National Cancer Institute, Research Contracts Branch, ESS, Executive Plaza South, Rm. 620, 6120 Executive Blvd., MSC 7224, Bethesda, MD 20892-7224

B -- THE NEW ENGLAND BLADDER CANCER STUDY SOL N02-CP-01037-38 POC Kim L. Hall, Contract Specialist, 301-435-3781 E-MAIL: Kim L. Hall, kh175r@nih.gov. The Occupational Epidemiology Branch (OEB), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), National Cancer Institute (NCI) is seeking a contractor to provide support at the Division level for an interdisciplinary, population-based, case-control study of bladder cancer in northern New England. This study will be a case-control study of 1200 bladder cancer incident cases and 1200 population controls in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The study will include men and women. The main objectives of the study are: 1) to estimate the risk of developing bladder cancer associated with exposure to a) inorganic arsenic in drinking water, as measured in municipal supplies and private well drinking water samples, as well as from samples of toenails and urine; b) water contaminants other than arsenic (e.g., chlorination byproducts, nitrates); c) tobacco use; d) occupational exposures; e) residential proximity to industrial sites; f) dietary factors (e.g., bracken fern, fruits, vegetables, well-done meat); and e) ethnicity (e.g., French Canadian ancestry); 2) to estimate the extent to which ingestion of drinking water containing inorganic arsenic explains the elevated mortality and incidence in northern New England; 3) to estimate the extent to which exposure to risk factors other than arsenic explains the elevated mortality and incidence in northern New England; 4) to evaluate the risk of bladder cancer in relation to genetic factors measured at the DNA level (e.g., polymorphisims in genes involved with the activation and detoxification of bladder carcinogens) and phenotypically (e.g., DNA repair and mutagen sensitivity in cultured lymphocytes); 5) to examine interactions of host factors (e.g., genetic polymorphisms) with tobacco use, diet and occupational exposures, and environmental exposure to arsenic and other compounds. Several data collection activities will be conducted as part of this study. This contract is to establish a Coordinating Center for this project. The Contractor shall demonstrate that their organization has extensive experience in overseeing and coordinating support activities for multi-disciplinary, multi-center, population-based case-control studies. The solicitation will include two mandatory evaluation criteria: 1) the contractor must document that they have received authorization from the appropriate state officials to access hospital records, private pathology laboratory records, and records of the cancer registries of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont for the purpose of identifying all incident cases of bladder cancer aged 30 to 79 diagnosed among the residents of each state during the study period; and 2) the contractor must demonstrate how it will accomplish the need for face-to-face meetings on a weekly basis between the NCI Project Officers and key contract personnel. It is anticipated that an incrementally funded, cost-reimbursement, completion type contract will be awarded for a four-year period of performance. The anticipated date of the Request for Proposal (RFP) is approximately 15 days from the date of this notice, with responses due 30 days thereafter. All responsible sources meeting this criteria are encouraged to submit an offer and will be considered by the National Cancer Institute. No collect calls will be accepted. Posted 03/10/00 (W-SN433338). (0070)

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