SOURCES SOUGHT
B -- Cancer Risk Following Radiation Exposure From Computed Tomography in Children and Adolescents
- Notice Date
- 2/15/2006
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541710
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Br., 6120 Executive Blvd. EPS Suite 600, Rockville, MD, 20852
- ZIP Code
- 20852
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-N02-CP-61006-49
- Response Due
- 2/28/2006
- Archive Date
- 3/15/2006
- Description
- The Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, is conducting market research to determine the availability of health research organizations able to provide comprehensive, detailed, and systematic computerized data on pediatric computerized tomography (CT) examinations that can be linked to population-based cancer registries so that a large study can be conducted to examine potential risks for cancer. This announcement is for informational purposes only to determine if competition is feasible. Since the introduction of CT scans in medicine in the early 1970s, their use has increased rapidly in Western societies. With increasing use of this indispensable, sometimes life-saving technology, the relatively high radiation doses received by patients has focused attention on the potential risk for developing radiation-related cancers. Children are of particular concern because they are more sensitive to the deleterious effects of radiation, generally receive higher effective doses, often undergo repeat or unnecessary scans, sometimes with sub-optimal machine settings, and have a longer expected lifetime to express risk for radiation-induced cancers. Due to the relatively recent widespread introduction of CT scans into common clinical practice, the considerable latency period between radiation exposure and the development of cancers, and the large number of exposed patients required, the potential adverse health effects of CT scan exposure have not yet been studied directly. Therefore, the DCEG is planning to conduct large cohort and nested case-control studies to directly quantify the cancer risks associated with exposure to CT scans at a young age. The offeror is expected to be a part of a health research organization that has extensive experience in large-scale epidemiologic studies, preferably in the areas of cancer etiology and radiation effects. The offeror must be able to: 1) Collect accurate, systematic, and comprehensive computerized patient data of at least 200,000 children (under age 15 years) who received CT scans between 1985 and 2000. It is anticipated that patient data include all of the following: name, unique identifying number that allows computer linkage with other patient and health registries, age (or weight) at examination, gender, type of CT scan (e.g., axial or helical, pitch), body location of scan (e.g. brain or abdomen), the type of CT scanner used, exposure setting used (i.e. milliamp-second setting), scanner voltage used (kVp), and referring clinical department or medical indication for the scan. 2) Computer link the patient database to nation-wide population registries so that vital status can be determined for study subjects from 1985-2006. 3) Computer link the patient database to high-quality population-based regional or nation-wide cancer registries for the period 1985-2006. The registries must provide full coverage of the geographic areas from which the study patients were identified. 4) Collect data in a country or region with a health system that provides equal access to care and where CT scans are almost always performed in large hospital radiology departments and are highly unlikely to have been performed in small private practices or clinics. 5) Obtain patient data, computer linkage, and analyses within a period of four years. Therefore, preference will be given to offerors who can show evidence of their ability to provide data in a timely fashion. Sources possessing the experience and demonstrated capability to accomplish the aforementioned requirements must provide pertinent information in sufficient detail to reflect their ability to successfully accomplish the required services. Information furnished must not exceed five (5) pages, and must also include previous or similar projects performed to allow NCI the ability to perform proper evaluation of the offeror?s capabilities. Interested offerors should furnish four (4) copies of the capability information addressing the requirements described above to the attention of Sharon Miller, Contracting Officer, NCI Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Boulevard, EPS/6112, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-7196. If a hand delivery/courier is used the address is the same except for the city and zip code (Rockville, MD 20852). Capability information can also be faxed to #301/480-0241, or emailed to Sharon Miller at sm103r@nih.gov. Electronic documents must be submitted either in Word Perfect or Word. Questions can be directed to Sharon by email or by telephone at 301/435-3783, or to the Contract Specialist George Kennedy at 301/435-3779. Proprietary information must be marked as such. Information submitted will be held in a confidential manner. This announcement is part of market research by the Agency to determine if a sole source award is justifiable. Capability information must be received by 2:00 PM EST, February 28, 2006.
- Record
- SN00988601-W 20060217/060215211849 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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