The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics (DCEG), Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB) plans to procure on a sole source basis an Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) Cancer Genome-wide Association Study (GWAS) and telomere length evaluation from the University of Minnesota, Masonic Cancer Center, 425 East River Road, Room 554B, Minneapolis, MN 55455. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1 (b)(1). The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $12 million. The period of performance shall be four (4) months from date of award. Gastric cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Rates are generally higher in developing countries, and lower in North American and Western European countries. Most cohort studies were initiated in populations at lower risk for gastric cancer. As such, case numbers are small in most cohort studies, leading to limited power to investigate moderate risk factors. The NCI is pooling prospectively collected specimens from multiple cohort studies in the cohort consortium in order to identify risk factors for gastric cancer. The purpose of the current procurement is to acquire plasma (and/or serum) and DNA samples from esophageal and gastric cancer cases and controls in the Shanghai Cohort Study and the Singapore Cohort Study at the University of Minnesota in order for them to be used to measure germline variation, Hp, pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, and telomere length. The laboratory at the University of Minnesota shall pull, aliquot, and transport plasma (and/or serum) samples from 854 esophageal and gastric cancer cases and controls. In addition, the laboratory will pull, aliquot, extract and standardize DNA from 482 esophageal and gastric cancer cases and controls. The proposed population of gastric cancer cases and controls from the Shanghai Cohort and Singapore Cohort studies will be part of a larger joint effort to examine variation in several important risk factors for gastric cancer among cohorts from the NCI Cohort Consortium. The Shanghai and Singapore Cohorts are unique and carefully conducted prospective cohorts from Asia, a high incidence area for upper gastrointestinal cancers. Therefore, these samples will serve as a vital component of this joint collaborative effort. The above mentioned samples to be used for this collaborative project are in the sole possession of the University of Minnesota, and thus the requested work can only be carried out by this laboratory. 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 shall 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 September 4, 2009. 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 No. NCI-90209-KM on all correspondence.

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