The effects of radiation on the body may appear within minutes or develop many years after exposure. Radiation injury is directly proportional to the dose absorbed by the body and radiosensitive tissues.
Depending on the dose of whole-body or partial-body exposure to external radiation, the effects can range from an increased risk of cancer years after exposure to more acute effects, including transient nausea and vomiting; hematopoietic and gastrointestinal injury, leading to immunosuppression and infection; metabolic abnormalities; hemorrhage and anemia; damage to the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and central nervous systems; and death.
To counter such threats, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is seeking to support research and development of radiation and nuclear medical countermeasures towards licensure or approval. The supported work will encompass work performed in the drug development pathway as well as the administrative foundation necessary to facilitate and coordinate these activities in partnership with NIAID.
NIAID has issued a solicitation to re-compete a contract for provision of services, facilities, expertise and capabilities for the development of radiation/nuclear medical countermeasures (MCMs) for the mitigation or treatment of acute radiation syndrome (ARS) and delayed effects of acute radiation exposure (DEARE).
The contractor will not identify or conduct basic research on new medical countermeasures. NIAID anticipates that products selected by the government for screening, testing, and development will come from industry, academia, and government agencies. The work to be performed under this contract will be initiated by NIAID and possibly include:
- Animal models of radiation injury;
- MCM testing in animal models of radiation injury;
- The spectrum of existing and planned Investigational New Drug (IND)-enabling product development support services
One Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (ID/IQ) type contract is anticipated to be awarded to an organization to provide the comprehensive suite of product development services. The anticipated period of performance will start in or around July 2015 and continue for 5 years.
Further details are available under Solicitation Number: HHS-NIH-NAID(AI)-SBSS-14-005.
