NCI Patterns of Care (POC) Study: Diagnosis Year 2021 (Prostate Cancer, Ovarian Cancer, and Small Intestines Cancer)

Type of Notice: 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) interest, 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 disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your response 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. The NAICS code for this project is 541990. The small business size standard is $19.5M (effective March 17, 2023). Background: The Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences Branch (DCCPS), Healthcare Delivery Research Program (HDRP), National Cancer Institute (NCI) carries out the NCI Patterns of Care Studies. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Patterns of Care (POC) studies describe, characterize, and compare practice patterns and treatments provided for cancer in different geographic areas of the United States. POC Studies are conducted to satisfy a Congressional directive (under Public Law 100-607, Sec. 413 (a)(2)(C) adopted on November 4, 1988) to the NCI to - assess the incorporation of state-of-the-art cancer treatments into clinical practice and the extent to which cancer patients receive such treatments and include the results of such assessment in the biennial reports. To satisfy the directive and to update and enhance the utility of the POC Studies, a working group including representatives from the NCI's Divisions of Cancer Control and Population Sciences and Cancer Treatment and Diagnosis and a representative from the American Cancer Society was developed to review knowledge gaps in cancer therapy dissemination and to develop priority areas for study. The group reached a consensus that a gap remains regarding factors associated with guideline use of biomarker tests and targeted therapy. Furthermore, there is limited information about the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, and receipt of supportive/palliative care among individuals diagnosed with cancer and little information regarding treatment patterns for cancers of the small intestines. Therefore, this POC Study shall investigate patterns of care for patients with prostate, ovarian, and small intestines cancers. The Study will also collect data on documentation of palliative care and patient financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the medical record. Purpose and Objectives: The purpose of this acquisition is to collect data for the NCI Patterns of Care Study, relevant to the Congressional Mandate to NCI (Public Law 100-607, Sec. 413 (a)(2)(C) adopted November 4, 1988). The primary objectives of this POC Study are to: 1) describe the use of recommended biomarker tests which shall be verified with the treating physician/physician office staff or with a unified medical record (record with all inpatient and outpatient records in a single file) or complete medical records (all inpatient and outpatient cancer treatment records obtained from more than one hospital/healthcare system/medical practice); and 2) describe the use of targeted therapy which shall be verified with the treating physician/physician office staff or with a unified or complete medical records. Other objectives are to: 3) describe the use of adjuvant therapy, which shall be verified with the treating physician/physician office staff or with a unified or complete medical records; 4) characterize the practice patterns in different communities; 5) compare the patterns of treatment: surgery, radiation therapy, systemic therapy, (chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, targeted therapy, and other adjuvant therapy) over time and by age, sex, race/ethnicity, and insurance status; 6) describe comorbidities and the effect of co-morbid conditions on treatment; 7) describe treatment by hospital characteristics (i.e., for profit vs. not for profit, teaching vs. non-teaching, bed size, etc.); 8) describe the use of diagnostic tests and compare their use by demographic variables; 9) abstract information documented in the medical record on delays or changes in diagnosis, treatment, and supportive/palliative care among individuals diagnosed with cancer specifically due to the COVID-19 pandemic; 10) assess the incidence of cancer recurrence and metastasis following initial diagnosis; and 11) describe medical record documentation of patient financial impacts due to the COVID-19 pandemic potentially affecting cancer care. See Attachment 1 - Statement of Work for the Project Requirements and tasks. Anticipated Period of Performance (POP): The estimated POP is 12 months from the date of award (Estimated start around February 2024). Other Important Considerations: Not applicable at this time. Capability Statement/Information Sought: Small businesses who possess the experience and demonstrate the capability to accomplish the aforementioned requirements and level of effort are requested to submit a capabilities statement which shall be considered by the agency. The capabilities statement must supply pertinent information in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to perform the required services. Information Submission Instructions: Information furnished must not exceed 10 pages (12-point font minimum), including all attachments, resumes, charts; 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 Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) number. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 12PM Eastern Time, October 13, 2023. All responses and questions must be in writing and emailed to Angela Moore, Contracting Officer via electronic mail at Angela.Moore2@mail.nih.gov. For a Contractor to be eligible to receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid, current Entity Record, including current Representations and Certifications, in the System for Award Management (SAM) through SAM.gov. Reference Notice ID# HHS-NIH-NCI-SBSS-NBB-0142-AM on all correspondence. 1. 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 SAM.gov. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. 2. 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).