The Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Transplantation (DAIT) of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institutes of Health (NIH) supports research related to basic understanding of microbiology and immunology leading to the development of vaccines and novel therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of infectious and immune-mediated diseases, and improvements in public health. The Preclinical Research Contracts Branch (PRCB) of the Contract Management Program (CMP) of the Division of Extramural Activities (DEA), NIAID is seeking capability statements from small business organizations with the technical expertise and facilities to support DAIT’s ultimate goal of developing “user-friendly” mathematical modeling tools for high (whole organism or system), intermediate (tissue or organ), or fine (single cell) resolution modeling of host-immune responses to infection and vaccines/therapeutics against NIAID Category A, B and C priority pathogens. (http://www.niaid.nih.gov/biodefense/bandc_priority.htm). As part of its research program to improve defense against potential agents of bioterrorism, DAIT seeks to establish Immune Modeling Centers (Centers). These multi-disciplinary Centers will develop novel, or improved, highly predictive mathematical models to define host immune responses to infection, as well as vaccination and other therapeutic interventions used to protect against NIAID Category A, B and C priority pathogens. In some cases, immunological mechanisms relevant to biodefense are broadly applicable for many pathogens and may be most efficiently studied using model systems. Inclusion of immunological research that is not directed specifically at NIAID Category A, B and C priority pathogens, or their products, may be found to be responsive if it directly addresses a practical approach to developing mathematical models to define host immune responses to infection, as well as vaccination and other therapeutic interventions against NIAID Category A, B, or C pathogens. This correlation should be described very clearly in the capability statement. Knowledge gained from these studies will advance DAIT’s understanding of the delicate balance required to induce protective immunity and guide laboratory experiments of host immune responses against infectious agents. Results obtained from these programs will sharpen DAIT’s assessments of vaccine efficacy and responses to other prophylactic and therapeutic treatments, and will advance development of novel or improved vaccines, prophylactics, and immunotherapeutics against NIAID Category A, B and C priority pathogens. Under this program, the Centers shall conduct basic and applied research to develop new mathematical models or improve existing models of immune responses to NIAID Category A, B and C priority pathogens or vaccines and immune-based therapies against these pathogens. The models shall be validated through appropriate immunological experimentation. The multi-disciplinary research team shall consist of immunologists, physicists or engineers, mathematicians, computer scientists, and infectious disease experts. Centers may be “virtual;” however, frequent interactions and communication are key elements to the program’s success. Each Center shall focus on a specific immunological area, such as various aspects of innate or adaptive immunity, or the interface between innate and adaptive immune responses that are critical for protection against pathogens. Each Center will have strong bioinformatics and education components: (i) the bioinformatics component will develop methods and standards for data sharing and communication among the Centers, using open-source protocols, and shall also facilitate the development and distribution of “user-friendly” immune modeling tools to the broader research community; and (ii) the Center-localized education component shall be directed at graduate students, post-doctoral fellows, and visiting scientists within the Centers that provide trainees with an understanding of the power of applying mathematical principles to biological phenomena in immunology; drawing from other fields to develop the education programs, such as population genetics, ecology, and epidemiology is encouraged. In the field of immunology, researchers have used mathematical models to advance the understanding of the dynamics of adaptive immunity, such as antibody generation and specificity, development of CD4+ T cell responses that include parameters for Th1 and Th2 differentiation, generation and maintenance of immunological memory, and predictions of host-pathogen interactions. This effort will support research to improve the predictive qualities of immune-focused mathematical models, which may be used to: extract knowledge from complex data sets and to suggest new experiments; predict vaccine efficacy and responses to other prophylactic and therapeutic treatments; and facilitate the development of novel or improved vaccines, prophylactics, and therapeutics against potential agents of bioterrorism by translating in vitro and in vivo animal study data into predictions of human immune responses. This program will benefit from current expertise and recent advances in immunology, infectious disease, mathematics, and computational biology. The Government anticipates multiple awards. It is anticipated that the duration of the contracts will be a maximum of five (5) years; however, the length of time for which funding is requested should be consistent with the nature and complexity of the proposed research. Interested Small Business organizations should submit two (2) copies of their capability statement addressing the areas cited above. No submission shall exceed a maximum of 25 1-sided pages in a 12-point font. No collect calls will be accepted and no facsimile transmissions will be accepted. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE GOVERNMENT TO ISSUE A SOLICITATION OR TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. THE NAICS CODE IS 541710 WITH A SIZE STANDARD OF 500 EMPLOYEES OR FEWER. See contact information above.

Bid Protests Not Available