Introduction: Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.106-1(b)(1), the U.S. Army RDECOM, Natick Contracting Division, on behalf of the Natick Soldier System Center (NSSC), intends to award a firm fixed price service order on a sole source basis to: The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.

THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS. No solicitation document is available.

1. Nature and description of the supplies or services required to meet the agency's needs:

These studies are required to identify the contribution of sympathetic and parasympathetic mechanisms of autonomic control to heat stroke progression and recovery. These studies will determine the efficacy of clinically relevant drugs that specifically target these mechanisms at various time points during heat stroke progression.
-Collect and analyze data from a rat exertional heat injury protocol (developed in Year 1) that combines forced wheel running with heat stress and the delivery of different therapeutic drugs at different time points.
-Implement any changes to the experimental conditions based on the data analysis outlined in Task 2 (e.g., if one drug or one concentration is found to have greater efficacy) and begin second phase of data collection and data analysis.
-Assess selected biochemical parameters in the plasma of rats following the exertional heat injury protocol (at different time points and with different drug treatments) as potential markers of altered cardiovascular function retated to the drug intervention.
-Prepare a final report on findings

2. A demonstration that the proposed contractor is the only source available to provide these services or goods (i.e. unique qualifications, proprietary rights, etc.):

This is an experimental protocol based on a previous experimental protocol implemented by the University of Iowa (PR90604 - 065756). This protocol builds on a protocol established by Dr. lisa Leon at USARIEM (A0701). The University of Iowa and its employees developed all protocols and procedures for the study. Any other laboratory would have to go back and repeat the first protocol and set of experiments before being able to move onto this new experimental protocol to test the efficacy of different pharmaceuticals.

3. A description of the market research that was conducted and the results, or a statement of the reason a market research was not conducted:

Market research was not conducted. See items 2 and 4.




4. Any other facts supporting the use of other than full and open competition:

EXPERT SERVICES.
Recent work by Dr. Lisa Leon (of USARIEM) et al. (J. Appl. Physiol. 100: 1400-1409, 2006) and work by Dr. Kevin Kregel (of University of Iowa) J. Appl. Physiol. 92: 2117-2186, 2002) has established an important role for cytokines and heat shock proteins, respectively, in heat injury responses. USARIEM and the University of Iowa have a current R&D services contract in place which has established an exertional heat injury model in rats.
Abstracts: Reduced heart rate variability during recovery from exertional vs. passive heat stress; New Orleans, April 18-22 2009 (Experimental Biology) and (Shift of autonomic balance towards sympathetic dominance during 24-h recovery from exertional vs. passive heat stress; Des Moines, 2 May 2009 ( Iowa Physiological Society).

This current request for R&D services builds on the established model of exertional heat injury. This work cannot be done by another vendor as no other vendors, to my knowledge, have established an exertional heat stroke model
in rats with the specific parameters required for this study (no restraint, monitoring core body temp by radiotelemetry, and experimental protocols based on relevant previous work. -specific experimental protocols -A0602, A0701).

5. A statement of the actions, if any, the agency may take to remove or overcome any barriers to competition before any subsequent acquisition for the supplies or services required:

None

6. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to this requirement to the U.S. Army RDECOM Contracting Center, Natick Contracting Division via e-mail to: [email protected] no later than 3:00 p.m. on August 2, 2010.

Contracting Office Address:
RDECOM Contracting Center - Natick
CCRD-NA-SU, Natick Contracting Division
Kansas Street, Building 1
Natick, MA 01760-5011

Point of Contact:
Stephen Reffel, Contract Specialist
[email protected]

Bid Protests Not Available