The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB) plans to procure, on a sole source basis, environmental epidemiologist services with K P Cantor Environmental LLC, 708 Bonifant St., Silver Spring, MD 20910.

This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) and 13.501-(a)(1) to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. The North American Industry Classification System Code is 541620 and the business size standard is $7.0M.

Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be a firm fixed price type contract. Period of performance shall be for twelve months from date of award with two, one year option periods.

The OEEB conducts studies in the United States and abroad to identify and evaluate environmental and workplace exposures that may be associated with cancer risk. Research projects are designed to identify occupational, environmental, and other factors affecting cancer risk; to characterize exposure response relationships; to elucidate biological mechanisms of action; to identify susceptible populations and gene environment interactions; and to improve research methods for occupational investigations. Projects typically involve sophisticated exposure assessments, biological components for mechanistic evaluations, and intensive collaboration among epidemiologists, industrial hygienists, and molecular biologists.

The purpose of the procurement is to obtain the services of a high level senior environmental epidemiologist to support studies currently underway in the OEEB, especially the New England Bladder Cancer Study. This is a critical study to which the Branch has devoted substantial resources to collecting epidemiologic and exposure assessment information. These studies cannot be completed without further support.

The Contractor shall be an environmental epidemiologist with a Ph.D. in, or extensive related experience in conducting and analyzing data from complex case-control, cohort, and cross-sectional studies involving detailed exposure assessment to a wide variety of drinking water contaminants. The environmental epidemiologist must have demonstrated strong skills in analyzing epidemiologic data from case-control and cohort studies and detailed assessment of exposures to environmental contaminants in these studies.

During the course of the contract, the Contractor shall design, conduct, and guide epidemiologic analyses, and perform expert exposure assessment activities on epidemiologic studies requiring environmental epidemiologic support, especially the New England Bladder Cancer Study.

K P Cantor Environmental, LLC provides high quality support for environmental epidemiologic studies. Its employer, Dr. Kenneth P. Cantor has worked on several major NCI studies, in particular the New England Bladder Cancer Study, the Spanish Bladder Cancer Study, and the Iowa Case-Control Study of Six Cancer Sites. Dr. Cantor has an in-depth and intimate knowledge of these studies obtained through years of researching the exposure to arsenic, disinfection byproducts, and other drinking water contaminants; working closely with other epidemiologists, GIS specialists, and statisticians; and overseeing data collection in many realms. To bring another experienced environmental epidemiologist up to speed on these studies would take at least six to twelve months. This time delay is unacceptable since development of exposure assessment for water contaminants in the New England Bladder Cancer is well underway and valuable momentum for an extensive group of researchers would be lost if Dr. Cantor were not retained in a timely fashion. Therefore, there is no other known environmental epidemiologist that possesses the experience, expertise, and detailed knowledge of these studies needed to allow them to immediately undertake the tasks covered by this procurement and complete them in a timely fashion.

This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, they may submit a statement of capabilities. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the above unique specifications described herein. An original and one copy of the capability statement must be received in the NCI contracting office on or before 11:00 AM EST on August 19, 2009. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Melissa Marino, Contract Specialist at [email protected]. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed acquisition based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), http://orca.bpn.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference solicitation No. NCI-90156-MM on all correspondence.