services to optimize methods for collecting, processing and testing breast milk for mechanistic and biomarker studies in large epidemiological investigations assessing postpartum breast remodeling

Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Blvd. EPS Room 6074, Rockville, MD, 20852, UNITED STATES Description The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics (DCEG) plans to procure on a sole source basis services to optimize methods for collecting, processing and testing breast milk for mechanistic and biomarker studies in large epidemiological investigations assessing postpartum breast remodeling from University of Massachusetts, 637 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA 01003-9298. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1). The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is $12.0 Million. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. Period of Performance shall be from award through twelve (12) months. It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement. NCI DCEG researchers are conducting a study to enroll first-time African American and White mothers of varying ages to assess biomarkers in breast milk at two points postpartum: within 2 months of birth and 3-6 months following birth, collect questionnaires related to medical history and breast cancer risk and perform MRI breast imaging. The overall aim is to optimize methods for collecting, processing and testing breast milk for mechanistic and biomarker studies in large epidemiological investigations assessing postpartum breast remodeling in relation to breast cancer risk. A particular goal of this project is to optimize techniques for isolation of epithelial cells shed in breast milk to study possible biomarkers related to risk or early detection of breast cancer. The contractor shall perform the following tasks: Test the performance of the Veridex kit and 10% buffered formalin in maintaining cellular integrity of cells in milk; Using 180 frozen samples collected at University of Massachusetts, test for expression of TGF-?1 and TGF-?3 ligands using commercially available ELISA kits; and, Process 100 milk specimens newly collected under the funded Bench-to-Bedside project. University of Massachusetts (UM) is the only known source to have reported on methods for isolating epithelial cells from human milk and to have used the epithelial enriched fraction to extract DNA to test for methylation of promoters of tumor suppressor genes (Wong CM, Epigenetics 2010, Browne EP Epigenetics 2011, Qin W BMC Cancer 2012). Accordingly, this laboratory is uniquely qualified to perform this work. In addition, through prior work with NCI, the UM /Arcaro Laboratory has successfully measured TGF-? ligands in a large set of milk samples, which is not known to have been done by any other laboratory. Finally, the UM/Arcaro Laboratory is the only group known to have performed pilot studies using the Veridex kit for cell preservation to stabilize epithelial cells in milk. This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a statement of capabilities. 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. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 11:00 AM EST, on September 9, 2012. For further information, please contact Erin Breedlove, Contract Specialist via electronic mail at breeerin@mail.nih.gov. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. No collect calls will be accepted. No faxed or emailed capability statements will be accepted. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA). Reference: NCI-120187-EB on all correspondence.