National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, ESS, Executive Plaza South, Rm. 620, 6120 Executive Blvd., MSC 7224, Bethesda, MD 20892-7224

B -- LABORATORY SUPPORT FOR STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF MEMBRANE PROTEINS BY ELECTRON MICROSCOPY SOL RFP N02-BC-81038-21 DUE 040998 POC Barbara A. Shadrick, Contracting Officer; 301-435-3787 E-MAIL: Barbara A. Shadrick, bs92y@nih.gov. The Division of Basic Sciences (DBS), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), proposes to issue a Sole Source RFP to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine for laboratory support for structural studies of membrane proteins by electron microscopy awaiting completion of an electron microscopy facility on the NIH campus. Authority for this action is 41 USC 253(c)(1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1(b)(1). In February 1998, the NCI selected Dr. Sriram Subramaniam as a Section Chief in the Laboratory of Biochemistry, DBS, NCI. This selection resulted from a nationwide search. Dr. Subramaniam will report aboard the NCI in May 1998, as a full time government employee and will continue his independent research which was initiated several years ago while he was an employee of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Biological Chemistry. Because this facility will not be completed in time for Dr. Subramaniam to continue his research on-site and in order to allow the continuation and progress of the on-going studies, the NCI proposes to provide him with research support during the interim period. The proposed contractor will provide support for studies on understanding the biogenesis, structure and mechanisms underlying the activation of rhodopsin, the G-protein coupled light receptor in vertebrates and in invertebrates. The experimental goals are to obtain molecular "snapshots" of the structure and environment of newly synthesized rhodopsin and to understand the structural basis of steps in light transduction by rhodopsin. This is one of the few laboratories world-wide that is actively pursuing high resolution electron crystallographic studies of membrane proteins. Further, the existing staff has acquired an expertise and familiarity with the research which cannot be duplicated without years of working on the project. Based upon the above, the Government believes that the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine is the only source that can provide the necessary resources to continue the research without substantially reducing the progress and without a loss of the data which it has acquired over the years. This contract is being solicited as a cost-reimbursement, level-of-effort contract with a base period of 18 months and three one-month options. This is expected to be sufficient time to allow for the construction of the on-site laboratory. (See Numbered Note 22) All responses to this notice must be submitted in writing by mail, fax or electronic mail. Collect calls will not be accepted. (0055)

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