Resource for the Collection of Human Tissues, Cells, Biofluids and Epidemiologi

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is seeking a small business contractor to provide a resource for collecting human tissues, cells, biofluids, and epidemiologic profiles from donors in the Baltimore metropolitan area. The primary objective is to support molecular epidemiology studies focusing on lung, breast, prostate, liver, and pancreatic cancer research. Contractors must demonstrate capabilities in recruiting cancer cases and population-based controls, collecting and processing biological specimens, maintaining participant data, and obtaining necessary ethical approvals. Evaluation criteria will likely include the ability to deliver non-frozen viable tissues to NIH's Bethesda campus within 3 hours, maintain proper specimen storage conditions, and conduct participant interviews with strict adherence to HIPAA and IRB requirements. Key submission deadlines include capability statements due by 3:00 PM EST on February 18, 2025, which must be limited to 15 pages and submitted electronically to whitney.monkam@nih.gov.

The opportunity is set aside specifically for small businesses under NAICS code 541715 for research and development services. The current incumbent is the University of Maryland under contract 75N91020C00007, awarded on September 21, 2020, and excluded from responding to this notice. The anticipated contract structure includes a one-year base period with six one-year option periods, potentially beginning around September 30, 2025. Annual collection goals are substantial, including 100 lung cancer cases, 100 liver carcinomas, 100 pancreatic cases, 40 breast cancer cases, and 225 normal population controls. While specific award value is not disclosed, the comprehensive nature of specimen collection, processing, and data management suggests a significant contract scope with potential multi-year funding approaching several million dollars.