Molecular Epidemiology Biospecimen Processing (MEBPC)

HHS-NIH-NCI-ETSB-71006-72 NOTICE INFORMATION Agency/Office: National Institutes of Health Location: National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions Title: Molecular Epidemiology Biospecimen Processing (MEBPC) This is a Small Business 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 businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; 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. This requirement is assigned a NAICS code of 541380 and the small business size standard for such requirements is $15 Million per annum. Statements should also include an indication of current certified business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address) as well as the eligible business concern's name, point of contact, address, and DUNS number. The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute (NCI) is seeking capability statements from all eligible Small Businesses as stated above. THERE IS NO SOLICITATION AVAILABLE. THIS IS STRICTLY FOR MARKET RESEARCH. Background: The mission of the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) is to conduct population and multidisciplinary research to discover the genetic and environmental determinants of cancer and new approaches to cancer prevention. Many of the studies undertaken by the Division include analyses performed using human biological specimens obtained through family and population-based collection efforts. For approximately thirty (30) years DCEG investigators have been relying on contract services to provide technical assistance in the areas of specimen collection, receipt, processing and in identifying laboratories to perform state-of-the-art testing using high quality biological specimens collected from clinical and field sites. Contract services have also been used to establish contractual relationships to implement and oversee this testing. The incumbent contract is entitled, "Procurement of DNA, RNA, Transformed Lymphocytes and Lymphoblastoid Lines for Genetic Studies," has provided support. This contract number HHSN261201200035C was awarded to the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this project is to provide support services for studies on the genetic and other cellular events which influence the onset of different types of cancer. Specifically, the contractor will receive whole blood, lymphocytes, granulocytes, skin fibroblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), process the cells for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction as well as to cryopreserve cells as needed. The contractor will also immortalize cell lines as needed by Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) transformation. Each of these tasks supports studies that will be able to determine the genetic and other molecular changes that accompany the onset of various cancer types. Project Requirements: The Contractor shall furnish services, qualified personnel, material, equipment, including secure computers, and facilities, to provide support services to DCEG studies in the areas of receipt and processing of predominantly fresh human biospecimens and temporary cryostorage of biospecimens until they are ready to be returned to the NCI Central Repository for long-term storage. Tasks: 1) Receive and process fresh whole blood and other biospecimens to include but not be limited to whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, buccal cells, bone marrow, tumor and non-tumor tissue, lymphocytes/leukocytes, cultured fibroblasts, granulocytes, and fecal specimens from clinical and field sites. Processing (aliquotting) of environmental specimens associated with a study may also be required, to include but not limited to dust, water, and soil. 2) Isolate PBMCs for subsequent nucleic acid isolation and performance of functional assays, transformation with EBV, as well as for measurements of cellular components and expression profiling. 3) Transform lymphocytes and/or cryopreserved whole blood to lymphoblastoid cells EBV. 4) Cryopreserve PBMCs, granulocytes, bone marrow cell preparations, as well as other material types in support of DCEG studies. 5) Expand lymphoblastoid or other types of cell lines, up to gram quantities. 6) Extract nucleic acids (DNA, RNA) from fresh specimens, frozen and formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. 7) The Contractor shall utilize the Biological Specimen Inventory (BSI) System (www.bsisystems.com) used by DCEG biospecimen repositories to track and control the acquisition, storage, requisition, and distribution of biospecimens. Anticipated Period of Performance: It is anticipated the services will be acquired through full and open competitive procedures. It is anticipated that one Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract will be awarded with a five (5) year period of performance beginning on or about February 7, 2017. Information Sought: To be deemed capable of providing services that meet the DCEG requirements, please submit a written capability statement demonstrating your ability and experience. Submission Information: Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement, not to exceed 20 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc) presented in single-space and using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement, as well as the eligible small business concerns name, point of contact, address and DUNS number. Information submission instructions: All capability statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Juana A. Diaz, Contracting Officer, at diazj@mail.nih.gov in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) by April 29, 2016 10:00 AM, EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. CAPABILITY STATEMENTS RECEIVED AFTER THIS DATE AND TIME WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED. No collect calls or facsimile transmissions will be accepted. 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.