M -- CDC Specimen Packaging, Inventory, and Repository Services

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, an agency within the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), serves as the national focus for developing and applying disease prevention and control, environmental health, and health promotion and health education activities designed to improve the health of the people of the United States. Substantial portions of CDC resources are directed toward conducting unique surveys, epidemiologic studies, and research programs in which primarily human biologic materials are collected, characterized, tested, and a portion stored for future laboratory investigations. In a number of instances the biologic materials obtained in these investigations cannot be replaced or obtained elsewhere. Collectively, these materials represent a unique public health resource that may prove invaluable in future investigations. The CDC and ATSDR Specimen Packaging, Inventory, and Repository (CASPIR) is intended as a repository for valuable, primarily human, biological materials obtained through CDC and ATSDR programs and activities. Well-characterized specimens/collections are stored that could be of potential use for future scientific endeavors. These specimens/collections are inventoried and stored under controlled optimal conditions. The CDC will seek through solicitation/Request for Proposal, a contractor that will provide all labor, materials, equipment, supplies, supervision, and also perform all services required to operate and maintain the CDC and ATSDR Specimen and Data Bank (CASPIR) to ensure that valuable collections of primarily human biological materials, including blood components, tissue, bacterial isolates, DNA, and other biological and environmental specimens, obtained through CDC programs and activities are properly inventoried, securely stored, maintained, managed, and when needed, retrieved and delivered to scientists. (Some aliquoting of specimens may be necessary.) The anticipated performance period of these services is April 1, 2008 through March 31, 2009 with four 12 month option periods. The solicitation is scheduled to be posted online at www.fbo.gov on or around November 28, 2007. Inquiries will only be accepted in writing after the solicitation has been posted in accordance with the instructions in Section L of the solicitation. Hard copies of the solicitation will not be available from CDC. Contract award is contemplated no later than March 31, 2008.