Identify population controls for an epidemiologic study of breast cancer risk in Ghana

Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions 9609 Medical Center Dr RM 1E144, Bethesda, MD 20852, UNITED STATES. Description The National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to procure on a sole source basis with The University of Ghana Medical School, UGMS Box 4236, Accra, Ghana 233 21 to identify population controls for an epidemiologic study of breast cancer risk in Ghana. 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 541990 and the business size standard is $14 million. It has been determined that there is no opportunity to acquire green products or services under this contract. The period of performance will be two years from date of award. The goal of this procurement is to identify a set of population controls for an epidemiologic study of breast cancer risk in Ghana. Controls will be selected to be representative of the population in the geographic region surrounding the three study hospitals, and thus representative of the population in which the study breast cancer cases arise. Population controls have long been the standard in epidemiologic association studies, and are preferable over other types of controls, such as hospital controls, which can be associated with various selection biases. Furthermore, use of population controls will allow for the estimation of risk factor prevalence in the population. The staff at The University of Ghana Medical School has ample experience with population studies and has worked closely with the Census team at the Ghana Statistical Service in Accra. Household enumeration is the only source for the population-wide demographic data needed to develop the roster of eligible population controls required for this procurement, as there is no national identity database or other available data source that attempts to include all Ghanaians. Enumeration requires the use of known, well-defined geographic boundaries; in Ghana, the system of administrative regions and districts developed by the Ghana Statistical Service is the only well-defined system of geographic divisions. DCEG will utilize the same infrastructure, statistical methods, and sampling procedures utilized by the University of Ghana Medical School for the GBHS pilot during this full-scale phase of the study. The UGMS staff has also conducted epidemiologic follow-up studies that require following a large number of participants over time. Methods of locating subjects in the field will be applied to this study to increase the response rate, as was demonstrated during the pilot phase where there was >80% participation among subjects approached to participate in the study. For these various reasons, The University of Ghana Medical School is the only facility in Ghana with the methodologic and field experience to complete the tasks required for control subject selection that meets the requirements of the study protocol. 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 or a proposal/bid may be sent in. 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 January 21, 2014. Electronic capability statements will be accepted or an original and one copy can be sent to the NCI Office of Acquisitions at the address stated above. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (240) 276-5401 or emailed to Erin Breedlove, Contract Specialist at breeerin@mail.nih.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 N02CP42507-21 on all correspondence.