Amendment_5_N02CO57019-02.pdf

RFP Number : N02CO57019-02 Amendment 5

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OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS

NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NUMBER: N02CO57019-02

Amendment No.: 5

Date of Issuance: 07/28/2015

The above numbered Request For Proposal (RFP) is amended as set forth below. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offerors remains unchanged: 2:00PM EPT 8/3/15.

Offerors MUST acknowledge receipt of the amendment prior to the hour and the date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by separate letter, telegram, or Electronic Mail which includes a reference to the RFP and Amendment number(s). For your convenience, the Proposal Intent Response Form is provided in SECTION J - List of Attachments of this RFP, for this purpose.

FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERORS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER.

This Amendment #5 provides answers to questions received, as stated below:

Inquiry 1-

Question 1: Can you clarify the product that the BCR will prepare and ship to the PCC? Under the header, Attachment 3- Statement of Work on p. 41 of the SOW it states, The BCR will perform quality control on the tissues and will send qualified samples to the CPTAC Protein Characterization Centers (PCC) for proteomic analysis.

What are the samples that are being referred to above? Clearly if for proteomic analysis it could be a tissue or tissue homogenate. Is it a histological preparation of either fresh/frozen or FFPE tissue? Please clarify.

The other description in the same paragraph is unambiguous, qualified preparations of nucleic acids which will be sent to the GCC within the network (i.e. DNA and RNA).

Answer 1: The best description of the protein sample is provided on p. 7 of the SOW as follows:

"Because protein extraction is performed by each PCC, the BCR will not isolate protein material. When optimal cutting temperature medium (OCT) is present, the BCR will remove OCT prior to preparing a sample for proteomic analysis. To ensure the homogeneity between the sample portion undergoing genomic analysis and the portion undergoing proteomic analysis, the BCR shall have the capability to conduct a variety of sample processing methods, including, but not limited to: serial slicing, cryopulverization, and laser-capture microdissection. The default method for preparing a sample shall be serial slicing, where a tissue sample is divided into 50 micrometer curls. The curls shall be alternately placed into separate vials such that the proteomics vial has approximately 100 mg of wet weight tissue and the nucleic acid vial has approximately 50 mg of wet weight tissue."

To date, the proteomic characterization centers have used only frozen tissue.

Inquiry 2-

Question 1: From Article G.3. on Page 24 of the original Solicitation/RFP it states:

Invoice Matching Option. This contract requires a two-way match. Can you please explain what is meant by a "two-way match"?

Answer 1: This is an internal verification process between the Contracting Officer and the Contracting Officer's Representative to ensure that what was billed match what was performed and adheres to the contract terms.

END OF AMENDMENT #5.

RFP Number : N02CO57019-02 Amendment 5

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