National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSAS, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS/Room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

A -- LABORATORY RESEARCH SERVICES FOR IGFS AND IGFBPS SOL RFQ80197-NS DUE 083198 POC Patricia Haun, 301-402-4509 The Nutrional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to procure the laboratory research services of Jewish General Hospital, 3755 Cote St. Catherine, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H 3T 1E2. During 1997, NCI conducted a limited market survey of available laboratories doing assays for IGFs and IGFBPs. Based on that survey, "proof of performance" studies involving four laboratories, which were competitively procured, were conducted to assay large numbers of samples for IGFs and IGFBPs. Each laboratory was given three sets of randomly ordered, blinded, duplicate samples from five women, to be assayed over a 3-month interval. Coefficients of variation (c.v.'s) for each IGF (IGF-1 and IGF-2), IGFBP (IGFBP-1 and IGFBP-3), and free IGF-1 were generated. These c.v.'s included both between and within-batch variation. Based on the results of the survey and subsequent results of the "proof of performance", NCI determined coefficients of variation, based on blinded quality control samples from at least five individuals measured over at least a two-month period, which WOULD BE NEEDED TO obtain desired confidence levels. Jewish General Hospital is the only known source who can meet all of the required coefficients of variation: <=13% for IGF-1; <=10% for IGFBP-3; and <=15% for IGFBP-1. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above c.v.s, 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 meet and/or improve upon the c.v.s for each IGF and IGFBP specified above. The c.v.s must be based on blinded quality control samples from at least five individuals measured over at least a two-month period. Merely meeting and/or improving on one c.v. is not acceptable, meeting and/or improving on all three c.v. levels is required. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 3:00 p.m. EST, on August 31, 1998. If you have any questions, please contact Patricia Haun, Purchasing Agent on (301) 402-4509. Based on the capability statements submitted in response to this notice, NCI may request that an organization demonstrate its capability through a performance test. However, testing will only be performed if an organization clearly demonstrates in its capabilities that it has the necessary experience, staff and other resources to reasonably assume that it can achieve all required coefficients of variation. Posted 08/13/98 (W-SN236582). (0225)

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