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Period of Performance: Performance shall be for twelve (12) months from date of award.
The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) is an intramural research program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) that conducts population and multidisciplinary research to discover the genetic and environmental determinants of cancer and new approaches to cancer prevention. The DCEG is carrying out studies to investigate cervical cancer, caused primarily by persistent infection with a carcinogenic type of human papillomavirus (HPV). Cervical Cancer is the 2nd most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. HPV infection is the most common sexually transmitted infection, but only a small minority of women infected with HPV types of known carcinogenic potential progress to cervical precancer, with a substantial fraction of those eventually developing invasive cancer. HPV type 16 (HPV16) is the most prevalent HPV, the most persistent, and is found in about half of all cancers. HPV16 persistence strongly predicts a subsequent diagnosis of precancer. CpG methylation is an important cellular mechanism to regulate gene expression, and cells use methylation as a defense mechanism against expression from foreign, e.g. viral, DNA. Methylation of HPV DNA by infected cells might alter viral expression patterns relevant for viral infection and transformation. Current HPV16 DNA methylation data are inconsistent.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) proposes to quantify HPV16 genome methylation to determine comprehensively whether individual CpGs or methylation patterns are associated with the 3 main HPV16 infection outcomes in 301 women: viral clearance, persistence without disease progression, or progression to cervical precancer, and an additional 30 blinded quality control samples. The Contractor shall quantify HPV16 DNA methylation at approximately 60-80 of the 113 CpG sites, for which pyrosequencing assays have been established.
The Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine of Queen Mary & Westfield College at the University of London has the only laboratory that currently offers quantitative pyrosequencing assay for HPV16 genome methylation with high throughput measurement of DNA methylation using very little amount of DNA at a large number of HPV CpG sites. The requested scope of the work can only be reasonably achieved with this novel high-throughput assay that has been designed to target a large number of the HPV genome CpG sites. The contractor shall assay for methylation status using a pyrosequencing high-throughput method that can analyze many samples in a reasonable time frame and using a limited amount of DNA. Moreover, some of the CpG sites in the HPV genome are very close together, making other methods other than pyrosequencing impractical. The Wolfson Institute of Preventive Medicine of Queen Mary & Westfield College at the University of London is the only source with this novel high-throughput assay that has been designed to target a large number of the HPV genome CpG sites.
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 Office of Acquisition on or before 11:00 AM EST on July 6, 2010 11:00 a.m. EST. No electronic capability statements will be accepted (i.e. email or fax), an original and one copy must be sent to the NCI Office of Acquisition to the address stated above. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Terry Galloway, Contract Specialist at [email protected]. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract 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 number NCI-100113-TG on all correspondence.