RECOVERY Biospecimen Core Resources (BCR) Providing Biospecimen Processing Services to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)

This contract is to provide support services for The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Program for the National Cancer Institute (NCI). The Base Period is for eighteen (18) months, with three successive one (1) year options and one (1) six (6) month option in the following amounts: Base Period $12,251,131 (ARRA FUNDING), Option Period 1 $7,574,995; Option Period 2 $7,337,839; Option Period 3 $6,967,998; and Option Period Four $3,389,444. The total dollar value of this contract, including all options if exercised, is $37,521,407.

The specific purpose of this project is to establish two (2) Biospecimen Core Resource(s) (BCRs) sites for receiving tissue and data from the multiple the Tissue Source Site (TSS) networks for storage, quality control, processing into molecular analytes, shipping of high quality analytes to genome characterization and sequencing centers, and other support efforts to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Program.

Rationale for other than fixed-price contracting action is as follows:

The nature of the project requirements described in the Statement of Work (SOW) do not contain precise specifications to warrant a fixed-price mechanism. Further, difficulty in estimating costs with accuracy does not lend this requirement to a fixed-price mechanism. Therefore, a cost reimbursement type contract is appropriate for this acquisition. In accordance with FAR 16.3, Cost-reimbursement contracts are suitable for use only when uncertainties involved in contract performance do not permit costs to be estimated with sufficient accuracy to use any type of fixed-price contract. Sufficient safeguards are included in the contract to ensure that costs are allowable, allocable, fair, and reasonable.

Amendment No. 3

Amendment No. 1

THIS ACQUISITION IS BEING ADVERTISED UNDER FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health, is seeking qualified contractors to provide services to establish two (2) Biospecimen Core Resource(s) (BCRs) sites for receiving tissue and data from multiple Tissue Source Site (TSS) networks for storage, quality control, processing into molecular analyses, and other research support efforts as outlined in the SOW. This is part of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) program. TCGA is a comprehensive, collaborative effort led by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to map the genomic changes that occur in major types and subtypes of cancer. These services will include, but are not limited to the following:

A successful Contractor shall posses the requisite personnel, material, equipment and facilities to provide a centralized facility to uniformly process tissues and associated data for any one cancer being studied and distribute standardized sets of biomolecule aliquots to multiple TCGA sites performing genomic characterization as outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW). Specifically, the contractor shall: Provide biospecimen and associated data procurement support; provide total support of biospecimen management and bioreposotry operations; provide biospecimen pathology review support; provide support services to process biospecimen into molecular analytes; comply with all the informatics support services requirements; provide project management and oversight; and comply with all standard operating procedures and QA requirements.

This solicitation is anticipated to result in two (2) awards to offeror(s) capable of performing all aspects of the Statement of Work. The anticipated contract award(s) shall be hybrid types that are made up of fixed price and cost-reimbursement components. The contracts will be awarded for an eighteen (18) month base period, plus three (3) one-year options and one six (6) month option, for a total five-year period of performance, if all options are exercised. It is anticipated that the eighteen (18) month base period will be funded utilizing American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funding. (The option periods, if exercised, will be supported by appropriated funds.) All responsible and qualified sources may submit a proposal which shall be considered by the Government. This advertisement does not commit the Government to award a contract. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for this project is 541990 with a size standard of 7.0 Million dollars.

The solicitation is scheduled for electronic release on or about April 12, 2010 and receipt for proposals will be due on or about 2:00 p.m., Eastern Prevailing Time on May 13, 2010. The RFP may be accessed through the NCI Office of Acquisitions homepage by using the following internet address - http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/index.jsp; once at the site, click on Current Requests for Proposals. Under the Section entitled The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Project, click on solicitation number N02-CO-07013-64 entitled, "RECOVERY - Biospecimen Core Resources (BCR) Providing Biospecimen Processing Services to The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)" Interested parties are expected to review this notice and the Request for Proposal to familiarize themselves with the requirements of the project; failure to do so will be at your firm's own risk. All information required for submission of a proposal will be contained in the electronic RFP package.

Only electronic copies of the solicitation are available. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the above internet site for the release of this solicitation and any amendments. POTENTIAL OFFERORS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DOWNLOADING THEIR OWN COPY OF THE SOLICITATION AND AMENDMENTS. No collect calls will be accepted.