BRAIN MOLECULAR ANATOMY PROJECT: FEASIBILITY STUDIES

Release Date:  April 3, 1998

RFP AVAILABLE:  NIH-NIMH-98-DB-0010

P.T.

National Institute of Mental Health

The National Institute of Mental Health proposes to issue a solicitation (RFP)
No. NIMH-98-DB-0010 entitled "BRAIN MOLECULAR ANATOMY PROJECT: FEASIBILITY
STUDIES" as Full and Open Competition under SIC Code 8731.

The purpose of this requirement is to establish a technology and informatics
system to decipher the molecular anatomy of the brain.  The ultimate goal of this
research is to produce a catalog of all the genes expressed in the nervous
system, and potentially to provide, as a public resource, a clone bank of these
genes.  The initial start-up component for BMAP will be a two year feasibility
contract initiative whose objectives are to: 1) identify and determine the best
methodologies and technologies for performing microdissection of brain tissue;
2) develop and improve techniques for preparing RNA and cDNA libraries from very
small amounts of brain tissue; 3) improve and develop new techniques to assess
the quality of the cDNA libraries prepared from microdissected brain tissue using
high throughput sequencing; (4) develop methodologies to assess the quality of
the cDNA libraries prepared from microdissected brain tissue by determining gene
expression representation using micro-array technology; and (5) implement the
most scientifically advanced analysis and oversight methodologies to measure
compliance for the interrelated objectives.  This project requires expertise
using state-of-the-art, cutting-edge technology and capabilities for refining
existing technologies for the above objectives.  Personnel in highly specialized
areas of science, such as neuroanatomy, molecular biology, and genetics, along
with the capabilities to use current informatics structures will be required. 
Offerors, including proposed subcontractors, may apply for one or any combination
of the objectives.  One important aspect is the integration between the separate
objectives.  It is a mandatory requirement that all Offerors agree to fully
cooperate and interact with the other contractors for the purpose of completing
the other objectives and must be willing to accept the contract while keeping the
data in the public domain.  Offerors must have personnel on staff with the
required expertise and existing, appropriate laboratories.

It is anticipated that contracts will be awarded for a maximum period of 24
months (one year plus one option year) each.  This will be the initial award for
this requirement.

Request for Proposals (RFP) No. NIMH-98-DB-0010 will be issued on or about April
15, 1998 as a Broad Agency Announcement as defined in FAR 6.102(d)(2) and 35.016. 
Proposals will be due approximately forty-five days after issuance of the RFP. 
THE RFP WILL BE AVAILABLE ELECTRONICALLY ONLY at URL http://www.nimh.nih.gov,
first select Grants and Contracts, then NIMH Request for Proposals (RFP), then
select NIMH-98-DB-0010.  It will be available fifteen or more calendar days on
or about April 15, 1998.  All responsible sources may submit a proposal that will
be considered by the agency.  This advertisement does not commit the Government
to award a contract.

INQUIRIES:

Inquiries may be directed to:

Patricia L. Gibbons, Contracting Officer
Contracts Management Branch
National Institute of Mental Health
5600 Fishers Lane, Room 9C-15
Rockville, MD 20857-8030
Telephone:  (301) 443-2696
Email: pgibbons@nih.gov

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