Study of Pregnancy Hormone Concentrations in Urban & Nomadic Mongolian Women

Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS Suite 600, Room 6072, Rockville, MD 20852, UNITED STATES. Description The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG),Epidemiology & Biostatistics Program (EBP), plans to procure on a sole source basis the services of Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 01255 for a study of pregnancy hormone concentrations in urban & nomadic Mongolian women. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1). 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: Performance shall be for 18 months from date of award. The Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program (EBP) has a primary involvement in research addressing hormonal factors pertinent to cancer. The EBP in the Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics at NCI is pursuing a research program on the hormonal etiology of breast cancer including investigating the biological mechanisms that are hypothesized to mediate observed international rates differences. Part of this investigation involves providing data to address the hypothesis that prenatal exposures influence breast cancer risk in adulthood. There are striking differences in breast cancer incidence rates between Asian and North American and Western European populations, but within Asia variation is also wide. Incidence in Mongolia is one of the lowest in the world (6.6/100,000) while China, its neighbor to the south, has about three times this rate (18.7/100,000). The contractor shall identify and recruit 400 study subjects for a study of pregnancy hormones in Mongolia. An average of 16 subjects shall be recruited each month. The contractor shall collect blood samples from pregnant Mongolian women and their babies living in UlaanBaatar, the capital of Mongolia, and in the countryside (Bulgan and Selenge provinces), to describe concentrations of several steroid hormones and growth factors that play a role in breast cancer development. The purpose of NCI's study is to assess whether endocrine profile in pregnancy differs by whether the woman is living a traditional or Western lifestyle. The contractor shall recruit subjects at three hospitals: the Maternal and Child Health Research Center in the capital city of Ulaanbaatar, and the general hospitals in the provinces of Bulgan and Selenge. In addition to the blood draw, participants will have their height and weight measured and will complete a questionnaire on reproductive and medical history, migration status and lifestyle factors. Additional information on the women, babies and the pregnancies will be obtained by medical record abstraction. The Harvard School of Public Health Department of Nutrition has already successfully pilot tested many of the components of NCI's proposed study in the course of their own work, a previous study performed by NCI in Mongolia, and in feasibility studies and preparation for the current proposed study. These include subject identification and consent, blood collections, biospecimen processing and storage and shipment to the U.S. This knowledge and experience is essential to the success of this research initiative. It is a requirement of this procurement that the contractor speak Mongolian and English, have a doctoral degree in epidemiology, have the ability to form collaborations in Mongolia, and have experience conducting epidemiologic studies in Mongolia. The contractor is the only known source that meets all of these requirements. There would be both unacceptable delays in fulfilling the agency's requirements and duplication of cost by award to another organization. This is owing to the fact that NCI would have to reestablish the infrastructure for the study which would be quite time-consuming. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, they may submit a statement of capabilities. All information furnished must be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the above unique specifications described herein. An original and one copy of the capability statement must be received in the NCI contracting office on or before 11:00 AM EST on September 17, 2010. No electronic capability statements will be accepted (i.e. email or fax), an original and one copy must be sent to the NCI Office of Acquisitions to the address stated above. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Melissa Marino, Contract Specialist at marinome@mail.nih.gov. 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 will be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. In order to receive an award, contractors must have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), http://orca.bpn.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference solicitation number NCI-100226-MM on all correspondences.