SOLICITATION NOTICE
H -- Telomere Shortening and Prostate Cancer Risk Among U.S. Farmers in the Agricultural Health Study (AHS)
- Notice Date
- 7/24/2007
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541380
— Testing Laboratories
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 6120 Executive Blvd. EPS Suite 600, Rockville, MD, 20852, UNITED STATES
- ZIP Code
- 00000
- Solicitation Number
- Reference-Number-70087-NV
- Response Due
- 8/2/2007
- Archive Date
- 8/17/2007
- Description
- The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch (OEEB) plans to procure on a sole source basis with The University of Milan, Via Festa Del Perdono 7, Milan, Italy for laboratory services to perform PCR-based analysis of telomere length on 2000 buccal DNA samples (extracted using Gentra products) and 800 blood DNA in duplicate from the U.S. Agricultural Health Study (AHS) using real-time PCR technology. Genetic integrity is maintained, in part, by the architecture of telomeres. Telomeres are complexes of tandem repeats of DNA (10-15 kb, 5'-TTAGGG-3') and proteins that cap eurkaryotic chromosomes. The telomeres of invasive human cancers often appear shorter than their normal tissue counterparts. Shorter telomere length has been associated with increased risk of several cancers, including prostate cancer. Human prostate carcinogenesis has been proposed as a consequence of chromosomal instability mediated by shortened, dysfunctional telomeres and telomere shortening was seen in even high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions, a putative prostate cancer precursor. In vitro data showed that inhibition of telomerase is related to the life span and tumorigenicity of human prostate cancer cells. Telomere length exhibits inter-subject variations in the population, as shortened telomeres have been related to aging and other cellular and individual processes. The Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory of the University of Milan, Italy is the only source known to the NCI Researcher that is currently taking on projects that has the expertise and resources necessary to perform telomere length analysis by real time PCR with the sensitivity and precision needed to test the study hypothesis. The laboratory applies the technique developed by Dr. Cawthon, University of Utah. At the University of Milan, telomere length is measured with a coefficient of variation in repeated measurements in the same plate equal to 9.1%. The coefficient of variation in measurements repeated in different plates is 7.1%. Such measurements of reproducibility are equivalent to those reported by Cawthon et al. (Nucleic Acid Research, 2002, 30:e47). The laboratory implements standardized QC/QA procedures to ensure the correct processing of the samples and the high quality of assays. This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR 13.5 to use simplified procedures for commercial acquisitions. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes it can provide the above service they may submit a statement of capabilities. 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. An original and one copy of the capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 1:00 p.m. EDT, on August 2, 2007. Faxed and emailed capability statements are NOT authorized. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed to (301) 402-4513 or emailed to dm170b@nih.gov. It is the vendor's responsibility to call (301) 402-4509 to verify questions have been received. 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. In order to receive an award from the NCI contractors must be registered in the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA). Please refer to http://orca.bpn.gov in order to register. In addition, contractors must be registered in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. NAICS 541380. Size Standard $11M.
- Record
- SN01350294-W 20070726/070724220547 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
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