Contract Management Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Neuroscience Center, Suite 3287, 6001 Executive Blvd., MSC 9531, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9531

A -- HIGH THROUGHPUT ANALYSIS OF GENE EXPRESSION PATTERNS IN THE NERVOUS SYSTEM SOL NINDS-99-RFI-02 DUE 070699 POC Laurie Leonard, Contracting Officer, (301) 496-1813 E-MAIL: Laurie Leonard, ll44s@nih.gov. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) and National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) are planning to establish a public gene expression database for the mouse nervous system. As part of this initiative, we are seeking sources that are interested in and capable of high throughput production of histological data on gene product localization in tissue sections of the brain and spinal cord. Background This RFI is issued as one element of the Brain Molecular Anatomy Project (BMAP), a multi-institute initiative aimed at promoting the understanding of gene function in the nervous system. BMAP has two components: (1) gene discovery, and (2) gene expression analysis. The gene discovery component is using an expressed sequence tag (EST) sequencing approach to catalogue the full repertoire of genes that are expressed in the nervous system under both normal and abnormal conditions. This gene discovery component of BMAP was initiated last year, with the award of a contract (N01 MH80014) to the University of Iowa (M. B. Soares, PI) to support construction of cDNA libraries from 11 brain regions of adult mouse. Over 75,000 3' ESTs will be derived from serially subtracted libraries, and used to identify a non-redundant collection of >20,000 mouse brain cDNAs. The expression analysis component of BMAP will use high throughput methods to analyse gene expression patterns in the nervous system as a function of cell type, anatomical location, developmental stage, and physiological state. The first step in this analysis component was the issuance of a Request for Applications (NS-99-003) to develop technologies to support gene expression analysis in the nervous system. The next step will be to establish a public database of images of gene expression patterns in sections of the mouse brain and spinal cord. To aid in the design of a possible future solicitation relative to this initiative, we ask that interested organizations submit information concerning your capabilities to accomplish the following: 1. Generation of histochemical probes for hundreds to thousands of gene products (RNA and/or protein) normally expressed in the murine nervous system. (Note: The 20,000 member mouse brain cDNA collection described above will be available for this effort.) 2. High throughput production of tissue sections of uniform thickness and consistent stereotaxic position from the mouse brain and spinal cord. 3. Histochemical processing of tissue sections to localize RNA and/or protein products at high sensitivity, resolution, and throughput volume. 4. Collection of microscopic, microscanner, or other kinds of optical images of gene localization patterns in tissue sections for subsequent transfer into an image database. It is our opinion that the most suitable target audience to respond to this initiative would be organizations involved in high throughput generation of histological data. This Request for Information (RFI) is for information and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation on the part of the Government. The Government does not intend to award a contract on the basis of responses nor otherwise pay for the preparation of any information submitted or the Government's use of such information. Acknowledgment of receipt of responses will not be made, nor will respondents be notified of the Government's evaluation of the information received. However, should such a requirement materialize, no basis for claims against the Government shall arise as a result of a response to this request for information or the Government's use of such information as either part of our evaluation process or in developing specifications for any subsequent requirement. Responses will be held in a confidential manner. Any proprietary information should be so marked. All respondents are asked to indicate the type and size of your business organization, e.g., Large Business, Small Business, Hubzone Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Women-Owned Business, 8(a), Historically Black College or University/Minority Institution (HBCU/MI), educational institution, profit/non-profit hospital, or other nonprofit organization. Responses should be identified with NINDS RFI No. 99-02, and are due by July 6, 1999. Please submit three (3) copies of your response, not to exceed 5 pages, to the attention of: Laurie A. Leonard, Contracting Officer, Contracts Management Branch, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 3287, MSC 9531, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-9531. Facsimile responses will also be accepted as long as they do not exceed 5 pages in length. E-mail responses, sent to LL44S@nih.gov, will also be accepted. Posted 06/11/99 (W-SN342046). (0162)

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