Bile samples and stomach biopsies 16S rRNA gene laboratory, sequencing and taxonomic analysis services.

Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Suite 600, Room 6068, Rockville, MD 20852, UNITED STATES. Description The National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to procure on a sole source basis with University of Maryland Medical School 801 West Baltimore Street, Suite 638, Baltimore, MD 21201 for bile samples and stomach biopsies 16S rRNA gene laboratory, sequencing and taxonomic analysis services. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1). Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $12M. Period of performance is for twelve months from time of award. It has been determined that there is no opportunity to acquire green products or services under this contract. Human microbiota plays an important role in human health and disease. Emerging data suggest that microbial agents associate with cancers in the upper gastrointestinal (UGI) tract. Suspected microbial infectious agents include Salmonella typhi, helicobacteria bilis and H. pylori for gallbladder cancer, and H. pylori for gastric cancer. However, previous detection of bacteria mainly relied on fresh culture, which provides limited information about number and relative abundance of bacteria species, or other insensitive/unreliable measures. NCI proposes to use next generation sequencing technology (Illumina) to sequence the bacterial 16s rRNA gene from human bile samples and gastric tissues (tissues from both cardia and noncardia of the stomach). The 16s rRNA gene will be sequenced in 300 bile samples (260 bile samples from gallstone patients and 40 bile samples from gallbladder cancer patients; 200 stomach tissue pairs (tumor and adjacent normal tissue pairs; 80 cardia pairs and 120 noncardia pairs; total of 400 stomach samples). NCI's goal is to estimate the total microbial diversity in human bile and in cardia and noncardia stomach tissues. This will allow us to evaluate the role of human microbiome in cancers of UGI tract which include gallbladder and gastric cancers, as well as to evaluate the relationship between microbiome and gallbladder inflammation markers. In addition, in order to exclude potential differences in results caused by different laboratories, all the lab work will be performed in one laboratory. The Institute of Genome Sciences (IGS), University of Maryland Medical School, is uniquely qualified and located to provide this service. IGS is a lead institution for the NIH Roadmap-sponsored Human Microbiome Project. This is the only lab in USA with the capability to characterize both the human bile microbiome and human stomach microbiome. 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 on or before 11:00 AM EST on August 17, 2012. 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 at the address stated above. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed +1 (555) 000-0000 or emailed to Erin Breedlove, Contract Specialist at contact@example.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-120152-EB on all correspondence.