Industrial Hygiene Support for Occupational Epidemiology Studies

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 6072, Rockville, MD 20852, UNITED STATES. Description The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics (DCEG), plans to procure on a sole source bases with Universiteit Utrecht Faculteit Der Dierengeneeksunde, Yalelaan 1, Utrecht, NLD 3584 CL for industrial hygiene support for occupational epidemiology studies. The services herein are being procured in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures as authorized by FAR Part 13.106-1 (b)(1). The North American Industry Classification System Code is 541690 and the business size standard in $14.0M. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. Period of Performance: Performance shall be for twelve months. It has been determined that there is no opportunity to acquire green products or services under this procurement. The Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB) within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) carries out studies of occupation and environment-related risk. These studies include retrospective assessment of historical exposures through industry and questionnaire-based evaluations; on-site evaluation of exposures through air, dermal and biological monitoring; and evaluation of early biologic effects and genetic susceptibility. The purpose of this procurement is to provide industrial hygiene and exposure statistical modeling support for these activities. The purpose of this procurement is to obtain the services of a contractor experienced in the area of industrial hygiene applications and exposure modeling to epidemiologic research on environmental and occupational determinants of cancer with a specific expertise in exposure assessment of benzene, trichloroethylene, formaldehyde, indoor air pollution and diesel exhaust in particular in occupational circumstances in Asia. The Contractor shall provide fieldwork support, and estimate and model exposures to several contaminants to support OEEB research activities in the areas of workers exposed to diesel exhaust in the United States, of workers exposed to benzene in China, of workers exposed to formaldehyde in Asia, of nonsmoking women exposed to indoor air pollution in China, and of subjects exposed to chemicals in the Asialymph study. Services of the Contractor shall include a) assessment of current and historical environmental and industrial exposures in support of OEEB epidemiologic studies, and b) supporting statistical data analysis for relating these exposures to disease risk. The National Cancer Institute has funded projects on diesel exhaust, benzene, indoor air pollution and risk factors for lymphoma including occupational exposure to benzene, formaldehyde, and tricholoroethylene that require senior industrial hygiene and exposure assessment support. To successfully carry-out these projects an in-depth knowledge of the complex exposure assessment and methodologies of these studies is necessary. In addition, as many of these projects are carried out in Asia, knowledge about industrial situations and research in Asia is a prerequisite. The Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences at Utrecht University (IRAS-UU) is the leading exposure assessment program for industrial hygiene and exposure assessment. The IRAS-UU has longstanding expertise in exposure assessment for epidemiological studies including among others studies on diesel exhaust, benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and indoor air pollution. It also has had extensive experience conducting exposure assessments for epidemiological studies of occupation and cancer in Asia. It provides leadership in exposure assessment including real-time, current and historical assessments, quantitative (Bayesian) exposure modeling techniques, and biological monitoring, and has extensive experience conducting studies worldwide, including in Asia. In addition, Dr. R. Vermeulen, a Professor at IRAS-UU, has unique expertise with regard to designing, conducting and analyzing the exposure assessment components of each of the projects in this procurement. IRAS-UU has, under separate contract, provided development and application of unique and specialized exposure-assessment methodologies these projects. These methodologies must be used to conduct the work in the current contract and comparability between the methods used in the different projects needs to be maintained. To successfully carry-out the current work, in-depth knowledge about the previously performed work is essential to ensure continuity of the work. The contractor must have accumulated knowledge and in-depth insights in the projects in order to successfully perform the current work. Given the unique expertise provided by IRAS-UU, it is the only known contractor capable of providing these services. 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 13, 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 (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Melissa Ward, Contract Specialist, at wardmr@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 NCI-120126-MW on all correspondence.