Request for Information - Identifying Biomarkers of Resilience to Spatial Disorientation

Notice of Intent to Sole Source The United States Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity (USAMRAA), on behalf of the United States Air Force (USAF) 59th Medical Wing, Science and Technology Office is issuing this notice of intent to award a new contract on a sole source basis. This is not a request for proposals. This notice does not represent a commitment by the Government to pay for costs incurred from the preparation and/or submission of data in response to this notice.

The Government intends to award a sole source contract to Foundation for Advancing Veteran’s Healthcare Research (FAVHR) for the Advancement of Military Medicine for Research and Development (R&D) Services for the research study titled “Identifying biomarkers of resilience to spatial disorientation” for the United States Air Force (USAF) 59th Medical Wing, Science and Technology Office located at Joint Base San Antonio – Lackland Air Force Base, Texas.

This research study is titled ‘‘Identifying Biomarkers of Resilience to Spatial Disorientation.” Spatial disorientation (SD) is a common, well-recognized, and critical problem in pilots, correlating with aviation accidents, fatalities, and loss of jets. Identifying the factors that confer resilience against development of SD is of high priority and an unmet need for the USAF.

Akin to numerous human traits (height, weight, cardiovascular disease) we hypothesize that the proclivity to develop SD may have a genetic and genomic influence. In collaboration with the 59th Medical Wing Science and Technology and the Foundation for Advancing Veteran’s Healthcare Research (FAVHR), this study design proposes a single-site, non-randomized, prospective study. The main objectives are summarized as follows:

Evaluate the contribution of genetic variants to resilience against development of spatial disorientation. Evaluate the interaction between these genetic variants and environmental influences (e.g., exposure to aeroallergens) and the combinatorial effect on spatial disorientation. Evaluate immunologic biomarkers of resilience against development of spatial disorientation.

This contract will be issued on a sole source basis as the Government’s market research indicates that the Foundation for Advancing Veteran’s Healthcare Research (FAVHR) is the only source capable of providing the requested Research and Development services. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this requirement is 541715 – Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Science with a Size Standard of 1,000 employees.

Any sources that believe they are eligible and capable of providing these services must respond in writing. Responses must be supported with clear and convincing evidence articulating the ability to provide the items outlined above. A request for documentation will not be considered an affirmative response. Information received will be considered solely for the purposes of determining whether a competitive procurement is in the best interest of the Government.

If no written responses are received by the date listed below, which reflects fifteen (15) days after the publication of this notice, the contract will be awarded without further remark. This notice is provided solely as information to the marketplace.

CONTACT INFORMATION: Questions may be submitted to Tara Garver at tara.n.garver.civ@health.mil no later than 16:00PM EST on Saturday, 15 June 2024.