field) Timeliness On or before December 15, 2012 Letter (via email) from the vendor reflecting the successful submission of data and specimens Positive report regarding performance timeliness and completion of task. Quality Data and samples determined by the CDC COTR / project officer to be complete and of acceptable quality De-identified samples and data collected in an Excel spreadsheet and sent to CDC (laboratory: first batch of samples) Timeliness On or before February 28, 2013 Letter (via email) from the vendor reflecting the successful submission of data and specimens Positive report regarding performance timeliness and completion of task. Quality Data and samples determined by the CDC COTR / project officer to be complete and of acceptable quality De-identified samples and data collected in an Excel spreadsheet and sent to CDC (laboratory: second batch of samples) Timeliness On or before April 30, 2013 Letter (via email) from the vendor reflecting the successful submission of data and specimens Positive report regarding performance timeliness and completion of task. Quality Data and samples determined by the CDC COTR / project officer to be complete and of acceptable quality Final report on all field data collection and laboratory process in and analysis: Timeliness On or before June 30, 2013 Letter (via email) from the vendor reflecting the successful report completion. Positive report regarding performance timeliness and completion of task. Quality Report determined by the CDC COTR / project officer to be complete and of acceptable quality The Kongwa Trachoma Project appears to be the only organization with access to communities in Kongwa District, Tanzania, that are untreated, but endemic for several Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), including lymphatic filariasis (LF) and trachoma. The organization has the experience and technical expertise to collect and bacteriologically test scabies specimens from populations. This advertisement ends in 6 days accordance with FAR 5.203 (A) (1). No Request for Quotes (RFQ) will be issued based upon this Notice of Intent. Any interested companies are welcome to submit their credentials and ability to provide the services, via e-mail, gqq4@cdc.gov. Include reference number (2013-53910). Send responses by November 19, 2012.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/CDCP/PGOA/2013-53910/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Dodoma, Tanzania, United States
- Record
- SN02929712-W 20121115/121113234517-c563c47115ba8ce788c7999f5f600d97 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
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