SOURCES SOUGHT
A -- GuLF Study
- Notice Date
- 2/11/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541712
— Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Contracting Office
- National Institutes of HealthNational Institute of EnvironmentalHealth SciencesResearch Triangle ParkNC27709
- ZIP Code
- 27709
- Solicitation Number
- NIHES2011121
- Response Due
- 2/21/2011
- Archive Date
- 3/23/2011
- Point of Contact
- HARDEE, THOMAS M +1 919 541 0429, hardee@niehs.nih.gov
- E-Mail Address
-
HARDEE, THOMAS M
(hardee@niehs.nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Synopsis Description, NIHES2011121, GuLF STUDY (Gulf Long-term Follow-up Study) Introduction - This is a combined Small Business Sources Sought Notice/ Notice of Availability of Request For Proposals. The purpose of the Small Business Sources Sought Notice is to obtain information regarding: (1) the availability and capability of qualified small business sources; (2) whether they are small businesses; HUBZone small businesses; service-disabled, veteran-owned small businesses; 8(a) small businesses; veteran-owned small businesses; woman-owned small businesses; or small disadvantaged businesses; and (3) their size classification relative to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541712 for the proposed acquisition. Your responses to the information requested will assist the Government in determining the appropriate acquisition method, including whether any type of set-aside is appropriate. An organization that is not considered a small business under the applicable NAICS code should not submit a response to this notice. The Government will review capability statements, which may not exceed fifteen (15) type-written pages excluding references, and will use the information to determine the basis. e.g. full and open competition or restricted competition, on which to release the RFPAlthough the Government has not yet decided the basis on which it will release the solicitation, the purpose of the Notice of Availability of Request For Proposal is to provide the opportunity to potentially qualified sources to express interest in the requirement and request a copy of the solicitation, which will be released as solicitation number NIHES2011121 on or about March 1, 2011. Proposals will be due on or about March 30, 2011. On or about February 25, 2011the Government will issue an amendment to this synopsis notice to convey the basis on which it will release the solicitation.Background - There has been little research of the long-term health effects from oil spills despite the fact that between 1970 and 2009, there were 356 spills of more than 700 tons from oil tankers, with approximately 38 of these spills affecting coastal populations [International Tanker Owners Pollution Federation Limited (ITOPF) 2009, Aguilera, et al. 2010]. The Deepwater Horizon disaster, with its release of approximately 5 million barrels (~680,000 tons) of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, is far larger than any of these tanker spills. Given the magnitude of this spill and the scope of the potential exposures at least 100,000 workers involved in clean-up efforts and countless residents of the affected areas study of the human health effects of this spill is urgently needed to monitor Gulf clean-up workers and to understand the adverse consequences of oil spills in general. On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig exploded, starting an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. On June 15, 2010, the NIH Director announced that NIH will devote at least $10 million to support research on the potential health effects of the oil spill caused by the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon offshore drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico.NIEHS is taking the lead in designing a large prospective health study of oil spill clean-up workers and volunteers. The NIEHS has hosted a series of community forums, stakeholder visits, webinars and instructional meetings throughout the 5-state Gulf region in order to promote awareness, participation and coordination for all these programs among local residents, state and local health departments, regional universities and researchers, and federal agency partners.Separately, NIEHS, in partnership with several NIH Institutes/Centers/Offices, issued a Request for Applications (RFA) to create community-based participatory consortia of university-community partners to address the health issues of concern to the Gulf residents. It is anticipated that the outcomes of these programs will provide better understanding of the interplay and impact of multiple stressors on human health and well-being and the potential underlying mechanisms for effects observed. In addition, the findings will establish the evidence base needed to inform recovery and to develop strategies to prevent illness and promote the health and well-being of populations faced in this and other future man-made and natural disasters. NIEHS is also currently supporting research and outreach efforts related to the health effects of exposure to oil and dispersants. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/about/od/programs/gulfstudygrantees/index.cfm).To expedite research on the potential health effects of the oil spill, British Petroleum (BP) contributed $10 million to a NIH gift fund. The NIH will use some of these funds to supplement its support for the long-term study of clean-up workers. NIEHS has initiated pilot GuLF STUDY activities which are being performed by Constella/SRA, under an NIEHS contract for Clinical Research Support Services, contract number HHSN291200555553C. The completion date is September 29, 2011. Purpose and Objectives - The purpose of this project is to design and conduct a large, long term prospective health study of Gulf oil spill clean-up workers and volunteers. Clean-up workers are likely to be the most heavily exposed of all population groups in the Gulf coast region with adverse effects occurring earlier, and more severely than in the general population. The study will focus on exposure to oil and dispersant products and potential health consequences such as respiratory, neurobehavioral, carcinogenic, and immunological conditions. The study will also evaluate mental health concerns and other oil spill-related stressors such as job loss, family disruption, and financial uncertainties. Project Requirements Under the contract NIEHS will seek to enroll approximately 55,000 people studying its long-term cohort study. Building on an extensive roster of cleanup workers developed by NIOSH, the NIEHS has supplemented the roster with other lists of workers compiled by BP, contractors and community organizations by targeting Gulf community members and members of the Coast Guard and National Guard who were involved in clean-up efforts, and Gulf community members who completed the worker safety training but did not do clean-up work. All study participants will be asked to complete a telephone questionnaire about their oil-spill clean-up experience and current health. After the initial questionnaire, about 20,000 individuals will be selected and invited to participate in an Active Follow-up portion of the study and provide additional health information and participate in a clinical home visit. This group will also complete periodic telephone interviews to update changes in health status. The study will try to enroll workers with varying levels of exposure. For example, workers involved in oil burning, skimming and booming, equipment decontamination, wildlife cleanup, and also those with lower exposure such as shore-line cleanup workers. Individuals enrolled in the Active part of this long-term study will be interviewed by local community staff. Blood and urine will be collected. Hair, toenails, saliva, and household dust samples may also be collected and stored for future analyses. Other health assessments will include blood pressure, height, weight, waist size, and lung function. NIEHS intends to follow study participants for at least ten years and will ask them to complete follow-up health questionnaires. The information that all study participants provide will be cross-referenced over time with other health records such as vital statistics and cancer registries. Some individuals will be invited to participate in more comprehensive medical examinations. Anticipated Period of Performance The Government anticipates initiation of contract performance in mid August, 2011, with a base period of performance of five (5) years, with options for four (4) more years, for a potential of nine (9) total years of contract performance. The Government anticipates project overlap of approximately two (2) months with the pilot study.Other Important Considerations This is a human subject research study and will operate under a non-exempt IRB approved protocol. The contractor will be required to hold a human subjects assurance from the NIH Office of Protection from Research Risks. The contractor will be required to demonstrate involvement of Gulf Coast communities and institutions, preferably in the affected region. Capability Statement/Information Sought Respondents to the Small Business Sources Sought Notice must provide, as part of their responses, a capability statement, which, in addition to the limitations stated in the introduction paragraph of the synopsis, information regarding respondents: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information;information regarding respondents: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information;information regarding respondents: (a) staff expertise, including their availability, experience, and formal and other training; (b) current in-house capability and capacity to perform the work; (c) prior completed projects of similar nature; (d) corporate experience and management capability; and (e) examples of prior completed Government contracts, references, and other related information;respondents technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addressesteaming arrangements, if applicableThe respondent should provide the information electronically by e-mail to Thomas M. Hardee, Contracting Officer, NIEHS at hardee@niehs.nih.gov. Hard copies may be sent to the following address:Thomas M. Hardee, Contracting Officer, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, OM, Office of Acquisitions, P.O. Box 12874, RTP, NC 27709. For express delivery, send to: Thomas M. Hardee, Contracting Officer, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, OM, Office of Acquisitions, 530 Davis Drive, Morrisville, NC 27560. Telephone number: (919) 541-0429. Disclaimer and Important Notes - This notice does not obligate the Government to award a contract or otherwise pay for the information provided in response. The Government reserves the right to use information provided by respondents for any purpose deemed necessary and legally appropriate. Any organization responding to this notice should ensure that its response is complete and sufficiently detailed to allow the Government to determine the organizations qualifications to perform the work. Respondents are advised that the Government is under no obligation to acknowledge receipt of the information received or provide feedback to respondents with respect to any information submitted. After a review of the responses received, a pre-solicitation synopsis and solicitation may be published in Federal Business Opportunities. However, responses to this notice will not be considered adequate responses to a solicitation. Confidentiality - No proprietary, classified, confidential, or sensitive information should be included in your response. The Government reserves the right to use any non-proprietary technical information in any resultant solicitation(s).
- Web Link
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- Record
- SN02378654-W 20110213/110211234443-78507c66897890da0b725bd5da025db1 (fbodaily.com)
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