Added: Aug 18, 2008 12:18 pm
The National Cancer Institute (NCI), a division of The National Institutes of Health (NIH) plans to procure on a sole source basis existing blood and urine analyses to examine the correlation of these analyses in higher risk of cancers of the esophagus, stomach or kidneys with Kaiser Permanente, Division of Research, 2000 Broadway Oakland, California 94612-2304.
The supplies and services herein are being procured in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1). The North American Industry Classification code is 541711 and the business size standard is 500 employees.
Period of Performance: September 15, 2008 through September 14, 2009.
The primary objective of the procurement is to evaluate whether abnormalities shown in routine urine and blood analyses are related to subsequent risk of cancers of the esophagus, stomach, and kidney. The data must be able to address the following public health questions: 1) long-term risk of kidney cancer in relation to levels of urine albumin and sugar levels collected during routine physical examinations; 2) long-term risk of esophageal and gastric cancers in relation to complete blood count and hematocrit levels collected during routine physical examinations; 3) whether the association is different for anatomic subsite and histologic subtype of these malignancies; 4) the pattern of associations by patient characteristics, such as gender, age, and race/ethnic groups; 5) the pattern of associations by the duration and severity of abnormality and other relevant comorbid conditions as available; and 6) whether the associations are modified or confounded by other risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, and Helicobacter pylori infection.
The Kaiser Permanente is the only source known to the National Cancer Institute to be able to carry out the tasks specified in the procurement because it meets all of the specified criteria including capacity of data referencing the study of blood and urine and its relation to higher cancer risk in individuals. Being the largest plan in the NCI-supported Cancer Research Network, a consortium of research Health Maintenance Organizations, the Northern California Kaiser Permanente has a current membership of over 3.2 million individuals. It is also the earliest established plan (since 1942) among the network of HMOs, ensuring both a large study population size and a sufficient length of follow-up to observe incident cancer diagnosis. About half of the plan members are Caucasians, followed by Hispanics (19%), Asian Americans (17%), and African Americans (8%), ensuring sufficient numbers for separate analyses among racial/ethnic minorities because of lack of data in these ethic groups for this study. Different racial and ethnic groups have varying levels of risk given to a specific factor. Testing each group provides concrete data for this analysis. In addition, the plan conducted a number of separate cohort studies with more detailed collection of data by personal interviews and banking of blood samples for molecular analysis, including a large cohort of over 130,000 adults who received a multiphasic health examination and were interviewed during 1977 through 1985. More detailed data on potential confounding factors are available in these data, including status of H. pylori infection, which is unlikely to be available in other cohorts with routine blood and urine analysis data.
This is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can perform the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. The statement of capabilities and any other furnished information must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform this requirement. An original and one copy of the capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 11 AM ET September 3, 2008. Faxed and E-mailed capability statements are not authorized. Questions must be submitted in writing to Malinda Holdcraft, Contract Specialist at Holdcram@exchange.nih.gov or by fax 301-402-4513. 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. No collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive and award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA). Please reference solicitation number NCI-80193-NG on all correspondence.
