Administrative Support for Chernobyl Projects in Ukraine

Notice Type: Presolicitation Notice Classification Code: R -- Professional, administrative, and management support services NAICS Code: 541 -- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services/541990 -- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services Place of Performance: Ukraine The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate with only one source, the Science and Technology Center in Ukraine, under the authority of FAR 6.302-1. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to continue with this proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive acquisition. Background: The Radiation Epidemiology Branch (REB), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute (NCI), sponsors joint U.S.-Ukraine studies of the health effects of the Chernobyl accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station on April 26, 1986, in Ukraine. This contract was awarded on a competitive basis for a one (1)-year base period (May 1, 2020- April 30, 2021) and one (1) one-year option (Option Period 1) for a total potential performance through April 30, 2022. This contract has since been modified to add 2 Option Periods and incorporate additional work. The total current value of the contract, inclusive of Options is $1,783,333.00. The contract, - Administrative Support to Chernobyl Projects, contract number 75N91020C00008 with Science and Technology Center in Ukraine (STCU) provides administrative oversight and support for the collaborating research institutes conducting two projects: 1) the - Clinical Cohort of Ukrainian Cleanup Workers project and 2) the - Ukrainian Thyroid Cohort/Breast Cancer Project. The - Clinical Cohort of Ukrainian Cleanup Workers project is a collaboration between NCI and the National Research Center for Radiation Medicine (NRCRM), Kiev. Following the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident on April 26, 1986, approximately 150,000 cleanup workers (primarily men) living in the Ukraine participated in various recovery activities. Since the accident, these individuals have been invited for clinical examinations every two (2) years at the NRCRM with the goal of establishing a cohort of about 10,000 Ukrainian cleanup workers from which radiation doses are estimated using a brief survey. Follow-up with this cohort provides insights into cancer mediators, precancer risks and other diseases following protractive external exposure to ionizing radiation. The - Ukrainian Thyroid Cohort/Breast Cancer Project is a collaboration between NCI and the Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism (IEM), Kiev. The nuclear power plant accident at Chernobyl released large quantities of Iodine-131 and other radioisotopes of iodine into the atmosphere, contaminating thousands of square kilometers and exposing millions of people in Ukraine. NCI is collaborating with IEM to conduct a study of thyroid and breast cancer in Ukraine following the Chernobyl accident. The study includes subjects who were exposed to fallout in utero or as children and women with children born between April 1, 1985, and May 1, 1986. All subjects are followed for cancer morbidity and mortality through linkage of cohort data with the Ukrainian Cancer Registry. Description: NCI intends to modify contract number 75N91020C00008, with Science and Technology Center in Ukraine to add additional work within the existing period of performance to provide dosimetry support for the COVNET study as outlined in Appendix A. STCU will perform administrative duties to support collaboration among the study personnel at NCI and the collaborating institutions as specified in the study protocols for two supported projects: Cleanup Workers and Thyroid/Breast Cancer Project. These activities include but are not limited to: Provide support maintaining a Unites States Ukrainian binational project agreement to support collaborating institutions. Providing local office staff, who are fluent in English, Ukrainian and Russian, on-site administrative and financial management and oversight of the studies conducted by collaborating institutions. Providing project planning and agreement, evaluation and verification of the progress of project activities, materials, supplies, personnel and services through close monitoring and auditing. Providing income tax-free and fringe benefit-free payments made directly to the project staff doing the work at the collaborating institutions. Providing the logistical support and procuring of duty-free customs clearance of purchases of equipment, materials and supplies to be made for the collaborating institutions in Ukraine or from outside the country. Reporting to the NCI Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) any significant managerial issues or problems and providing alternatives for resolution of the problems. Providing support in compensation to study subjects as needed by National Research Center for Radiation Medicine (NRCRM) and Institute of Endocrinology and Metabolism (IEM) in performance of the tasks outlined in the SOW and approved by the NCI COR. The contractor shall confirm collaborating institutions provide collected data and samples directly to the NCI through receipt of a brief description/inventory of collected data and samples. NCI will verify receipt. NCI intends to use the Statutory authority: 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1), as set forth in FAR 6.302-1, only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Science and Technology Center in Ukraine is the only responsible source, and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements. Science and Technology Center in Ukraine has the unique capabilities as the only source to provide the services that meet NCI's needs. The STCU has successfully and efficiently managed NCI-supported projects in Ukraine through a U.S. - Ukrainian binational agreement since 1995, as well as this NCI contract since May 1, 2020. The continuation of this work is critical to fulfilling NCI's mission to gather and report data on temporal patterns of radiation related health outcomes by carrying out longitudinal analysis in these unique, historical cohorts. No other source has been found that possesses all the requisite knowledge and skills to perform the services in a way that would satisfy the requirements on the current contract. Award to any other source would result in substantial delays in service delivery and duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. This is not a request for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations and does not commit the Government to any contractual agreement. The original solicitation notice was posted to beta.SAM.gov as Administrative Support for Chernobyl Projects under Solicitation Number 75N91019R00027. All responsible sources may submit a tailored capability statement addressing the scope of the work noted above, which shall be considered by the agency. The capability statement must be submitted electronically (via email) to Kristi-Jo Noel, Contract Specialist, at Kristi-jo.noel@nih.gov in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) by May 16, 2023 at 4:00 PM, EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. No collect calls or facsimile transmissions will be accepted. Primary Point of Contact: Kristi-Jo Noel, Contract Specialist Kristi-jo.noel@nih.gov