Collection of primary tumors, metastatic lesions and normal tissue from Mediterranean melanoma subjects for genome-wide methylation analysis

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to procure the collection of tissue specimens including melanoma tumors, normal tissue from resection and metastatic lesions ("TRIOS") from the same Mediterranean subjects that have genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data analyzed at NCI from Asociaci'n para la Prevenci'n y la Investigaci'n del Melanoma Cut'neo, Avenida Baron De Carcer, 42-17, Valencia, Spain, 46001. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1) and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $15.0 million. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. It will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract with a 12 month base period and two 12 month option periods. It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement. The NCI has successfully conducted a GWAS of melanoma patients and healthy controls from the Mediterranean countries, including Italy, Spain, Greece and Cyprus. The NCI is now investigating the progression of the tumors from the subjects that have already been studied to shed light on the interaction between genetic susceptibility and genome-wide methylation intensity in patients with metastatic melanoma. The NCI needs to collect tissue blocks from primary tumors, adjacent normal tissue and metastatic lesions from the same Mediterranean patients who also have GWAS data. To extract sufficient DNA from each tissue block, The NCI needs seven sections from each block. Moreover, The NCI needs detailed description of pathology features from each block and a copy of the original pathology report from each subject. The material shall be sent to an experienced group of pathologists who review all skin lesion diagnosis collected from each center. The Istituto Valenciano de Oncologia has examined Spanish melanoma patients included in the NCI-led GWAS of melanoma in Mediterranean countries. The Asociaci'n para la Prevenci'n y la Investigaci'n del Melanoma Cut'neo, has access to the archived tissue material from the Istituto Valenciano de Oncologia for research purposes. No other known laboratory has access to these biospecimens. The proposed source has unique access to the melanoma tissue blocks from the Spanish melanoma patients who were genotyped at NCI for the GWAS study. The Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch (ITEB) scientific investigation is ongoing, and the performance characteristics and quality of the needed services are required for maintaining the integrity of the stated investigation. A change would be disruptive to the ability to analyze ITEB's cumulative results. This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. 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 perform the requirement. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 5:00 PM EST, on August 2, 2017. All responses and questions can be emailed to Kimesha Leake, Contract Specialist via electronic mail at contact@example.gov. 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. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) through sam.gov. Reference: N02CP72623-24 on all correspondence.