Support for Epidemiological Studies of the Mayak and Techa River Cohorts

The Radiation Epidemiology Branch (REB), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH intends to negotiate with the Urals Research Center for Radiation Medicine (URCRM) located in the Russian Federation, a contract consisting of one base-year and three one-year options, for support services titled - Support for Epidemiologic Studies of the Mayak and Techa River Cohorts. This is a renewal of contract #N01-CP-45505 with the URCRM, whose work on this study of the Mayak and Techa River Cohorts in the Russian Federation extends back more than 10 years, as a subcontractor on predecessor contracts with the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), #N01-CP-81034 and #N01-CP-11014. The Extended Techa River Cohort (ETRC) is comprised of 29,749 persons, of all ages and both sexes, born before 1950, who lived in any of the 41 villages situated on the Techa River between 1950 and 1960. Cohort members were primarily exposed to external cesium-137 and internal strontium-90 from radioactive wastes released into the river by the Mayak nuclear weapons facility, the largest nuclear weapons facility in the former Soviet Union, which began operations in 1948. This renewal will be negotiated directly with the URCRM as a support services contract, supporting REB investigators by providing cancer mortality data necessary to quantify cancer mortality risks from protracted low dose rate exposure to external radiation and internal exposure to strontium. Results of analyses conducted thus far have demonstrated that this study has the power to detect and quantify risks of long term carcinogenic effects of low to moderate chronic radiation exposures. The proposed contract action is for supplies or services for which the Government intends to solicit and negotiate using other than full and open competition under the authority of FAR 6.302. Interested persons may identify their interest and capability to respond to the requirement. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. However, all proposals received will be considered by the Government. A determination by the Government not to continue with 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.