PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program: Preclinical Efficacy and Intermediate Endpoint Biomarkers

Pre-Solicitation Notice of Intent to Sole Source PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program: Preclinical Efficacy and Intermediate Endpoint Biomarkers This is a sole source synopsis for the Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contracts within the PREVENT Cancer Preclinical Drug Development Program: Preclinical Efficacy and Intermediate Endpoint Biomarkers. This announcement constitutes a synopsis for this requirement, is issued for notification purposes only and is not a request for competitive proposals. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to issue modifications to increase the ceilings on each contract in the IDIQ Efficacy pool to provide continued support in the development of potential cancer preventive agents, vaccines, and other immunopreventive agents. This work is accomplished by conducting preclinical animal studies for cancer preventive efficacy evaluation, employing detailed pharmacological and/or immunological studies, determining pharmacodynamic (PD) and/or immunodynamic (ID) effects of test agents, and correlating pharmacokinetic and/or immunologic biomarker profile(s) with the effectiveness of test agents. The modifications for this requirement are anticipated to take place on or about December 31, 2017. The eight contractors currently within the Efficacy IDIQ pool are as follows: HHSN261201500018I, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 207, Houston, TX 77030 HHSN261201500032I, The Institute for Cancer Research at Fox Chase, 333 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111 HHSN261201500036I, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, 701 S. 20th St., Birmingham, AL 35294 HHSN261201500037I, The Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53226 HHSN261201500038I, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 1100 N. Lindsay SCB 219, Oklahoma City, OK 73104 HHSN261201500039I, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 407 E. 61st Street, New York, NY 10065 HHSN261201500041I, SRI International, 333 Ravenswood Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025 HHSN261201500042I, IIT Research Institute, 10 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616 These modifications will increase the ceiling value on the Base IDIQ contracts from $19.8 million by $10 million to $29.8 million. In order to ensure operation and continuity of essential research and development services during the next two cycles of the PREVENT Program, NCI needs to increase the ceiling, which will allow for the funding of complex task orders that include specialized animal breeding and specialized assays for cellular and humoral immune responses, among other studies. The NCI intends to issue these modifications on a non-competitive basis to each of the eight contractors in the Efficacy IDIQ pool. This decision is based on current market research and is in accordance with 10 U.S.C 2304(c)(1), as implemented by FAR 6.302-1(a)(2), "Only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements." This notice is not a request for competitive proposals; however, if any interested and responsible source, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the requirements as outlined in the attached Statement of Work (SOW), submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. The statement of capabilities and any other information furnished must be in writing and must contain material in sufficient detail to allow NCI to determine if the party can perform the requirement. Interested organizations may submit their capabilities and qualifications to perform the effort in writing to the identified point of contact not later than 3:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, on December 15, 2017. Such capabilities/qualifications will be evaluated solely for the purpose of determining whether or not to conduct this procurement on a competitive basis. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract action based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Oral and facsimile communications shall not be accepted in response to this notice. In accordance with FAR 16.505(b)(8), the following individual has been designated as the NIH Ombudsman for these task order contracts: Dr. Sherry Mills NIH Competition Advocate for R&D Contracts 6705 Rockledge Drive, Suite 305 Bethesda, MD 20892 Phone: 301-435-2729 E-mail: sherry.mills@nih.gov DISCLAIMER: THIS NOTICE IS FOR INFORMATIONAL AND PLANNING PURPOSES ONLY. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR QUOTE AND IS NOT A COMMITMENT BY THE US GOVERNMENT TO PROCURE SUBJECT PRODUCTS. NO SOLICITATION SHALL RESULT FROM THIS NOTICE. NO FUNDS ARE AVAILABLE TO ACCOUNT FOR PREPARATION OF RESPONSES TO THIS NOTIFICATION. THE GOVERNMENT WILL USE THE INFORMATION RECEIVED TO DETERMINE WHETHER OTHER SOURCES ARE AVAILABLE THAT ARE CAPABLE TO SATISFY THIS REQUIREMENT.