Genetic Analysis of Hereditary Prostate Cancer

THIS IS A SOLE / SINGLE SOURCE, NON-COMPETITIVE NOTICE. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. This sole / single source, non-competitive notice is prepared in accordance FAR Parts 5 and 13. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. FAR Part 6 - Competition Requirements, is not applicable to contracts awarded using the simplified acquisition procedures of FAR Part 13, not expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. This announcement constitutes the only notice; proposals are not being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The resultant acquisition will be conducted in accordance with FAR Part 13, simplified acquisition procedures and the resultant purchase order will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-26. The total estimated amount of this contract is NOT expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold of $100,000.00. The intended procurement will be classified under North American Industry Classification System code _541990___, with size standard of $7.0M___ . Market Research conducted by the Government in accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) Part 10, Market Research, has determined that the sole / single source reference, is currently the only company that can provide the services / items specified herein. THE NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Office of Acquisition (OA) for the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI),Division of Intramural Research(DIR), intends to negotiate and award a purchase order on a sole source noncompetitive basis to Fox Chase Cancer Center, 7701 Burholme Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19111-2497, to provide services in the areas of statistical genetic analyses for the Finnish Prostate Cancer study and the AAHPC study as a continued collaborative effort under protocol OH95-HG-N0158. These collaborative studies will be very important to the overall success of this research. National Human Genome Research Institute, Division of Intramural Research overall mission is to develop and implement technology for the rapid isolation, analysis, and treatment of genetic diseases. The Division's research laboratories and clinical branches develop and use the most advanced techniques to study the fundamental mechanics of inherited and acquired genetic disorders. The sole source determination is based on the need to continue the ongoing research collaboration project under protocol OH95-HG-N0158 between the Division's research laboratories and the Fox Chase Cancer Center. For the ongoing research project, the NHGRI's Inherited Disease Research Branch, requires a statistical geneticist/technical analyst with experience with programs used for statistical genetic analysis such as SAS, S-PLUS, R, SIMCA, SLINK, GAS , LINKAGE, MERLIN, and GENEHUNTER, and is proficient in computer programming in C++, Java, C, HTML, PERL, XML, PL/SQL. This continuation is critical to the ongoing success of this project. Since, the Fox Chase Cancer Center started the project, it is to the government's best interest not to change the Contract at this time so that the integrity of the research will not be jeopardized. The purpose of this procurement is to provide professional services to the researchers dedicated to the study. These services will be in the areas of providing statistical genetic analyses for the Finnish Prostate Cancer study and the AAHPC study. The analyst will work with the researcher to perform linkage and association analyses of prostate cancer in human pedigree data and this will involved a large collaborative effort to identify, isolate and characterize currently unknown genes for this disease. The Finnish Prostate Cancer study is a major collaboration between investigators at NIH and in Finland who have collected high-risk families for prostate cancer and are looking for evidence of genetic susceptibility loci in the families. The AAHPC study is a major collaboration between investigators at NHGRI, Howard University, Translational Genomics Research Institute, and Fox Chase Cancer Center, with the data collection portion funded by a prior contract between NHGRI and Howard University. The contractor will engage in several activities, including assisting Dr. Bailey-Wilson with construction and checking of pedigree files, checking genotype and trait data for errors (using sophisticated computer programs), estimating allele frequencies, performing linkage and association analyses, and constructing haplotypes to narrow the region where the putative gene may exist. This work requires strong computer skills and high level knowledge of a broad array of statistical genetics techniques and computer programs. The contractor will work with Dr. Bailey-Wilson and other members of the NHGRI on a weekly basis. The contractor will communicate progress and provide summary of activities, either orally or in writing, to Principal Investigator on a quarterly basis, at a minimum. In actual practice, the Principal Investigator and the contractor will probably be in contact by telephone or email at least on a weekly basis. In addition to the quarterly progress report, the contractor will deliver the data analyses as they are completed. The contractor will meet the principal investigator at a scientific meeting or at the NIH as needed for planning and development of the data analysis efforts. The contractor will work independently with no direct supervision by any government employee. The study Principal Investigator and other research team members will provide guidance in terms of technical reporting needs and study requirements of the project supported, plus frequent email and telephone guidance concerning the design and conduct of the analyses and the interpretation of the results. The contractor will provide her own supplies and space to work. The government will loan necessary PC computer equipment to the contractor in order to ensure that all government data are stored only on government computers and that all government-required security procedures are followed. The contractor will also have access to government-owned high-speed computer servers at NHGRI so that the analyses can be completed in a timely manner in a secure environment. On occasions when collaborative efforts will occur when the contractor is visiting NHGRI, the contractor will have temporary use of government space and computer equipment on an as-needed basis. As plans are developed the contractor will provide draft documentation, reports, and progress of the work. The Principal Investigator will review, inspect, and approve all documentation to ensure that work is in line and following the objectives of the study. Interested parties may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement or submit a response. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Responses to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-PB-(HG)-2008-243-TMB may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Office of Acquisitions, Procurement Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Suite 6042, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902, Attention: Tracy Brooks. Responses may be submitted electronically to brookstr@nhlbi.nih.gov or cbelt@nhlbi.nih.gov and fax to (301) 480-3345. Responses will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative. Responses are due September, 22, 2008. 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 normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement.