The Use of Metabolomics to Identify Biomarkers of Energy Balance and to Examine Metabolites in Relation to Renal Cell Cancer Risk

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Nutritional Epidemiology Branch (NEB) plans to procure on a sole source basis the use of metabolomics to identify biomarkers of energy balance and to examine metabolites in relation to renal cell cancer risk from Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, MA 02129 This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1) and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 541380 and the business size standard is 500 employees. Only one award will be made as a result of this solicitation. This will be awarded as a firm fixed price type contract. It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement. The mission of the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch (NEB) is to define the causal relationships between diet/nutritional status, energy balance, metabolism, lifestyle factors, and cancer. Our research encompasses diet, energy balance/obesity/physical activity, specific nutrients and supplements, diet-related additives, contaminants, metabolites, and intermediate biologic markers Kidney cancer is one of the most common cancers in the United States, and approximately 85% of kidney cancers are renal cell carcinomas (RCC). A hallmark of RCC is that perturbed metabolism plays a major role in its etiology. Obesity and hypertension are among the strongest risk factors for RCC, and multiple mechanistic pathways have been proposed to explain why these factors are related to RCC risk. However, despite substantial scientific inquiry on this topic, the NCI understanding of the actual mechanistic pathways involved in RCC etiology remains quite poor. Metabolomics is a field of research devoted to the study of large numbers (400-800) of small molecules within biofluids, such as blood. Metabolomic profiles incorporate exposure from diet, lifestyle, the environment and genetics, among many other factors, that may be related to cancer risk. To better understand the role of metabolism in RCC etiology, the Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is conducting a metabolomics study that will examine how metabolites in prospectively collected serum are associated with RCC risk. Samples are to be run at the lab of Massachusettes General Hospital, using the high sensitivity Agilent 6490 QQQ mass spectrometer in the negative ion mode. The Gerszten platform at Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center is one of the best-characterized metabolite profiling platforms in epidemiologic research and it has yielded many important and replicable associations in prior epidemiologic studies. The platform has exceptionally high technical reliability and low batch to batch variability, and can measure many metabolites simultaneously. Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center has extensive experience in metabolite profiling, with a long track record of high impact publications in this area. In addition, the proposed study is part of a consortium effort to identify metabolic factors related to RCC. If the NCI were to use an alternate platform, the results will not be comparable to those of other studies in the Consortium because the exact metabolites measured by different metabolomics platforms will differ. For scientific comparability, it is necessary that these analyses be done at the Massachusetts General Hospital Heart Center. This notice is not a request for competitive quotation. However, if any interested party, especially small businesses, believes it can meet the above requirement, it may submit a capability statement, proposal, or quotation, which shall be considered by the agency. 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. Responses must be received in the contracting office by 3:00 PM EST on July 16, 2015. All responses and questions must be in writing and faxed +1 (555) 000-0000 or emailed to Kimesha Leake, Contract Specialist at contact@example.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. In order to receive an award, contractors must be registered and have valid certification in the System for Award Management (SAM) through sam.gov. Reference: N02CP52631-24 on all correspondence.