Integrative Epidemiological Studies

SMALL BUSINESS SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE Notice Number: HHS-NIH-NCI-SBSS-ETSB-1000-87 Title: Integrative Epidemiological Studies NAICS Code: The NAICS code for this acquisition is 541990. The small business size standard is $15M Type of Notice: This is a Small Businesses Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small business; HUB Zone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses, 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; women-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged business; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. Background: The mission of Integrative Tumor Epidemiology Branch (ITEB) is to advance understanding of cancer etiology and progression through integrative analyses of environmental and germline risk factors with comprehensive data on histological and molecular profiling of tumors and their precursors, including somatic genomic analyses. The branch also develops methods to support this cutting-edge research. ITEB employs molecular pathology, somatic and germline genomics, and epidemiology to identify environmental and germline risk factors for cancer. The ITEB research program includes case-control, cohort, family, and cross-sectional studies. Investigators in the branch also participate in and contribute to national and international organizations and consortia to promote research on environmental risk factors and the germline and somatic contribution to cancer etiology. They conduct studies using tissue imaging, digital pathology, automated image analysis, and molecular/genomic analyses of tissues to comprehensively characterize features of normal, precursor and tumor tissues. Branch members and their collaborators develop and use computational tools to integrate and analyze high-dimensional data to link germline and environmental exposures to molecular features of cancer and precursor lesions, including somatic genomic signatures of risk factors, particularly those with high attributable risk. Research conducted by ITEB investigators involves: - Design, conduct and analysis of molecular epidemiology studies with tissue collections. - Characterization of tumors using morphology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry/in situ hybridization staining and scoring of tissue slides from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) or fresh frozen (FF) material. - Molecular profiling of tumors, including genomic analyses conducted at the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) Cancer Genomics Research Laboratory (CGRL) and external laboratories. - Design and use of large-scale analytic tools for integrated data analytics of high dimensional, complex data. - Use of publicly available data from resources such as the National Institute of Health (NIH) The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), ENCODE and Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx) projects, and the International cancer genome consortium (ICGC). - Participation and contribution to large national and international consortia. - Development of nodes of excellence in molecular pathology and somatic analyses that will accelerate similar research across other branches. Purpose and Objectives: This non R&D support services contract is essential for ITEB to conduct high-impact epidemiologic studies that integrate quantitative exposure assessment and molecular epidemiology to provide new insights into cancer etiology, chemical carcinogenesis, and mechanisms of action. The National Cancer Institute NCI/ITEB requires the assistance of an organization highly experienced in providing technical support for occupational and environmental epidemiologic studies, including support for exposure assessment and molecular components, and coordination of activities related to genome-wide association studies (GWAS); and in conducting and simultaneously managing concurrent, multiple, large (including international) epidemiologic investigations of cancer etiology. Project Requirements: A copy of the draft Statement of Work (SOW) pertaining to this requirement, which is subject to revisions, is attached to this notice. Anticipated Period of Performance: The anticipated period of performance inclusive of options, for this proposed acquisition is December 20, 2019 - December 19, 2024. A single award is anticipated. Capability Statement/Information Sought: Small businesses possessing experience and demonstrated capability to accomplish the aforementioned requirements and level of effort are to supply pertinent information in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to perform the required services. Information furnished must not exceed 15 pages (12-point font minimum), including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.; and should include an outline of previous or similar projects performed. All responses must include an indication of current certified small business status, and clearly marked on the first page of the capability statement, as well as the eligible small business concern's name, point of contact, address, and DUNS number. Information Submission Instructions: All capability statements sent in response to this Small Businesses Sources Sought notice must be sent electronically (via email) to Culver Clark, Contract Specialist at culver.clark@mail.nih.gov in either MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) by November 29, 2017, 3:00 PM, EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THAT DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. DISCLAIMER AND IMPORTANT NOTES: This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. CONFIDENTIALITY: No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).