The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) intends to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP No. NIMH-08-DN-00019) entitled High-throughput Collection of Gene Expression Data in Developing Rhesus Macaque Brain, on or about April 4, 2008, under full and open competitive procedures. It is anticipated that one contract will be awarded from this solicitation, on or about September 2008, for a period of 2 years with options to extend. NIMH is the lead institute for this Blueprint project (http://www.neuroscienceblueprint.nih.gov/). NIMH's overall goal for this contract is to develop a publicly available data resource to stimulate research in gene expression during normal brain development. The recent sequencing of the genome of the Rhesus macaque, Macaca mulatta, as well as its broad application as a research model, suggest that this nonhuman primate species would provide the optimal translational bridge between existing gene expression atlases in other species, including mouse, and future efforts in human. This contract will require high throughput collection of gene expression data, and development of a digital brain atlas and associated informatics tools for the analysis of gene expression in specific regions of developing Rhesus macaque brain. More specifically this contract will utilize high throughput, automated histological processing of samples from the developing Rhesus macaque brain, including sectioning, histological staining, and in situ hybridization, resulting in the generation of high resolution gene expression data related to cytoarchitecture which will be represented in a publicly-available digital brain atlas with associated informatics tools, to facilitate data searches and analyses by other investigators. To successfully accomplish the goals of this contract, capable organizations must demonstrate expertise in: 1) neurobiology; 2) both automated and high throughput histological processing, including in situ hybridization; and 3) development of digital atlases of gene expression, associated informatics tools, and web-based dissemination of data. Tissues for analysis under this contract will be obtained via a separate contract with NIMH (to be established), with a facility that has access to well-defined colonies of rhesus macaques, raised in naturalistic settings, where the lineage and hierarchical status of each animal is characterized in detail. This other facility will prepare and transfer the tissues to this contract facility for histological processing and digitization as described above. This contractor will be required to work effectively and closely with the animal facility contractor. RFP No. NIMH-08-DN-00019 will be available on or about April 4, 2008 with the receipt date of proposals on or about June 4, 2008. The RFP will be available solely via the FedBizOpps web page at http://www.fedbizopps.gov/. It will be the offeror?s responsibility to monitor the FedBizOpps web page for release of the solicitation, and any possible subsequent amendments, and to download the documents and all attachments. The RFP for this requirement will include the Statement of Work, Deliverables, and Reporting Requirements, the Technical Evaluation Criteria, and proposal preparation instructions. All information required for the submission of an offeror will be contained in the electronic RFP package. All responsible sources are encouraged to submit a proposal that will be considered by the NIMH. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract. Please contact Bruce Anderson, NIMH Contracting Officer at 301-443-2234, or ba9i@nih.gov, for further information.