INTENT TO SOLE SOURCE NOTICE The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina intends to negotiate a Sole Source contract procurement with The Duke University Center for Human Genetics. The purpose of this project is to obtain services which involves screening participants for mental health, PTSD, Substance Use disorders, Depression, Traumatic brain Injury and banking of a blood sample assessment of neurotransmitters and genetic markers of mental illness. VISN 6 MIRECC has the need for a vendor qualified to accomplish RNA extraction services from 1500 de-identified, MIRECC acquired specimens. The VISN 6 MIRECC will provide previously collected whole blood samples, each stored in PaxGene RNA tubes from which the vendor will extract the purified RNA. As these samples have been stored in a -80 degree Fahrenheit environment for a period of approximately 18 months, the RNA purification will follow the experimental protocol of the manufacturer. After purification, the samples will be quantitated and the quality will be determined through the use of an Agilent Bioanalyzer. The RNA produced through this protocol will be stored, and be suitable for future microarray expression analysis as well as a variety of other applications. This proposed contract action is for services for which the government intends to solicit and negotiate with only once source under the authority of FAR 6.302. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive quotes. A determination by the government not to compete this proposed contract based on responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. However, interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement and submit quotations no later than 12 Noon, September 22, 2008 EST to: [email protected] or Fax: 757-728-3132. If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Wanda W. Thomas at 757-315-3935.

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