Metabolomic Profiles and Pancreatic Cancer

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Nutritional Epidemiology Branch (NEB), plans to procure on a sole source basis services to measure metabolomics markers related to pancreatic cancer in human serum samples from Metabolon Inc., 617 Davis Drive, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27713, USA. This process will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisitions procedures as stated in FAR Part 13 13.106-1(b)(1) and is exempt for the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $14 million. The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) is a research program of the National Cancer Institute (NCI), one of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The Division is the world's most comprehensive cancer epidemiology research group. Its renowned epidemiologists, geneticists, and biostatisticians conduct population and multidisciplinary research to discover the genetic and environmental determinants of cancer and new approaches to cancer prevention. The DCEG, Nutritional Epidemiology Branch (NEB) of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is conducting a metabolomic profile association study using serum samples collected prospectively in a nested case-control study of pancreatic cancer, from the Prostate, Lung, Ovarian and Colorectal Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO) cohort. The aim of the study is to identify metabolites associated with pancreatic cancer risk. The PLCO Screening Trial was a randomized intervention examining the association between screening and cancer mortality. Briefly, participants totaled 152,810 men and women between the ages of 55 and 74 at baseline (1993-2001) and were recruited at ten different clinical sites in the US (Denver, CO; Washington, DC; Honolulu, HI; Detroit, MI; Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis, MO; Pittsburgh, PA; Salt Lake City, UT; Marshfield, WI; Birmingham, AL). Individuals with a prior history of prostate, lung, colorectal, or ovarian cancer were excluded, as were those currently undergoing treatment for any form of cancer other than non-melanoma skin cancer. Individuals were also excluded if they had received screening for prostate or colorectal cancer within the past three years. The PLCO Study has been an important cohort study and resource for cancer etiologic research in DCEG, NCI, and elsewhere for over a decade, based on the risk factor data, serum, and genomic DNA samples that were collected and ascertainment of cancer cases from an annual questionnaire and linkage to State cancer registries and National Death Index. The purpose of this procurement is to use metabolomics to identify biomarkers related to pancreatic cancer. The NCI will send serum samples from pancreatic cancer case and control participants and quality control samples from the PLCOStudy cohort. Samples are to be run at Metabolon, Inc. using the Q-Exactive Mass-Spectrometry (MS) platform, with linkage of raw MS output to named and unnamed biochemicals. A sole source is intended for this procurement, based on the fact Metabolon Inc. has conducted previous analyses on pancreatic cancer cases and controls with the NCI. The company is considered one of the leaders in the field of metabolomics. Also, the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch plans to pool the new results with previous analysis performed by Metabolon Inc., also conducted at this laboratory. Therefore, in order to eliminate lab-to-lab variability, the best use of the government funds would be to use the same method and laboratory to measure the metabolites. Thus based on the above and in order to assure for scientific comparability, it is critical that the metabolomic profiles be carried out at Metabolon, Inc. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party especially a small business, believes they can meet the above requirement, may submit a quote and 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. All questions, quote, and the capability statement must be received electronically (via email) to Ms. Gwennifer Epps, Contracting Officer, at contact@example.gov in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) by June 18, 2015 no later than 11:00 AM EST. No telephone calls or facsimiles will be accepted. 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) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), through sam.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference solicitation number N02CP52587-83 on all correspondence.