Study on breast cancer risk in Ghana

Contracting Office Address Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions9609 Medical Center Dr RM 1E144, Bethesda, MD 20852, UNITED STATES. Description The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), plans to procure on a sole source basis with Peace and Love Hospital, P.O. Box X374, Kumasi, Ghana; for a continued study on breast cancer risk in Ghana. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.106-1(b)(2) and 13.501-(a)(1) using simplified acquisition procedures for commercial acquisitions. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541990 and the business size standard is $14 million. It has been determined that there is no opportunity to acquire green products or services under this contract. The period of performance shall be two years from time of award. The purpose of this procurement is to instate a full-scale epidemiologic study of breast cancer risk in Ghana. The study will include ascertainment of breast cancer patients in two areas in Ghana: Accra and Kumasi. The overall design of the study is a population-based case-control study, which is predicated on identifying a complete series of patients diagnosed with breast cancer in these two areas. While NCI has previously set up the infrastructure and developed procurements to interview breast cancer patients and population controls (identified through the 2010 Ghanaian Census) in both Accra and Kumasi, NCI has recently determined that many breast cancer patients are being diagnosed at a private hospital in Kumasi, the Peace and Love Hospital. The present procurement is to include these patients in the study. The specific objectives of this procurement are to 1) recruit at least 517 breast cancer patients at this hospital to participate in this epidemiologic study; 2) collect risk factor data, anthropometric measures, and biological specimens on eligible women who agree to participate in the study and provide informed consent; 3) monitor the completion and accuracy of study instruments and participant tracking forms; 4) collect biological specimens obtained from study participants according to protocols to be specified by NCI investigators; and 5) prospectively monitor the total number of women coming to Peace and Love Hospital for breast biopsy in order to determine the study participation rate. This procurement will provide support to Peace and Love Hospital for personnel time to recruit and interview participants, take anthropometric measurements, and obtain biologic samples. Only two major hospitals in Kumasi have the capability of obtaining breast biopsies for confirming breast cancer diagnoses. One of these two hospitals that provides diagnostic and surgical treatment to patients residing in the northern part of Ghana is Peace and Love Hospital. By recruiting patients from this hospital, NCI anticipates having coverage of all surgically treated patients in Kumasi. The identification of cases treated at Peace and Love Hospital and review of sensitive information in their medical records, as required for this procurement, can only be accessed by Peace and Love Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana. Data from these records will be used to clinically characterize breast cancer cases into subgroups of specific etiologic interest. Medical record data will be used in conjunction with tissue markers, and tissue samples can only be obtained from these cases by the breast surgeons and pathologists who work at Peace and Love Hospital. NCI has previously conducted a successful study of prostate cancer in Accra and can utilize some of the infrastructure developed for that investigation. This includes experience in collecting, storing and transporting biologic samples, which will be a key component of the overall investigation. For these various reasons, Peace and Love Hospital is the only institution that can provide the data required to allow this multidisciplinary study of breast cancer to meet the requirements of the study protocol. 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 or a proposal/bid may be sent in. 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 Office of Acquisitions on or before 11:00 AM EST on January 3, 2013. Electronic capability statements will be accepted or an original and one copy can be sent to the NCI Office of Acquisitions at the address stated above. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (240) 276-5401 or emailed to Erin Breedlove, Contract Specialist at breeerin@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 NO2CP4250-21 on all correspondence.