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 6074, Rockville, MD 20852, UNITED STATES.

Description
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Nutritional Epidemiology Branch (NEB) plans to procure on a sole source basis services from Medical Research Council Cancer Cell Unit (MRCCCU), Hutchison-MRC Research Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge, United Kingdom, CB2 0XZ to identify and test novel protein biomarkers for high-grade esophageal squamous dysplasia and early esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures in FAR Part 13.106 (b)(1). The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $12.0 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 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 Nutritional Epidemiology Branch (NEB) in DCEG conducts intramural research in areas related to nutrition and cancer which are aimed at lowering human cancer risk. One area of focus is the etiology and early detection of esophageal cancer, especially in high risk populations.

NEB would like to identify protein markers that are upregulated in Esophageal Squamous Dysplasia (ESD) and can be used to identify patients with this precursor lesion among asymptomatic adults in populations at high risk for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (ESCC). The purpose is to develop a non-endoscopic method for primary screening to identify high risk individuals with ESD and early ESCC. Early detection will significantly reduce ESCC mortality in these high risk populations. Mining of expression array databases will be used to identify genes consistently upregulated in high grade ESD and ESCC, compared to normal esophageal mucosa and low-grade ESD. Quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) will be performed on 50 frozen esophageal tissue specimens to validate mRNA upregulation of biomarkers in ESCC. Immunohistochemistry will be performed on 250 formalin-fixed-paraffin-embedded (FFPE) esophageal biopsies to validate the markers which were previously validated by qRT-PCR at the protein level. Five hundred (500) Cytosponge Esophageal Cell Samplers will be provided for sample collection from high risk populations. Samples collected using this apparatus will be tested for the most promising biomarkers. The MRCCCU is also the sole supplier of the Cytosponge Esophageal Cell Sampler. This Sampler cannot be obtained from any other source. MRCCCU is the only laboratory with a published record of peer-reviewed results using this combination of tests to develop early detection biomarkers for esophageal cancer. MRCCCU has the high level of expertise required to perform this service.

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 August 22, 2011 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-110141-TG_KW on all correspondence.

 

 

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