The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, NCIRD/DVD/OD, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30333, hereby announces its intent to issue a sole source contract in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 to Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, a Division of Marshfield Clinic, Inc, Marshfield, WI 54449-5703, to continue conducting surveillance for COVID-19, assessing the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infections and illness, understanding how the serologic response to COVID-19 vaccines changes over time since vaccination, and monitoring circulation of other respiratory viruses. CDC established a contract with the Marshfield Clinic Research Institute to enroll and conduct active surveillance in a cohort of individuals in rural Wisconsin. The original contract provided active surveillance for SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illness for a 12-month period, however continuing follow-up of this cohort beyond 12 months would provide vital information for public health situational awareness and decision making. To meet the needs of CDC, a partner would need to provide information on a rural population, across all ages (0–80+ years) on exact timing of prior COVID-19 infection, data on the serologic response to infection and vaccination over the past 12-18 months, timing of COVID-19 vaccination, demographic and social information over the past 12-18 months, weekly surveillance for symptoms of COVID-19, and weekly information on patterns of attending work, school, other indoor activities, and indoor gatherings. The Marshfield Research Institute is the only responsible source to provide the required services from a rural population encompassing all age groups. They have an existing cohort already under surveillance that, if extended and modified, could provide the requested information to meet CDC's needs. The cohort in Marshfield, WI consists of samples of the population drawn from each age group, from 0 to 80+ years old, is well-characterized in terms of records of prior COVID-19 infection, prior immunologic responses, vaccination history, weekly symptom information, and weekly movement patterns; no other cohort has this level of information that are essential to fulfilling CDC's needs. Modifying the existing cohort in Marshfield, WI to meet CDC's needs will take 1 month, In contract, creating a new cohort with this level of information could take 5-6 months, which would be an unacceptable delay in critical data. Furthermore, the Marshfield Research Institute has an existing relationship (and subcontract) with a laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison to conduct immunologic assays on specimens from the cohort. This laboratory has a long history of being able to produce rapid and accurate immunologic testing, which is critical to meeting CDC's requirements for information that can help inform public health decision making. The statutory authority permitting other than full and open competition is 41 U.S.C. 3304(a)(1) as cited in FAR 6.302-1, " Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." Responsible sources that believe they possess the expertise and capabilities identified above are encouraged to submit to the Contracting Officer within 15 days from the posting date of this notice, their written capabilities statement which shall be considered by the agency. Please forward the capability statement to Maria Shamburger,
[email protected], Contracting Officer, Reference 2020-111720, Centers for Disease Control, Office of Acquisition Services, District at Chamblee, Building #2900, 2900 Woodcock Blvd, MS TCU-4, Atlanta, GA 30341. All vendors must be registered in the System for Award Management (SAM) prior to an award of a federal contract. The website is: www.sam.gov. The Government will review any/all capabilities statements information submitted and determine if other qualified sources do 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. If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days, negotiations will be conducted with Marshfield Clinic Research Institute, a Division of Marshfield Clinic, Inc,, as the only source and a contract will be issued without any additional notices being posted.