National Institutes of Health, Division of Research Contracts, 6100 Executive Blvd., MSC 7540, Room 6E01, Bethesda, Maryland 20892- 7540

A -- IDENTIFICATION OF MOUSE STRAINS WITH INHERITED HEARING IMPAIRMENT SOL NIH-DC-95-14 POC John P. DeCenzo, Contracting Officer, 301-496-4487. The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders intends to negotiate a seven year contract with The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, Maine, using other than full and open competition, to screen genetically homogeneous inbred strains of mice for profound inherited loss of hearing and/or vestibular function. The Jackson Laboratory is the only known institution that maintains the number and diversity of mouse strains necessary to satisfy the Government's requirement. The Contractor will screen approximately 200 strains a year for deficiency in normal auditory brainstem responses, to comprehensively screen about 1400 independent strains over the seven year period. The identity and properties of affected strains will be made available to the hearing research community as these strains are identified for further genetic, anatomic, physiologic, and morphologic characterization. Authority: 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in FAR 6.302-1--Only One Responsible Source and No Other Supplies or Services will Satisfy Agency Requirements. See Numbered Note(s): 22. (0193)

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