REGARDS DNA Extraction and Quantification

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) intends to negotiate and award a sole source firm-fixed-price contract to the University of Vermont Laboratory for Clinical Biochemistry Research for specialized laboratory support services for the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Difference in Stroke (REGARDS) project. The contractor will perform DNA extraction, DNA quantification, repository handling, preparation, and shipment of extracted DNA samples for approximately 12,000 REGARDS participant biospecimens in support of a genome-wide association study (GWAS). The key responsibilities of the contractor include: • Evaluating frozen packed cell sample availability in the REGARDS repository • Selecting and pulling samples from the repository in batches • Performing manual DNA extraction using the Qiagen Puregene DNA Purification Kit • Performing DNA quantification using PicoGreen • Creating cryovials of DNA for the REGARDS repository • Creating and maintaining tracking inventory for extracted DNA samples • Preparing 1 ug or more DNA per sample at a concentration of 50 ng/uL or greater • Shipping extracted DNA samples to CARD facilities • Providing DNA quantification results to the Government • Identifying any samples for which extraction failed