The Bacteriology and Mycology Branch (BMB) of the Division of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (DMID) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to recompete a requirement currently being performed by Focus Technologies, Inc. under NIAID Contract N01-AI-95359. This procedure is being competed using full and open competitive procedures under NAICS 541710. It is anticipated that a single cost reimbursement, completion type contract will be awarded for a 7-year period of performance beginning on or about February 16, 2007, with an anticipated total effort of approximately 1.35 FTEs. The current NARSA contract established a repository of staphylococcal strains important to public health and research. This repository of staphylococcal isolates with associated historical case information is available to researchers to use to the fullest potential to increase knowledge and affect prudent clinical management approaches for minimizing antimicrobial resistance. NARSA also includes a website www.narsa.net and communication capacity to link basic scientists, epidemiologists, clinical microbiologists, and clinicians working in the area of staphylococcal diseases and antibiotic resistance, thereby encouraging collaborative research across disciplines of science, public health and medicine. Other NARSA activities include strain characterization; establishment and maintenance of a registry of S. aureus case information; the evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods; establishment of a NARSA Scientific Working Group to provide guidance and oversight of NARSA activities; and coordination of annual investigator meetings which is open to any interested party. The NARSA network of investigators currently consists of 190 NARSA Affiliate Members (researchers approved to order NARSA strains) and 71 NARSA Core Members (researchers receiving NIAID grant/contract support to study S. aureus). At present, the NARSA repository maintains 216 strains, and ships approximately 100 samples monthly, with one-third shipped abroad. Oracle databases store the information for the NARSA Strain Repository, the NARSA Case-History Registry, and NARSA membership information. At the time of the first contract, there was no systematic collection and distribution system for methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. NARSA has filled this gap and it is important to maintain and update this resource for the research community. Researchers will continue to need ready and reliable access to well characterized isolates as well as an ability to easily communicate and interact with other researchers. The original NARSA repository collected isolates of interest for S. aureus fully resistant to vancomycin (VRSA); however, in the contract to be awarded under this RFP, the repository will collect and distribute isolates of clinical, public health and research importance to antibiotic resistance in S. aureus. The repository will also acquire and distribute other reagents which the Scientific Working Group deem helpful to the research community in advancing research on antibiotic resistant S. aureus. This RFP will be available electronically on/about February 7, 2006, and may be accessed through the FedBizOpps and the NIAID Office of Acquisitions (OA) Home Page at http://www.niaid.nih.gov/contract. All responsible sources may submit a proposal which will be considered by the agency. This notice does not commit the Government to award a contract. No collect calls will be accepted. No facsimile transmissions will be accepted. See Government-wide Numbered Note 26.

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