Contracting Office Address

Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Suite 600, Room 6070, Rockville, MD 20852, UNITED STATES.

Description

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), plans to procure on a sole source basis services from Karolinska Institute, Department of Medical Epidemiology, P.O. Box 281, S-171 77, Stockholm, Sweden.

This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1).  The North American Industry Classification System code is 621511 and the business size standard is $13.5 million.

Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation.  This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract.

Period of Performance: Performance shall be for twelve (12) months from date of award.

The Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, conducts intramural research in the areas of nutrition and cancer, genetics and cancer, and cancer prevention and NEB is currently examining the hypothesis that differences in the gastric microbiome are associated with the different risks of gastric cancer.  The Nutrition Intervention Trial and the Early Detection of Esophageal Cancer project, both housed in NEB, offer some of the only prospectively collected biopsy sample banks appropriate for the assessment of this potential link. 

The purpose of this procurement is to obtain data on the makeup of the gastric microbiome in fixed gastric biopsy specimens. Gastric cancers account for over 800,000 deaths per year worldwide.  NCI has demonstrated in multiple studies that poor oral health/tooth loss is associated with increased risk of these cancers in epidemiologic studies.  Beyond Helicobacter pylori, few studies have directly examined the potential link between the gastric microbial milieu (microbiome) and cancers of the stomach. The contractor shall determine the gastric microbiome of 100 fixed gastric biopsy specimens. 

The Department of Medical Epidemiology at the Karolinska Institute is the only known laboratory group to the NCI that has developed the necessary methodology to obtain DNA from these biopsies, separate the human from bacterial DNA, extensively sequence the resulting DNA, and complete the necessary bioinformatics processing.  The required methodology must be able to overcome human DNA contamination and the expected degradation of the targeted bacterial DNA.  Furthermore, very few prospectively collected biopsies series exist and therefore or tissue is precious.  The NCI can only offer approximately 30 microns of tissue cut from single biopsy blocks for this procedure.  The tissue should be microdissected to avoid bacterial contamination that may have been present near the epithelial surface at the time of embedding.  The Department of Medical Epidemiology has already demonstrated competence in this complex procedure integrating tissue processing, DNA extraction, DNA sequencing, and bioinformatic analysis using minute quantities of starting tissue. 

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 Acquisitions on or before 11:00 AM EST on August 13, 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 Acquisitions at the address stated above.  All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Karri Mares, 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-­­100150-KM on all correspondence.