SOLICITATION NOTICE
Q -- RNA and DNA Extraction from Malaysian Breast Tumor Blocks
- Notice Date
- 8/8/2011
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- 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, Maryland, 20852
- ZIP Code
- 20852
- Solicitation Number
- NCI-110139-LG
- Archive Date
- 9/6/2011
- Point of Contact
- Laura Glockner, Phone: 3014968607
- E-Mail Address
-
laura.glockner@nih.gov
(laura.glockner@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- The National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Genetic Epidemiology Branch (GEB), intends to procure on a sole-source basis, services from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Epidemiology, 135 Dauer Drive, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, for RNA and DNA extraction from Malaysian breast tumor blocks. 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 541990 the business size standard is $7.0 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. DCEG is the world's largest and leading cancer epidemiology research group. This Division conducts population and multidisciplinary research to discover the genetic and environmental determinants of cancer and new approaches to cancer prevention. Through its programs in cancer epidemiology, genetics, statistics, and related areas, DCEG conducts broad-based, high quality, high impact research. Recent findings suggest that breast cancer subtypes may vary by ethnicity in Asian populations and it is likely that both genetic and environmental exposures may jointly contribute to the association between a specific subtype and a particular ethnic group. Tumor stratification in aforementioned studies was all based on three markers only, ER, PR, and HER2, without separation of basal from TN tumors. A more refined molecular classification approach is needed to achieve finer and more accurate tumor stratification and to identify etiologic factors underlying a specific tumor subtype, which will be helpful in developing risk models for specific types of breast cancer and therefore improving targeted screening and prevention in the future. The Genetic Epidemiology Branch plans to characterize molecular subtypes using integrated profiling analyses and to associate molecular alterations in tumors with genetic and environmental exposures. The contractor shall extract RNA and DNA from tissue sections of 57 archival breast tumor blocks and conduct 1) gene expression profiling using a nanostring panel established by the contractor; and 2) methylation profiling using Illumina 450k methylation arrays. The University of North Carolina is uniquely qualified to perform this work. UNC was among the first institutions to identify molecular subtypes of breast cancer and has led the field in classifying breast tumors using integrated profiling analyses. It has designed a comprehensive gene panel that included not only the key classifiers as established previously (PAM50) but also new genes such as wound healing and claudin low genes that were recently suggested to improve tumor classification according to clinical responses. In addition, nanostring is a newly developed technology based on direct multiplexed measurement of gene expression that is capable of high level precision and sensitivity, which allows for accurate and sensitive measurement of RNA expression in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues that have proved difficult using conventional profiling approaches because of RNA degradation. Dr. Melissa Troester and her collaborators at UNC are routinely using this new technology for gene expression profiling using FFPE RNA, while the assay is still at the developmental stage in most other places. Also, UNC has extensive experience conducting bioinformatic analyses of profiling data, which is a critical factor for the success of this project. UNC will extract RNA and DNA to ensure sufficient quality of input materials for subsequent profiling analyses. This step requires not only superb molecular skills but also pathologist expertise to distinguish tumor from other tissue components, which is rarely available in commercial extraction service labs. Finally, UNC can conduct methylation profiling using the newest Illumina methylation arrays. Conducting both RNA expression and DNA methylation profiling at one place will save time and money. 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 at the above address on or before 11:00 AM EST on August 22, 2011. 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 to the address stated above. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Laura Glockner, Contract Specialist at laura.glockner@nih.gov. 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-110139-LG on all correspondence.
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