Inactive Total Small Business Set-Aside (FAR 19.5)

The Contracting Officer determined the work to be performed as commercial services. Therefore, a shorter period for issuance of the solicitation is established in accordance with FAR 5.203. The solici... The Contracting Officer determined the work to be performed as commercial services. Therefore, a shorter period for issuance of the solicitation is established in accordance with FAR 5.203. The solicitation will be posted August 4, 2020 with a response date of September 3, 2020 2:00 PM EST. The purpose of this contract is to maintain and continue a national biorepository of specimens from persons with ALS enrolled in the National ALS Registry. ATSDR is particularly interested in samples such as blood, urine, saliva, hair, and nails, in addition to port-mortem specimens, such as bone, muscle, skin, whole brains, spinal cords, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Note, these speciments are subject to change. Collected samples (already collected and future collections) may be used for the purpose of creating cell lines. While there are other biorepositories currently in existence that contain specimens from persons with ALS, these biorepositories are often limited and target select groups (e.g., military veterans with ALS). Additionally, these biorepositories do not necessarily collect epidemiological/risk factor data from the patients who contribute specimens (e.g., occupational, residential, and military history). Submission of specimens for this biorepository would be open to all persons with ALS enrolled in the congressionally mandated National ALS Registry. The ability to connect the biological material to information about risk factors and data about medical treatment will make the biorepository unique and especially valuable to ALS researchers. This contract will provide funding for the operation, collection, transport, maintenance, cataloging, logistics, and ongoing analyses as directed by ATSDR of sample supply and demand of an existing biorepository of specimens from persons with ALS enrolled in the National ALS Registry. The successful Contractor shall provide technical assistance support to a biorepository based on the existing protocol which was created by subject matter experts in registries, surveillance, and/or neurological diseases. Samples such as blood, urine, saliva, hair, and nails, in addition to post-mortem specimens such as whole brains, spinal cords, and CSF has been and may be collected, stored, and disseminated to qualified researchers requesting biospecimens.