National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, PSAS, 6120 Executive Blvd, EPS/Room 638, Bethesda, MD 20892-7227

A -- RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SOL RFQ-NCI-80251 DUE 092898 POC Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent, Todd Cole, Contracting Officer The Cancer Prevention Studies Branch (CPSB), Division of Clinical Sciences (DCS), National Cancer Institute (NCI) plans to procure the research services of the Labor Protection Institute, Yannan Tin Corporation, Gejiu, Yannan Province 661400, China. BACKGROUND: The Yunnan Tin Corporation (YTC) is a large, nonferrous-metals industry, formed in 1883 and nationalized in 1949. It is involved principally in the production of tin from the mines around the city of Gejiu. The miners at YTC have extremely high rate of lung cancer. Among those at high risk, defined as miners 40+ years old with 10+ years of underground mining and/or smelting experience, more than one percent per year develop lung cancer. The extraordinary lung cancer rates result from combined exposure to radon, arsenic, and tobacco smoking in the form of cigarettes and/or bamboo water pipes. The study population for the development of a biologic specimen bank for the study of early markers of lung cancer is all YTC miners considered to be at high risk for lung cancer based on their occupation exposure (40+ years old with 10+ years of underground and/or smelting experience). Currently numbering over 9,000, this high-risk group has been the target for the annual lung cancer screening program at the YTC for the past 20+ years. For each high-risk miner, sputum samples are collected annually, read for cytologic interpretation, and stored in Saccomanno's solution for future early marker research. Screening chest x-rays are also obtained . Subjects are followed annually to determine if any have developed lung cancer. Diagnostic work up of suspicious cases includes an additional sputum sample and histology specimen(s), which are used for diagnostic purposes and also retained for future research. Additional biologic specimens have also been obtained on screens for etiologic research, including a one-time collection of whole blood, urine, and toenail clippings. The cancer Prevention Studies Branch, Division of Clinical Sciences, NCI, requires purchase of dataand samples on 6000+ high risk tin miners undergoing screening and evaluation for lung cancer. This activity is part of a larger research program between China and the U.S. whose overall goal is to try to determine optimal strategies for the prevention of lung cancer. The high rates of cancer within the available cohort (miners of Gejiu), combined with the extensive data and biological samples available on subjects from the Labor Protection Institue, Yunnan Tin corporation, make this a unique opportunity to study early detection of lung cancer. The purpose of this procurement is for the Contractor to: (1) develop a plan of operation for implementation of the various study components; (2) identify participants targeted for future lung cancer screening examinations from among the Early Detection of Lung Cancer in Yunnan Tin Minners study high-risk cohort; (3) conduct lung cancer screening examinations; (4) collect, process, and store related biologic samples; (5) identify all new cancers and deaths among the screened subjects; and (6) for quality control, have Chinese and U.S. experts review all suspicious chest x-rays and sputum cytologies. Since the Labor Protection Institute, Yunnan Tin corporation has the rights to the data from the past screenings and ti has an established process to evaluate subjects from a region with a very high incidence of lung cancer, it is the only known source with who can meet the requirements of this study, including identifying participants for future lung cnacer screening, collecting/processing biologic samples, and identifying all new cancers and deaths among the screened subjects. if any interested party believes it can perform the above work, it 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 this requirement. Capability statements must be received in the contracting office by 1:00 p.m. EST, on September 28, 1998. If you have any questions, please contact Cynthia Brown, Purchasing Agent on (301) 402-4509. A determination by the government ot 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. Posted 09/10/98 (W-SN248192). (0253)

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