The Intramural Research Program (IRP), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate on a sole source basis with Karolinska Institutet in Sweden for a project titled “Dopamine Neuron Study.” Karolinska Institutet possesses unique biological modeling research on both human and animal populations. It also has a proven track record to study large samples of DNA from many different populations of cases and controls in Sweden and in several other areas of the world, in particular its ability to search for genetic variants in candidate genes that associate with Parkinson’s disease. We anticipate a 2-year contract to conduct research using Karolinska’s established collection of human tissue samples, and study collections of postmortem brain tissues from brain banks from patients with Parkinson's disease and controls, as well as tissue from the gastrointestinal tract and liver. Karolinska also possess the required immediate ability to use cellular reporter systems in conjunction with these tissue samples. Statutory authority to justify this procurement is 41 U.S.C. 253 (c)(1) as set forth in FAR 6.320-1, Only One Responsible Source. Inherent duplication of cost to the Government and unacceptable delays in providing the required services make competition unfeasible. See Numbered Notes 22 and 26.

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