SOLICITATION NOTICE
H -- Telomere Length and its Genetic Determinants and Risk for Prostate Cancer
- Notice Date
- 12/1/2006
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Blvd. EPS Suite 600, Rockville, MD, 20852, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-NCI-70012-NV
- Response Due
- 12/15/2006
- Archive Date
- 12/30/2006
- Description
- 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 with Harvard Medical School, 181 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115 for laboratory services to perform average telomere length assay testing for prostate cancer cases and controls enrolled in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial who are also part of the CGEMS whole genome scan. Telomeres, telomere shortening and telomerase activity have emerged as important factors in prostate carcinogenesis. Telomere erosion is present in prostate cancer and may also be associated with the generation of chromosomal instability that characterizes this malignancy. In addition, decreased telomere DNA content in prostate cancer tissues has correlated with time to cancer recurrence. Until recently, telomere length measurement in large epidemiologic studies has been limited because the standard method (Southern blotting) requires significant quantities of DNA and a substantial time investment. Telomere length measurements by real-time kinetic quantitative PCR (Q-PCR) are advantageous because they are high-throughput and use a small amount of DNA, making studies of telomere length as a cancer risk factor possible in large studies. The vendor shall: 1) Analyze average telomere length in 2100 samples in triplicate using a Q- PCR assay (e.g. total 6300 analyses); and 2) Provide a plan for determining if the replicate values are in agreement and for repeat duplicates, as needed (allow 5% sample replenishment). Harvard is the only vendor who can perform the Q-PCR measurement for this procurement for prostate cancer cases and controls because the results from this study must be comparable to the telomere assay that were performed by Harvard for their ?Nurses Cohort? breast cancer cases and controls. Both of these studies are part of the Whole Genome Scan Study for genetic determinants of diseases and it is critical for the overall purpose that the results be comparable for telomere length across the prostate cancer and breast cancer case-control series. The genetic determinants of telomere length data will be evaluated in a pooled analysis of the male controls from the prostate cancer case/control study and in the female controls from the breast cancer case/control study. The genotyping in both studies is being done in a single research laboratory under a separate procurement mechanism. It is essential that the telomere length determinations from both cohorts also be performed in a single laboratory, under identical testing conditions, for the data are to be comparable and for the pooled analysis to be scientifically valid. To introduce another testing laboratory would be detrimental to the continuity of the research in progress. The Harvard Medical School is the only vendor known to the OEEB that can process these samples without the introduction of new variables into ongoing research. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.5 to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes it can provide the above service, without introducing new variables into an ongoing research experiment it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. An original and one copy of the capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 1:00 p.m. EST, on December 15, 2006. Faxed and emailed capability statements are NOT authorized. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed to (301) 402-4513 or emailed to dm170b@nih.gov. It is the vendor's responsibility to call (301) 402-4509 to verify questions have been received. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement 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 from the NCI contractors must be registered in the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA). Please refer to http://orca.bpn.gov in order to register. In addition, contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. NAICS 541380. Size Standard $11M.
- Record
- SN01189231-W 20061203/061201220326 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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