The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) intends to solicit and negotiate a sole source contract with The Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (“Columbia”), 630 W 168th St Fl 4, New York, NY, 10032, for a study to prospectively enroll and follow hospitalized patients with neurological signs/symptoms and/or conditions and control patients; this would include patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection and patients who are recent COVID-19 vaccine recipients. This project aims to prospectively follow these patients for outcomes related to neurological signs/symptoms and/or conditions. The objectives of this research are to define the clinical features and outcomes of neuro-COVID; assess the laboratory features of acute neuro-COVID; and assess any neurologic adverse events possibly associated with the COVID vaccines. This notice is provided in accordance with FAR 5.203(a). The authority permitting other than full and open competition is FAR 6.302-1, "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." Columbia is the only source capable of performing this service for the following reasons: (1) Columbia has conducted a recent retrospective cohort investigation into the neurologic manifestations of COVID, which has successfully identified the most frequent neurologic complications of COVID, the basic laboratory parameters of such neuro-COVID patients, and discharge dispositions/immediate outcomes; (2) Columbia is uniquely suited to do this work since they have been established collaborators of the CDC neuro-unit since 2020; (3) Columbia serves a population vulnerable to COVID (older, ethnic minorities, socioeconomically vulnerable) and has the academic center support for data and specimen collection and analysis; (4) COVID-19 neurologic illness continues to be an ongoing source of substantial morbidity and mortality with that associated with acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, and in the coming weeks and months it is going to be critical to assess the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 through the perspective of a neurological illness; and (5) Columbia will require minimal, if any, start-up time and costs for this project. All responsible sources my submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation to Joshua Houston, Contract Specialist, at
[email protected], which shall be considered by the agency. The deadline for submissions is April 21, 2021, at 4:30pm Eastern time. The Government will review any/all information submitted to determine if other responsible sources exist that could provide this requirement. Information received in response to this announcement will be used solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.