Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Prevention Studies

Sources Sought Notice No.: SS-ETSB-022312-56 This is a Small Business Sources Sought notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business concern; (2) whether they are small business; HUBZone small business; service-disabled, veteran-owned small business; 8(a) small business; veteran-owned small business; woman-owned small business; or small disadvantage business; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether a set-aside is possible. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The NAICS code for this project is 541990. The small business size standard is $7.0 million in annual receipts. Background The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG) began work in China because of the unparalleled scientific opportunity to study esophageal cancer. The extraordinary rates of disease in Linxian (20-25% of deaths are due to this disease) coupled with the numerous documented nutritional inadequacies made this an ideal place to test the hypothesis that nutritional supplements could prevent cancer. Both esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia cancer (GCC) occur at epidemic rates in this population, share some etiologic risk factors, and prior to widespread use of endoscopy and biopsy, were diagnosed as a single disease referred to as "esophageal cancer" or "hard of swallowing disease". Enabled by the establishment of a cancer field station in Linxian by the Chinese in the late 1950s and the opening of China to the West in the 1970s, NCI initiated collaborative studies of esophageal cancer with the Cancer Institute of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CICAMS) in 1982. Pilot studies were followed by a case-control study and the Nutrition Intervention Trials (NITs). With the conclusion of the NIT interventions in 1991, attention turned to the etiology and the early detection of Upper Gastrointestinal (UGI) cancers, where studies were started in members of the trial cohorts as well as other high-risk and diseased subjects in Linxian. These studies have been conducted over the years through 2 separate but overlapping projects: the Nutrition Intervention Trials and Follow-up Study, and the Early Detection of Esophageal Cancer (EDEC) Project. These previously separate projects are now being combined into a single project to gather data and information related to participants of UGI cancer in Linxian. Purpose and Objectives The primary objective of this project is to identify and test strategies to reduce mortality from esophageal and gastric cancer in Linxian China. Project requirements Major tasks required of the Contractor include the following: 1. Continued follow-up of participants previously enrolled in Linxian studies: a) Follow-up the Nutrition Intervention Trials (NIT) participants (n=32,902) and all prior participants in the Early Detection of Esophageal Cancer (EDEC) Project (n=4000) cohorts for vital and cancer endpoints, b) Determine updated vital status and cancer status data on all NIT and EDEC by monthly checks of village doctor records and quarterly checks of Linxian Cancer Registry records; c) Identify, and store centrally all available diagnostic materials for NIT and EDEC participants identified as having developed cancer or died with cancer; d) Review diagnostic materials and summarize all causes of mortality and all incident and mortal cancers diagnosed; e) Quality control: Develop and implement, as a part of the project plan, quality control methods to assure high quality in the collection, preparation, and review of vital status and cancer status information. 2. Maintain biorepository of existing samples: a) Store biological samples at -85 degrees Centigrade or room temperature (as appropriate), all existing biologic samples collected during the NIT and EDEC projects in the Linxian biorepository, and monitor the freezer and ambient temperatures in the freezer storage room daily; b) Develop/maintain an inventory of biologic samples in the Linxian biorepository; c) From the Linxian biorepository, transport biologic samples, in accordance with appropriate regulations, as needed to NCI or other designated laboratory for specified laboratory analyses; e) Quality control: Develop and implement, as a part of the project plan, quality control methods to assure high quality in the processing and storage of biologic samples. 3. Initial and Final Transition Plan: a) Ensure the orderly, efficient and safe transition of all contract activities and biological materials within a pre-determined period of time. As part of the work under this potential contract quarterly and final technical report are expected. Other important considerations This work requires the Contractor to provide responses to data inquiries generated by the COR in response to data received from China. This work requires the Contractor to prepare, in collaboration with the COR, reports from study data for publication. All biological materials delivered will need to be packaged in appropriate containers and delivered according to Department of Transportation regulations. Anticipated period of performance The anticipated period of performance for this requirement is one year, with four one-year options. Capability statement/information sought. Interested qualified small business organizations should submit a tailored capability statement for this requirement, not to exceed 20 single-sided pages (including all attachments, resumes, charts, etc.) presented in single-space using a 12-point font size minimum, that clearly details the ability to perform the aspects of the notice described above. Statements should also include an indication of current certified small business status; this indication should be clearly marked on the first page of your capability statement, as well as the eligible small business concern's name, point of contact, address and DUNS number. Information submission instructions All capability Statements sent in response to this SOURCES SOUGHT notice must be submitted electronically (via email) to Juana A. Diaz, Contract Specialist, at diazj@mail.nih.gov in MS Word or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF), by March 5, 2012, 9:00AM, EST. All responses must be received by the specified due date and time in order to be considered. Disclaimer and Important Notes This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organization's qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. Respondents will be added to the prospective offerors list for any subsequent solicitation. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary information in any resultant solicitation(s).