DNA extraction adn rRNA gene PCR amplification

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 School of Medicine, 801 West Baltimore St, Suite 638, Baltimore, MD 21201 for DNA extraction and rRNA gene PCR amplification. 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 and then one 12 month option period thereafter. It has been determined that there is no opportunity to acquire green products or services under this contract. The body's skin and mucosal surfaces play host to microbial communities (the microbiota) whose membership outnumbers the somatic and germ cells by an order of magnitude or more. The skin, oral, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract is all densely colonized surfaces. Recent technological advances, however, have made exploration of the microbiome (all genes in a microbiota), an understudied area, feasible. It is reasonable to hypothesize that some of the infectious agents that naturally reside in the body may impact health, or that perhaps the balance between the various micro-organisms has an effect on health. NCI collected skin, oral, vaginal, penile and colonic samples at 2 time points, which is enrollment and 6 months later. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques NCI will evaluate inter-individual differences in the oral, skin, vaginal, penile and colonic microbiome (using samples collected at baseline), to characterize intra-individual changes in the microbiome over time (comparing baseline and 6 month samples) and to evaluate the effect of self-reported antibiotic use, diet and behavioral factors on the skin, oral, vaginal, penile and colonic microbiome, and within time across sites (comparing baseline samples across sites). The contractor shall use protocols that comply with the Human Microbiome Project to perform the following: 1. DNA extraction for 200 human stools and 200 human saliva samples. 2. 16s rRNA gene amplification, 454 sequencing, and analysis of microbial DNA sequences. University of Maryland Medical School, the Institute of Genome Sciences (IGS), is uniquely qualified and located to provide this service. NCI will be delivering the specimens to University of Maryland Medical School for initial processing. University of Maryland Medical School is the only facility with both the proximity and proven ability to perform the laboratory work and deliver the data with optimal quality and timeliness. Based on the highly time-sensitive nature of the viable specimens and all of the services required, University of Maryland Medical School is the only qualified vendor. Based on the highly time-sensitive nature the proximity of the contractor must be within a fifty mile radis. The proposed characterization of the microbiome of specimens collected in Costa Rica must be performed in the same laboratory, specifically the University of Maryland Medical School, to ensure comparability with the existing IIB study. 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 July 9, 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-120089-EB on all correspondence.