Use of the NDSR Data for Food Frequency Questionnaire Nutrient Database

1.0    DESCRIPTION

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS), Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program (EGRP), Risk Factor Assessment Branch (RFAB), plans to procure services, on a sole source basis, from Regents of the University of Minnesota, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), 200 Oak Street SE, Suite 450
Minneapolis, MN  55455.

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 $34.5 million.

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

2.0    BACKGROUND

The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS), Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program (EGRP), Risk Factor Assessment Branch (RFAB) maintains a public use food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) called the Diet History Questionnaire or DHQ (http://riskfactor.cancer.gov/DHQ).  The nutrient database for this instrument includes values mostly from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) – data that are also public use.  However, the nutrients available from the USDA database are limited in scope.  The University of Minnesota’s Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR) (http://www.ncc.umn.edu/products/ndsr.html), however, maintains a larger nutrient database than USDA and includes additional nutrients of great interest to researchers – nutrients that are not available in the USDA nutrient database.  The NDSR database is proprietary.  It is mostly used to collect and analyze food record and 24-hour dietary recall data.  NCI would like to be able to use the NDSR extensive database to add important nutrient of interest to its DHQ nutrient database. 

2.1    Objective

The primary objective of this work is to allow NCI to obtain and use the most comprehensive and up-to-date, state-of-the-art, research level nutrient and food group database for the purpose of updating and maintaining the food and nutrient database we provide on our public use food frequency questionnaire which is used by researchers across the country in nutrition research.  

3.0    SCOPE

The Contractor shall provide the NCI with full access to the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR).  This task provides NCI with access to this database allowing NCI to provide an extensive list of nutrients and food components on its public use food frequency questionnaire.  

4.0    CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS/ AND PERSONNEL QUALIFICATIONS

The Contractor shall provide to NCI an updated, current, nutrient database that can be used to create composite nutrient values for line-items on a food frequency questionnaire.  This shall be delivered to the NCI Technical Point of Contact (TPOC) within one month of contract award.  Updates to the database that occur during the period of performance will be delivered to NCI within one month of when updates occur in order for NCI to maintain the most up-to-date version of the database available.

The Contractor shall:

4.1    Maintain an extensive nutrient database for use with their system and make the entire database available to NCI for the purpose of creating composite nutrient values for NCI’s FFQ database.
4.2    Allow the NCI access to the database to make use of the outcome of this effort to create and publish nutrient estimates that are public use for the DHQ FFQ.  
4.3    Report to NCI any updates or modifications of their nutrient database so that new nutrients or updates can be incorporated into the FFQ database. If there are updates this will be communicated in writing within 30 days, and if there are modifications that change the structure of the data this will be communicated in writing within 30 days
4.4    Respond to e-mails and telephone calls on a periodic basis (average of once per month). Emails and/or telephone calls may be needed to clarify any updates or modifications.

5.0    TYPE OF ORDER

This is a firm fixed price purchase order. 

6.0    PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE

The period of performance shall be July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025. 

7.0    PLACE OF PERFORMANCE

The place of performance shall be at the Contractor's facility.

8.0    UNIQUE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE CONTRACTOR

The University of Minnesota, NDSR is uniquely qualified to carry out this effort because they are the only organization nationally that compiles nutrient data for a large food database for nutrients not yet on the USDA public use database (See:  http://www.ncc.umn.edu/index.html ).  This effort has been supported by NIH and NHLBI for three decades.  No other vendor maintains a database that regularly updates and adds new nutrients across a broad spectrum of foods.

A search for other vendors revealed that, compared to this vendor, none have:

•    The number of foods and nutrients available;
•    As comprehensive a list of foods and brand name products;
•    As many nutrients and food components;
•    As complete a database with no missing values; Ongoing additions and updates to their food and nutrient databases

9.0    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 June 3, 2024, (6/3/24). 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: 75N91024Q00104 on all correspondence.