RFP-NIH-NHLBI-HV-98-24

"Evaluation Study of Congestive Heart Failure and Pulmonary Artery Catheterization Effectiveness (ESCAPE)"

The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is soliciting proposals to conduct a randomized trial comparing the efficacy of Pulmonary Artery Cathereterization (PAC)-directed treatment strategy to a treatment strategy without the use of PAC on morbidity and mortality in patients with class IV New York Heart Association (NYHA) congestive heart failure (CHF). The hypothesis being tested is that for patients admitted with persistent symptoms of CHF at rest or with minimal exertion, therapy tailored using hemodynamic monitoring results in a better clinical outcome than current standard therapy without invasive monitoring. The information provided by this multicenter collaborative clinical trial may provide a rational basis for safe and effective therapy for patients with severe CHF. Furthermore, the results may have significant health care cost implications. This Streamlined Technical Request For Proposal (RFP) consists of this combined solicitation form and cover letter and the Solicitation, Offer and Award form SF 33 with attachments.

Our method of posting this RFP on the Web is

different from the normal, previous practice!

The text of this RFP as posted is available for viewing, printing, and downloading (saving) in Adobe Acrobat's portable document file (PDF) format. You will need to have the Acrobat Reader on your computer and configured to work on your browser to access the file. When viewed or printed in the Acrobat Reader, the document appears as it does in the hard copy version. If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, you may download a free copy from Adobe at:
http://www.adobe.com/prodindex/acrobat/readstep.html.

This cover letter and the attached Solicitation (SF 33) contain the technical information required for the submission of a proposal for this acquisition. The SF 33 Solicitation also contains the proposal intent response form and the address for delivery of your proposal, beginning on page 15. In addition, there are two other sections in this specific RFP. The section entitled "Applicable RFP References" lists those items in the STREAMLINED RFP REFERENCES directory that apply to this RFP, including forms for submission of the proposal.

In addition, as discussed on page 21 of the RFP, a price computation spreadsheet is available as a downloadable, self-executing zipped file. The file contains versions of the spreadsheet in Microsoft Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, and QuattroPro, in addition to an instruction sheet, in both ASCII and PDF, readme.txt and readme.pdf.

Offerors are encouraged to download the zipped file and expand it as explained on page 21 of the RFP. Note: Your browser may state that the file type is not recognized and offer to seek plugins; decline this and opt to Save the file to your local drive.

Text of RFP (PDF document, 247K)

Price Computation Spreadsheet (Self-executing zipped file, 90K)

For more information and references, the NIH Request For Proposals Directory, contains a number of documents in a section entitled "STREAMLINED RFP REFERENCES," following the list of NIH Institutes.

Although these documents contain sufficient information for you or your organization to submit a proposal, if you intend to submit a proposal in response to this RFP, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOU IMMEDIATELY NOTIFY Sharon M. Kraft, CONTRACTING OFFICER, AT THE FOLLOWING INTERNET ADDRESS:

sk40f@nih.gov

If you do not notify the contracting office of your intent to submit a proposal, you will not receive an individual notice of any amendments to the RFP, if any are issued. However, all amendments will be posted on the NIH web site.

The original and twenty-five (25) copies of your technical proposal and the original and six (6) copies of your business proposal must be received by the Contracting Officer no later than December 1, 1998, at 4:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time at the address listed in the item entitled "Packaging and Delivery of Proposals" on pge 17. Also, please complete the form entitled "Proposal Intent Response Sheet" on page 16 and send it to the address indicated therein on or before August 28, 1998. This will allow us to expedite preparations for the technical review of proposals. Finally, your proposal must be organized and submitted in accordance with the "Technical Proposal Table of Contents." All three of these items are found under the "Specific RFP Instructions and Provisions" portion of this RFP in Section L starting on page 15.

You are reminded that the "Technical Proposal Cover Sheet" must be completed in full detail and used as the cover sheet for each copy of your technical proposal. (This form is contained in this NIH WEB site under the FORMS, FORMATS, AND ATTACHMENTS file found in the STREAMLINED RFP REFERENCES.) This information will be used to ensure that there will be no conflict of interest when selecting review committee members.

Offers will be valid for 305 days unless a different period is specified by the offer or on the form entitled, "Proposal Summary and Data Record, NIH 2043" also located at the site for FORMS, FORMATS, AND ATTACHMENTS.

NOTE: IF YOUR PROPOSAL IS NOT RECEIVED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER OR DESIGNEE AT THE PLACE AND TIME SPECIFIED, THEN IT WILL BE CONSIDERED LATE AND HANDLED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FAR CLAUSE 52.215-1 ENTITLED, "LATE PROPOSALS, MODIFICATIONS OF PROPOSALS, AND WITHDRAWALS OF PROPOSALS." The full text is in the Optional RFP Instructions and Provisions file of the Streamlined RFP References Directory.

If you have any additional questions regarding this RFP, please contact Ms. Kraft through the Internet using the electronic mail address listed above or phone (301) 435-0340, fax (301) 480-3338. COLLECT CALLS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS USING FACSIMILE OR ELECTRONIC MAIL IS NOT AUTHORIZED.

NOTE: DIRECTIONS FOR ACCESSING THE "STREAMLINED RFP REFERENCES" REFERRED TO THROUGHOUT THIS RFP ARE AS FOLLOWS:

"STANDARD RFP INSTRUCTIONS AND PROVISIONS" for proposal preparation instructions and other standard provisions,

"OPTIONAL RFP INSTRUCTIONS AND PROVISIONS" for the special provisions identified in this specific RFP,

"FORMS, FORMATS, AND ATTACHMENTS" to download the forms listed in this specific RFP that you will need to submit a proposal,

"SAMPLE CONTRACT FORMAT--GENERAL" to view some of the clauses that are typical for inclusion in a Research and Development type contract issued by NIH.

Sincerely,
/s/
Sharon M. Kraft
Contracting Officer