National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Contract Management Branch, Solar Bldg., Room 3C07, 6003 Executive Blvd. MSC 7610, Bethesda, MD 20892-7610

A -- VIROLOGY QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAM SOL RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-98-01 DUE 093097 POC Paul McFarlane, Contracting Officer, (301) 496-0349 The Therapeutics Research Program, Division of AIDS, NIAID, NIH has a requirement to re-compete its Virology Quality Assessment (VQA) Program. The VQA is charged with ensuring the integrity and comparability of virologic laboratory data obtained from multi-center HIV/AIDS investigations. The Contractor shall be required to obtain, characterize store, and distribute quality control materials, such as plasma samples with varying numbers of HIV RNA copies, whole blood from HIV positive and negative donors, viral lysates with varying concentrations of HIV p24 antigen, HIV proviral DNA copy number standards, and other HIV and its associated co-pathogens viral probes and reagents. These materials shall be provided periodically to 60 -- 100 designated laboratories for the purpose of monitoring virologic assay performance through a program of proficiency testing and real-time assay validation. In addition, the Contractor shall facilitate the field testing of virologic assays; evaluate and compare assay methodologies and commercial assay kits/reagents; and apply existing or novel statistical models for evaluation, interpretation and display of virologic assay test results. The Contractor shall provide and maintain a computerized database system that supports this Quality Assessment Program. Responders must be experienced in the areas of HIV virology, HIV associated viral co-pathogens, statistical modeling, and database system management. It is anticipated that one (1) cost-reimbursement contract will be awarded for a period of seven (7) years. RFP NIH-NIAID-DAIDS-98-01 will be available electronically on or about July 7, 1997. The RFP may be accessed through either the NIAID Contract Management Branch (CMB) Home Page or the NIH Gopher by using the following electronic address and instructions: (1) NIAID/CMB Home Page (via the World Wide Web): Access by using http://www.niaid.nih.gov/contract and select the "RFPs" link. (2) To access the NIH Gopher: Point your Gopher client to GOPHER.NIH.GOV PORT 70 (You should now be in the NIH Gopher). Select "Grants and Research Information", then select "R&D Requests for Proposals (RFP)". Please note that the RFP for this procurement has been revised to include only the Work Statement, Deliverable and Reporting Requirements, Special Requirements and Mandatory Qualifications (if applicable), the Technical Evaluation Criteria, and the Proposal Preparation Instructions. All information required for the submission of an offer will be contained in the electronic RFP package. Following proposal submission and the initial review process, Offerors comprising the competitive range will be asked to provide additional documentation to the Contracting Officer. Responses to this RFP will be due on or about September 30, 1997. Any responsible offeror may submit a proposal which will be considered by the Government to award a contract. (0156)

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