Off-site storage for biological materials for cancer patients

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Center for Cancer Research (CCR), plans to procure on a sole source basis; off-site storage facility to house biological materials for cancer patients, with Fisher BioServices; 14665 Rothgeb Drive; Rockville, Maryland 20850. The services herein are being procured in accordance with the simplified acquisition procedures authorized by FAR Part 13.106-1 (b) (1). The North American Industry Classification System code is 493120 and the business size standard is $25.5M employees. The purpose of this acquisition is for refrigerated storage of special tissue culture media and components; cryopreserved cells and sera from patients; vectors for genetically modifying cells; and unique biologic reagents for identifying lymphocytes with anticancer activity. The NCI laboratory uses these materials to test and generate large numbers (trillions) of anticancer lymphocytes. The lymphocytes, derived from patients currently enrolled in NCI clinical protocols, are used with adoptive cell therapy. Because of the clinical nature of this requirement, the work supported requires that the facility be established for adoptive cell therapy for patients with advanced cancer. Contractor Requirements: Contractor shall be located within a 20 mile radius - within 10 to 15 minutes door to door from contractor location to the NCI Clinical Center, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland; meet industry standards as indicated in the International Society for Biological and Environmental Repositories guidelines for facilities (ISBER), storage records shall be sent to the NCI on a monthly basis; and monitoring systems used in the facility shall record the freezer temperatures every 10 minutes and back up data once a day. Complications with instruments that affect the biological materials shall be reported to the NCI COTR within 12 to 24 hours. Contractor shall provide integrity and security of the biological materials 24 hours daily, including a monitored alarm system, staff notification in case of an alarm, standby storage units, backup power generation, and controlled access. Fisher BioServices is the only source known to the NCI that is within a 20 mile radius and can deliver the delicate patient biospecimens within 1 to 2 hours after notification. This is critical to the health and welfare of the NCI cancer patients enrolled in the NCI clinical protocols. Period of Performance shall be April 1, 2010 through September 30, 2010. This is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes it can provide the above supplies and services, it may submit a statement of capabilities. All information furnished shall be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if it can meet the above specifications described herein. One original and one copy of the capability statement must be received in the NCI Office of Acquisition by 11:00 AM ET on March 26, 2010. No electronic capability statements will be received via electronic mail or fax. Questions shall be submitted in writing to Malinda Holdcraft, Contract Specialist via electronic mail at holdcram@exchange.nih.gov or fax - 301 402-4513. 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 shall be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. In order to receive an award, contractors must have current registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR), www.ccr.gov and the Online Representations and Certifications Application (ORCA) http://orca.bpn.gov. Please reference NCI-100048-NG on all correspondence.