National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Contracts Management Branch, 6100 Bldg., Suite 7A07, 6100- Executive Blvd MSC 7510, Bethesda, MD 20892-7510

A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SOL NICHD-CRMC-97-SIDS DUE 091197 POC Contact -- Mrs. Lynn Salo, Contract Specialist 301-496-4611 WEB: National Institutes of Health, http://www.nih.gov. E-MAIL: National Institutes of Health, salol@hd01.nichd.nih.gov. The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) is planning to award another contract to Children's Hospital, Boston (CHB) to continue the neuropathology investigation for the Infant Mortality Study of the Aberdeen Area, Indian Health Services (IHS). This is a case-control study of infant deaths among Native American within the Aberdeen Area that is being conducted by IHS, NICHD, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The determination to use other than full and open competition was made in accordance with 41 USC 253 (c) (1) and is based upon the following factors. A neuropathological analysis is necessary to (1) make an accurate classification of cause of death, (2) obtain baseline information on the types and frequency of brain lesions in the population, (3) determine if there is an association of specific brain lesions with risk factors such as prenatal exposure to alcohol or cigarette smoking, (4) investigate brain lesions that may be important in neural mechanism of SIDS. The proposed study will take another two years. The current contractor possesses unique capabilities to continue the data collection in that they have performed all the diagnostic work. They have collected all the specimens for the future neurochemical studies. Currently, the contractor has the laboratory facilities to perform the necessary quantitative studies of subtle neuropathologic lesions. In addition, they have an operational database to collect and analyze the gross and quantitative microscopic neuropathology data from each case and correlate it with clinical and epidemiologic findings obtained from the infant mortality study. The pathology department within the Children's Hospital has established productive working relationships with the forensic pathologists, epidemiologists, clinicians, and representatives of the Aberdeen Area Tribal Health Council. An organization capable of performing these tasks without a significant amount of down-time in work should submit a statement of capabilities with documentation supporting its ability to meet the Government's requirements as described. The purpose of this synopsis is to determine whether there are other sources with the requisite qualifications to perform the work described above. Capability statements should be submitted within 45 days of the publication of this synopsis to: Mrs. Lynn Salo, Contract Specialist, CMB, OAM, NICHD, NIH, 6100 Executive Building, Room 7A07, 9000 Rockville Pike, MSC, 7510, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7510. (See Numbered Note 22) (0198)

Loren Data Corp. http://www.ld.com (SYN# 0003 19970721\A-0003.SOL)