A -- RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ILLICIT DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION AND SUPPORT

Notice Date

July 25, 2001

Contracting Office

Bid Office, SPAWARSYSCEN, Code D21B, 53570 Silvergate Avenue, Bldg. A33, Room 0061, San Diego, CA 92152-5112

ZIP Code

92152-5112

Solicitation Number

N66001-01-X-6037

Response Due

June 30, 2002

Point of Contact

Cathy Moore, Contract Specialist, 619-553-9311

E-Mail Address

Cathy Moore, Contract Specialist (mooremc@spawar.navy.mil)

Description

DESCRIPTION: The Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center, San Diego, (SPAWARSYSCEN SD) in support of the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) Counterdrug Technology Assessment Center (CTAC) is soliciting white papers and proposals for innovative research and development projects to reduce the demand for illicit drugs and other substances of abuse. The intent of this BAA is to identify applications of medical technologies that enhance our National capabilities to meet the strategic Demand Reduction goals of ONDCP (see web site: www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov). These initiatives will complement those of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) (see www.nida.nih.gov), in the improvement, installation, and use of the investigative tools and instruments, available for research scientists and engineers to explore and understand the underlying causes of substance abuse, dependence, and addiction on which to develop effective assessment, prevention, and treatment programs. AREAS OF INTEREST: This BAA focuses on science and technology-based initiatives that will contribute to the development and applications of technology to support: drug abuse prevention and treatment research, enhancement of our understanding of the effects of drugs on the body, understanding genetics based aspects of drug addiction and susceptibility, and using statistical data base methods for assessing and monitoring drug addiction. Major areas of interest are: 1. Infrastructure for Research and Validation of Technology: a. Expansion of advanced neuroimaging research systems and facilities and training opportunities for research teams dedicated to studies of drug abuse. Included are high-resolution positron emission tomography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, brain scan image processing and interpretation, molecular chemistry and assay systems, and related noninvasive support technologies. Selected infrastructure research initiatives are to contribute to systems development and implementation to image the drug's metabolic and chemical processes, map brain reward circuitry, localize active areas of the brain, measurement of blood volume and flow associated with drug metabolism, and analysis of interactions with potential therapeutic medicines. b. Validation of infrastructure enhancement efforts toward contributing to the foundation for key research issues. Examples include research such as the curtailment of drug-induced adaptive behavior, pharmacological phenomena and neurochemical effects relating to sensitization and tolerance, impulsivity and risk-taking behavioral traits, cue induced craving, significance of various motivational rewards, effects of sleep disturbance, and the effects and degree of genetic contributions to drug use and addiction. 2. Bioinformatics and Research Data: a. Information systems for relating gene expression and functional bioinformatics to positional information and the biochemical or functional pathway to identify correlation with the genetic predisposition to abused drugs, genomic variables associated with responses to drugs, and possible relationships to known linkages with drug abuse; with the goal of understanding the entire complex chemistry and circuitry of the brain, and how this circuitry is altered under conditions of drug abuse. b. Enabling technology, such as advanced microarray technology in support of gene expression measurements and structural protein study. c. Technologies for visual imaging and other computationally intensive operations related to bioinformatics. This includes hardware and software tools that enhance drug research in the areas of imaging and other instrumentation, improved sensors and detectors, faster and higher capacity information handling and computation, and new computation algorithms for data analysis and statistics. d. Statistics collection and analyses to compile data from selected nation-wide locations, diversionary programs, abuse severity data, outcome analysis, and other research resources for use by policy agencies treatment providers, prevention educators, and researchers, at all levels in the government. e. Studies to enhance the detection and measurement of illicit substances in body fluids, techniques for assessing and monitoring drug addiction and severity, and efforts that will assist understanding and detecting the use of performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic and androgenic steroids by athletes. SYNOPSIS/PROPOSALS: To save preparation costs and other resources, offerors are strongly encouraged to submit an initial synopsis (commonly referred to as a "white paper") not to exceed 7 pages with technical description of the effort, a preliminary schedule, identification of risks, and a rough cost estimate. Offerors are to submit the white papers electronically. The website is https://e-commerce.spawar.navy.mil. The Government reserves the right to request a proposal from any, all, part of, or none of the white papers. Upon favorable notification the Offeror will be invited to submit a complete proposal within 45 calendar days of notification by the Contracting Officer. Such notification will confirm that the offeror's white paper addresses areas of interest and has a reasonable chance for a competitive award based on subsequent evaluation of the offeror's full proposal. No debriefings of white papers will occur. Offerors submitting full proposals should obtain a Proposer's Information Pamphlet (PIP) entitled "BAA N66001-01-X-6037, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN ILLICIT DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION AND SUPPORT." The PIP provides further information on the submissions and proposal formats which can be obtained from the web site: https://e-commerce.spawar.navy.mil, under Business Opportunities for SPAWARSYSCEN San Diego, referenced to this BAA number. Proposals not meeting the format described in the pamphlet may not be reviewed. BAA MILESTONES: White papers may be submitted at any time prior to the closing date of 30 June 2002. White papers will be selected on the basis of funds availability and evaluation procedures described below. EVALUATION CRITERIA/PROCEDURES: White papers and proposals will be selected through a formal procedure encompassing a technical/scientific and counterdrug decision review process. Proposers are advised that white papers and full proposals may be reviewed or evaluated by non-government personnel such as representatives from academia, Federal Research & Development Center, and consultants, each of whom will have accepted the terms and conditions of a non-disclosure agreement and an Organizational Conflict of Interest statement. All reviewed and evaluated proposals may not be funded due to budgetary or program constraints. White papers and proposals will be evaluated with respect to the following criteria: (1) Overall scientific and technical merit. -feasibility of proposed project; awareness of challenges; -awareness of past and on-going research and related applications worldwide; -potential for advancement of scientific understanding of the National drug abuse problem; and -degree of creativity and innovation. (2) Potential contribution, relevance, and impact on the ONDCP's Goals and Objectives, as they relate to Demand Reduction (web site, www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov). -understanding the importance of the challenges; -understanding of the scientific basis and advance technology applications; -opportunities for professional graduates to select careers related to research in drug abuse; and -potential for future award of related Grants from NIDA. (3) Capabilities and experience (including major subcontractors). -qualifications and experience of the research/project team; -relevance of published peer-reviewed journal articles; -management plan and experience; and -plans for transition of system (or validation study) to meet ONDCP goals. (4) Cost and schedule reasonableness/risk. -costs relative to perceived benefits; -degree of cost-sharing; -project's plans and schedule; and -appropriateness of budget and level of efforts and description of details. OFFEROR INFORMATION: Numerous awards may result from this BAA and will depend upon the quality and merit of proposals received and available funding. There will be no formal Request for Proposals or other solicitation with regard to this BAA, nor does the issuance of this BAA obligate the Government to fund any subsequently invited proposals, nor to pay any proposal preparation costs. All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal, which shall be considered. Although no portion of this announcement is set aside for historically black colleges and universities (HBCU's) or minority institutions (MI's), proposals are invited from all sources The administrative address for this BAA is: Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center (SPAWARSYSCEN, San Diego) Attn: Ms. Cathy Moore, Code D212 53560 Hull Street San Diego, CA 92152-5001 Proposals may be submitted anytime during the open period of this announcement and should be unclassified. The Government reserves the right to select for award, all, some, or none of the proposals received in response to this announcement. The Government may also only select specific tasks within a proposal for award. The Government further reserves the right to issue contracts, grants, cooperative agreements or other transactions. No hard copy version of this solicitation will be available.

Web Link

SPAWAR e-commerce (https://e-commerce.spawar.navy.mil)

Record

Loren Data Corp. 20010727/ASOL011.HTM (W-206 SN50T043)