SOLICITATION NOTICE
A -- Notice of Intent to Extend Contract: Studies of Exposure to Environmental Contaminants in Relation to Child Health in the Generation R Study
- Notice Date
- 4/30/2018
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541715
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Office of Acquisitions, Office of Management, 530 Davis Drive, Durham, North Carolina, 27713, United States
- ZIP Code
- 27713
- Solicitation Number
- NIHES-GENR-EXT-2018
- Archive Date
- 5/29/2018
- Point of Contact
- Jennifer Smith, Phone: 9842873059, Patrick J Barbour, Phone: 919-541-7596
- E-Mail Address
-
smithj3@niehs.nih.gov, barbourp@niehs.nih.gov
(smithj3@niehs.nih.gov, barbourp@niehs.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT TO AWARD A CONTRACT MODIFICATION WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION. THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. This notice is being published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) in accordance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 5.201 and 5.204 requiring notice of a proposed contract action. This is NOT a request for competitive proposals. The statutory authority for this sole source action is 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as implemented by FAR 6.302-1 - Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. The NIEHS intends to negotiate and award a contract modification to extend the contract period of performance with the incumbent contractor, Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (hereinafter "TNO") under contract HHSN273201500003C entitled "Support of Collaborative Studies of Exposure to Environmental Contaminants in Relation to Child Health in the Generation R Study." BACKGROUND The "Generation R Study" began in Rotterdam, Netherlands more than 14 years ago as a large effort to enroll and follow pregnant women and their children over an extended period of time. Nearly all pregnant women in Rotterdam were eligible and enrollment began in 2002. Almost 10,000 pregnant women and their offspring were enrolled. Women in the study provided biologic specimens and completed questionnaires about themselves and their children, and in-person follow-up examinations are continuing to take place on a regular basis. The general purpose of the Generation R Study is to find the causes of serious diseases among mothers and children. The particular interests of NIEHS in the Generation R Study is in metabolomic and environmental exposures as reflected by measurements in urine specimens. In order to strengthen the Generation R Study in this area, NIEHS has, in past years, contracted for the collection of extra maternal urine samples during pregnancy to be stored in the Netherlands for assessment of environmental exposures. Specifically, 22.5 ml of urine was designated for use in NIEHS-sponsored analyses. Under the current contract with TNO, NIEHS investigators select urine specimens for analysis, get the specimens analyzed, and then relate the results to child development to identify adverse effects. The Statement of Work for the current contract was developed with several key goals. First, the contract provides continuous support for the "core work" of the requirement which consists of specimen storage, data processing, and management/administration efforts. Second, the contract contains options for specific projects and lab analysis which are broadly defined to accomplish a variety of things. For example, the options provide a mechanism to facilitate the development and evaluation of projects initiated at NIEHS, obtain human subjects approval in the Netherlands for projects initiated at NIEHS, identify and ship specimens for specific studies, and respond to requests for various types of data. Third, the contract provides for the support of a post-doctoral fellow at TNO in order to support the anticipated work, special projects, and publication efforts during the contract extension. The contract was established for a period of 5 years and has allowed for fruitful collaborations in areas of particular importance to the Epidemiology Branch at NIEHS. The current R&D contract with TNO referenced in this notice was awarded on June 17, 2013 and expires on June 16, 2018. Important scientific findings under the contract and evolving discoveries in the epidemiological arena have resulted in the need to extend the contract to allow for continued support of the Generation R study and continue scientific projects being performed. NIEHS intends to modify the contract to extend the period of performance by adding five (5) additional 12-month option periods which will extend the Base contract up to an additional five years in total. In addition to extending the Base contract, NIEHS also intends to exercise "Option 3 - Support for Scientific Publications" for one additional 12-month period for support of a postdoctoral fellow who will support the anticipated work, special projects, and publication efforts occurring during the contract extension. These revisions do not alter the original objectives of the contract and no changes to the technical specifications will be required. These revisions merely continue the current objectives and requirements of the contract. JUSTIFICATION The Generation R cohort study represents a highly unique resource for NIEHS investigators. TNO and the Generation R investigators are the only entities with access to the data required for these studies, and are the only ones who obtained approval from a human subjects committee to study the subjects. To maintain confidentiality, they are the only ones who have rights to access the specimens and data. No other entity or investigator has access. Therefore, all access to or use of these biomaterials, data, and specimens by NIEHS must be through collaboration with Netherlands researchers at TNO. Any contract action as described herein will be made in accordance with the required documentation and approval through a Justification and Approval (J&A). RESPONSES While this synopsis does not constitute a solicitation, interested vendors may identify their interest and capability to satisfy this requirement. The Government understands that TNO is the only contractor which can provide the requested services and specimens to NIEHS. However, firms that believe they can fully meet the Government's requirement may submit a written capabilities statement. The capabilities statement must contain sufficient documentation to establish a bona fide capability to fulfill the requirement, and must be received within fifteen (15) days of this posting. Such documentation shall be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination not to compete this requirement, based upon responses to this notice, is solely within the discretion of the Government. NIEHS will not be responsible for any costs incurred by interested parties in responding to this notice. ONLY EMAIL RESPONSES WILL BE ACCEPTED. All questions and correspondence regarding this notice must be made in writing via email to smithj3@niehs.nih.gov.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/NIEHS/NIHES-GENR-EXT-2018/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: The Netherlands, Netherlands
- Record
- SN04905393-W 20180502/180430230913-63b328c3f3dc16b800ac6dae764b7e9d (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps Link to This Notice
(may not be valid after Archive Date)
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