NIH, OPM, 6120 Executive Blvd, Rockville, MD 20892-7260

A -- EXPERIMENTAL AND THEORETICAL RESEARCH OF ION CHANNELS USING NEW ADVANCED APPROACHES TO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF ELECTRICAL SIGNALS SOL 263-96-Q-0085 POC Christine Albin, Purchasing Agent, (301) 402-3355. This is a request for perform Experimental and Theoretical Research of Ion Channels for the Division of Computer Research and Technology (DCRT), National Institutes of Health (NIH) in accordance with the specifications herein: 1) The contractor shall have the necessary experience and knowledge to conduct experimental and theoretical research of ion channels using new advanced approaches to statistical analysis of electrical signals. 2) The contractor shall have the necessary experience and knowledge to create a software package which shall incorporate the algorithms of signal processing recently developed in the Section on Physics of Ion Channels in the Laboratory of Structural Biology (LSB), DCRT. 3) The contractor shall have a solid background in theoretical physics which shall include modern statistical and numerical stimulation methods. 4) In the performance of this procurement, the contractor shall relate the forces measured between macromolecules to the energetics of protein conformation transitions seen in the opening and closing of ion channels and shall develop a unified view of protein conformation and its relation to molecular solvation. The contractor shall use physical ''noise'' measurements to study kinetics of ion channels; in particular, to resolve rapid events such as passage of small nonelectrolyte molecules and binding of ions at charged sites. 5) To accomplish the above goals, the contractor shall develop a set of computer programs for statistical analysis of electrical signals from ion channels reconstituted in planar lipid bilayers. Traditional methods of noise power spectrum measurements, random signal momentum determinations, stationarity tests, etc., shall be complemented by original signal-selection algorithms which shall permit reliable measurements of statistical properties of ion currents through open ion channels. 6) The contractor shall document in a research notebook, all progress and results of the research services specified herein. During performance, the contractor shall also be in constant consultation and shall cooperate completely with Dr. Parsegian and members of hislaboratory. When working on the programs, the contractor shall discuss their features at every step during their development to permit effective programming. 7) The contractor's immediate goals shall be to optimize the data collecting procedure currently employed in ion channel experiments and to examine data selection rules and to enhance their performance. 8) The contractor shall perform the services as specified herein, in a Government-furnished laboratory on the NIH Main Campus, which is located in Bethesda, Maryland. DCRT will furnish all equipment, materials and reagents. 9) The contractor shall complete all the services as specified herein within approximately two hundred sixty-eight (268), eight hour days. The contractor shall perform the specified services on Mondays through Fridays, excluding Government holidays, between the hours of 8:30 A.M. AND 5:00 P.M. The Contractor shall perform all services specified herein, in strict accordance with the standards of NIH Research Policy. Contractors that respond to this notice must furnish concise information directed specifically to the requirements mentioned above in a capability statement. Please include in the capability statement the following information: pertinent information (enough technical material to perform a proper evaluation) in sufficient detail to demonstrate the ability to perform, terms and conditions, pricing and availability. Responses are to be received (15) days from the date of issuance in the CBD. (0352)

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