Site License to AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 8th Edition and the Version 9 Cancer Staging System

Contracting Office Address

The Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions, 9609 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, MD 20850, UNITED STATES

1.0    DESCRIPTION

The SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Surveillance Research Program, plans to procure services, on a sole source basis, from the American College of Surgeons, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), 633 N. St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611-3211.

The response close date of the notice for this requirement is in accordance with FAR 5.203(b). This acquisition will be processed under FAR Part 12 - Acquisition for Commercial Items and will be made pursuant to the authority in FAR Part 13.106-1(b)(1)(i); and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The North American Industry Classification System code is 513210 and the small business size standard is $47.0 million.

It has been determined there are no opportunities to acquire green products or services for this procurement.

2.0    BACKGROUND

The SEER Program of the National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, Surveillance Research Program, is an authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States.  Case ascertainment for SEER began on January 1, 1973, in the states of Connecticut, Iowa, New Mexico, Utah, and Hawaii and the metropolitan areas of Detroit and San Francisco-Oakland. Since then, the SEER Program has been expanded to cover numerous additional areas.

SEER currently collects and publishes cancer incidence and survival data from population-based cancer registries covering approximately 48.0 percent of the U.S. population. The SEER registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, morphology, and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status. The SEER Program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information in the United States that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and survival rates within each stage.

2.1    Objective

Access to the 8th Edition of the Cancer Staging Manual and the Version 9 Cancer Staging System requires an active site license. To continue collection and reporting of cancer staging data by the SEER registries, the NCI/DCCPS SEER Program requires access to the most current cancer stating data.

3.0    TYPE OF ORDER

This is a firm fixed price purchase order. 

4.0    SPECIAL ORDER REQUIREMENTS

The license shall cover the entire manual including the updates.

4.1    Features, Content, and Use

4.1.1    Content

The following product features, content, and permitted uses are required.

The Government requires the use of specific sections or subsections within the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 8th Edition and the Version 9 Cancer Staging System. Within each book chapter or subchapter these include ICD-O-3 Topography Codes, WHO Classification of Tumors, Definitions of AJCC TNM, AJCC Prognostic Stage Groups, AJCC Anatomic and Prognostic Stage Groups, Tables included in Chapter 1, other portions throughout the book.

4.1.2    Description of Products or Platforms

The Government shall utilize the content described in section 4.1.1 above across various products and platforms in association with the Extent of Disease (EOD) TNM Staging System. These products and platforms shall include SEER*API, SEER*RSA, and other NCI Reference and Training Manuals.

4.1.3    Permitted Uses

The Government’s use of the content described in section 4.1.1 above shall be within the EOD TNM Staging System. This shall include the use of the content to determine cancer schema, the development of EOD data variables, the development of algorithms to derive EOD TNM Stage Groups, the support of Notes within the products and platforms described in section 4.1.2 above to support instructions to data collectors, and in support of cancer registrar education and training. 

4.1.4    Authorized Users

Authorized users shall include NCI Government employees and contractors who develop, maintain, and support the products and platforms detailed in section 4.1.2 above; users who utilize these same products and platforms to collect and manage cancer surveillance data; and users who utilize these same products and platforms to train and support cancer surveillance data collection efforts.

4.2    DELIVERY/INSTALLATION

Delivery Address:

NCI/DCCPS/SRP
9609 Medical Center Drive, Room 4E336
Bethesda, MD 20892-9765

5.0    PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall consist of a 12-month base period of performance, plus four (4) 12-month option periods as follows:

    Base Period: June 29, 2024, to June 28, 2025
    Option Period One: June 29, 2025, to June 28, 2026
    Option Period Two: June 29, 2026, to June 28, 2027
    Option Period Three: June 29, 2027, to June 28, 2028
    Option Period Four: June 29, 2028, to June 28, 2029
    
6.0    CONTRACTING OFFICER'S REPRESENTATIVE (COR) AUTHORITY
    
Contracting Officer’s Representative:

(TBD)    

(a) Performance of work under this contract must be subject to the technical direction of the Contracting Officer's Representative identified above, or a representative designated in writing. The term "technical direction" includes, without limitation, direction to the contractor that directs or redirects the labor effort, shifts the work between work areas or locations, fills in details and otherwise serves to ensure that tasks outlined in the work statement are accomplished satisfactorily. 

(b) Technical direction must be within the scope of the specification(s)/work statement. 

The Contracting Officer's Representative does not have authority to issue technical direction that: 

(1) Constitutes a change of assignment or additional work outside the specification(s)/statement of work; 
    (2) Constitutes a change as defined in the clause entitled "Changes"; 
    (3) In any manner causes an increase or decrease in the contract price, or the time 
    required for contract performance; 
    (4) Changes any of the terms, conditions, or specification(s)/work statement of the 
    contract;
    (5) Interferes with the contractor's right to perform under the terms and conditions of the 
    contract; or 
    (6) Directs, supervises or otherwise controls the actions of the contractor's employees.

(c) Technical direction may be oral or in writing. The Contracting Officer's Representative shall confirm oral direction in writing within five work days, with a copy to the Contracting Officer. 

(d) The contractor shall proceed promptly with performance resulting from the technical direction issued by the Contracting Officers, Representative.  If, in the opinion of the contractor, any direction of the Contracting Officers, Representative, or his/her designee, falls within the limitations in (b), above, the contractor shall immediately notify the Contracting Officer no later than the beginning of the next Government work day. 
(e) Failure of the contractor and the Contracting Officer to agree that technical direction is within the scope of the contract shall be subject to the terms of the clause entitled "Disputes."

7.0    UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONTRACTOR

The purpose of this acquisition is to acquire a license to use the copyrighted content of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Cancer Staging Manual, 8th Edition and the Version 9 Cancer Staging System from the American Joint College of Surgeons. The required Contractor is uniquely qualified in that they are the copyright holder and therefore the only entity capable of legitimately providing a license for the use of this material. Acquiring this license from AJCC for the 8th Edition of the staging manual and the Version 9 Cancer Staging System is essential for collection of SEER data to be scientifically comparable with previous data, under previous editions of the AJCC Staging Manual.

The SEER registries routinely collect data on patient demographics, primary tumor site, morphology, and stage at diagnosis, first course of treatment, and follow-up for vital status.  The SEER Program is the only comprehensive source of population-based information in the United States that includes stage of cancer at the time of diagnosis and survival rates within each stage.
There is only one source for this acquisition. This is the copyright holder to the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, 8th Edition and the Version 9 Cancer Staging System. This copyright is held by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), a component of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).

8.0    SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS

This notice is not a request for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes it can meet the above requirements, it may submit a proposal or quote for the Government to consider. The response 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 the requirement.  All responses and questions must be sent via email to the Contract Specialist, Dana Summons, at dana.summons@nih.gov by no later than 3:00 PM EST on May 29, 2023, (5/29/2023). A determination by the Government not 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. In order to receive an award, Contractors must be registered and have valid certification through SAM.gov. Reference: 75N91024Q00088 on all correspondence.