Description: This is a Request for Information (RFI). This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this RFI is to obtain knowledge and information for project planning purposes.

Background: Prescription opioid abuse is currently a major public health crisis. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the total "economic burden" of prescription opioid misuse alone in the United States is $78.5 billion a year, including the costs of healthcare, lost productivity, addiction treatment, and criminal justice involvement with 130 people in the United States dying every day from opioid overdose. Not everyone who uses opioid becomes addicted. Evidence from twin studies suggests that genetic factors influence risk to become addicted to opioids. Genetic differences influence the way people experience opioid pain relievers. Initial responses such as euphoria, dysphoria, nausea, and drowsiness are likely to be under genetic control.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) provide an opportunity to identify genetic variant for prescription opioid abuse and addiction. These types of studies require large number of participants to identify genetic loci, sometimes as many as 250,000. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is interested in leveraging the capabilities of organizations that offer genome-wide assays to identify genetic variants for prescription opioid abuse and addiction. It is anticipated that these organizations have the potential to rapidly identify genetic variants for prescription opioid abuse and addiction because many of these organizations have already genotyped their customers and can rapidly query their customers through web-based questionnaires and tasks.

Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this RFI is to identify the availability and capability of organizations that offer genome-wide assays.

Through its efforts NIDA would like to identify potential organizations that have the capability to conduct a GWAS based on the use of prescription opioids. The ultimate goal of this study is to identify genetic variants for addictions to prescription opioids.

Information Sought: The information requested in this RFI is intended for planning purposes only. Interested organizations should include relevant and specific information on each of the following questions below:

1) What is your organization's experience in performing and analyzing a GWAS?

2) Has your organization performed a GWAS based on a medical questionnaire or using electronic medical records?

3) What experience does your organization have in validating questionnaires?

4) What is the size of your customer base? How many of those customers have been genotyped and on what platform?

5) Of those customers, how many have participated in at least one research study conducted by your organization? What are the demographics of those who participated in research?

6) Can your organization implement project specific consents to allow de-identified data to be shared with external researchers? Is there any data that might suggest how this factor impacts participation?

7) Do you have any expertise in the field of addiction? If yes, please provide the name, professional qualifications of personnel with specific experience in the work requested and knowledge of, and experience in, the field of drug abuse research.

8) Please provide a brief description of description of the facilities and equipment required to conduct this type of work.

In addition to the questions identified above, please also state your opinion about the difficulty and/or feasibility of a GWAS to identify genetic variants for addictions to prescription opioids , as well as possible solutions and approaches that may currently exist in the marketplace, and information regarding innovative ideas or concepts.

The respondent must also provide their organization's DUNS number, organization name, address, point of contact, and size and type of business (e.g., 8(a), HubZone, etc., pursuant to the applicable NAICS code and any other information that may be responsive to the RFI.

One (1) copy of the response is required and must be in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format using 11-point or 12-point font, 8-1/2" x 11" paper size, with 1" top, bottom, left and right margins, and with single or double spacing.

The information submitted must be must be in and outline format that addresses each of the elements of theinformation sought paragraphs above. A cover page and an executive summary may be included but is not required.

The response is limited to ten (10) pages. The 10-page limit does not include the cover page, executive summary, or references.

The response must include the respondents' technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses.

The response must be submitted electronically to Josh Lazarus, Contracting Officer at [email protected]. Facsimile responses are NOT accepted.

The response must be received on or before April 30, 2019 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

Disclaimer and Important Notes: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed. Information provided will be used to assess tradeoffs and alternatives available for the potential requirement and may lead to the development of a solicitation. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted.

Any solicitation resulting from the analysis of information obtained will be announced to the public in Federal Business Opportunities in accordance with the FAR Part 5. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation.

Confidentiality: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).

Bid Protests Not Available