R -- Support for the Chemical, Economic and Biological Information Needs of the Division of Cancer Biology

Sources Sought Notice: N02-CB-67029-56; Title: Support for the Chemical, Economic and Biological Information Needs of the Division of Cancer Biology; DESCRIPTION: The Cancer Etiology Branch (CEB) of the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) Division of Cancer Biology (DCB) is seeking capability statements from all eligible small business concerns under the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541690, with a size standard of $6.0M per annum. Based on the responses received from this SOURCES SOUGHT announcement, the proposed acquisition may be solicited as set aside for any of the following: small businesses, 8(a) Small Disadvantaged Businesses, HUBZone small businesses, or Service-disabled veteran-owned small business. THIS IS NOT AN REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP) AND DOES NOT COMMIT THE NIH, NCI TO AWARD A CONTRACT NOW OR IN THE FUTURE. NO RFP PACKAGE IS AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. All eligible small business concerns responding to this Sources Sought Announcement must have the capabilities to provide the support necessary for information development in the areas of environmental and occupational cancer. Respondents must document their ability to perform the three main task areas under this requirement, which are: Task 1 - Support of the Chemical Selection and Nomination Process; Task 2 - Support of Chemical Information Needs of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); and Task 3 - Special Studies. These three major task areas are comprised of the following subtasks: Task 1 - Support of the Chemical Selection and Nomination Process: - Perform two class studies of approved compounds per year, for a total of 10, during an estimated five-year period, including critical review of classes (structural or use) of chemical substances and preparation of a related report for review by the Chemical Selection Planning Group (CSPG) and the Chemical Selection Working Group (CSWG); - Prepare summary sheets (in accordance with a specific format), which are compilations of all available literature on the compounds that will be reviewed at the CSWG; - Plan, support, attend and prepare minutes of 1-2 CSWG meetings and up to 4 CSPG meetings per year [Support for CSWG and CSPG meetings entails working closely with NCI program staff in the determination of meeting locations, development of agendas, gathering/collecting materials for these meetings and the compilation & distribution of data packages (containing the summary sheets and back-up material on the chemicals being considered at each meeting) to all attending CSWG members]; - Prepare (for submission to the National Toxicology Program) data packages containing the summary sheets and CSWG recommendations for those chemicals selected/nominated for carcinogenicity bioassay or other toxicology studies; and - Maintain and update an NCI/DCB Chemical Tracking File [this is a computerized file which tracks the status of all chemicals being considered, or under consideration, for selection/nomination for carcinogenesis bioassay and other toxicology studies]. Task 2 - Support of Chemical Information Needs of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC): - Coordinate activities with IARC staff, the NCI Project Officer for the cooperative agreement with IARC, and the NCI Project Officer for this contract for an estimated five year period, in which approximately 15 IARC Working Group Meetings are anticipated, requiring submission of information for Section 1 - Exposure Data (Nomenclature, Chemical & Physical Properties, Technical Products & Impurities, Analysis, Production, Use, Occurrence [Natural, Occupational and Environmental], and Regulations & Guidelines); and - Be familiar with chemical industry economics (with an emphasis on patters of production), including chemical process flow, distribution, intermediate use & end products, on a world-wide basis (with special emphasis on the United States, Eastern & Western Europe and Japan), and have ready access to reliable national and international reference sources that can provide the required information. Task 3 - Special Studies: - Respond to approximately 3 ad-hoc inquiries per month concerning chemical compounds. - Maintain information files [including files on meetings, correspondence dealing with this project, and a reference library (as a minimum, copies of articles and data acquired in the performance of this contract)]. Sources need to possess experience and demonstrated capability to accomplish the aforementioned requirements and are to supply pertinent information in sufficient detail to demonstrate their ability to perform the required services. Information furnished must not exceed 20-25 pages and should include an outline of previous or similar projects and other available literature for the NIH to perform a proper evaluation of your capability statement. 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 (preferably placed under the eligible small business concern's name and address). Responses to this SOURCES SOUGHT/REQUEST FOR INFORMATION notice may be submitted electronically to John R. Manouelian, Contract Specialist, at manouelj@mail.nih.gov in either WordPerfect or Microsoft Word OR faxed to (301) 402-6699 by May 3, 2006, 3:30PM EST.