The National Cancer Institute (NCI), Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics (DCEG), Radiation Epidemiology Branch (REB) plans to procure on a sole source basis age-dependant organ doses from pediatric CT Imaging at the University of Florida; Gainesville, FL 32611-2002. This acquisition will be processed in accordance with simplified acquisition procedures as stated in FAR Part 13.106-1 (b)(1). The North American Industry Classification System code is 541712 the business size standard is 500 employees. The Radiation Epidemiology Branch (REB) within the National Cancer Institute (NCI) is currently conducting studies of cancer risk from pediatric Computed Tomography (CT) imaging. Phase I involves a cohort study using electronic medical records of patients who had one or more CT-EXPO scans between 1985 and 2002 at radiology departments in the UK. Feasibility of this study was established via a pilot study in the Newcastle National Health Service Trust. Phase II is a nested case-control study on pediatric CT scans and leukemia risk. The goal of the Phase II study is to obtain more individual details on CT exposure techniques to allow for more precise estimation of the radiation dose-response effects for leukemia. Following a detailed review of available databases on CT organ dose and associated software, the NCI/DCEG Radiation Epidemiology Branch settled on the CT-EXPO (version 1.6) computer software for these studies. While based fundamentally on a single Siemens x-ray source, this software covers most currently used CT scanners through the use of dose scaling algorithms based on normalized effective dose ratios and/or CTDI ratios (scanner factor). CT-EXPO provides for dose estimates for two adult phantoms – ADAM and EVA stylized anatomic models – and two pediatric phantoms – the BABY and CHILD voxel phantoms. More anatomically realistic voxel-based phantoms are not provided at the adult ages, and there exists a large age gap between the 2-month BABY phantom, the 7-year CHILD phantom, and the adult phantoms. Furthermore, the two pediatric phantoms BABY and CHILD are individual-specific and of a format that cannot be altered to represent individuals of variable height and weight percentiles. Recent advances in hybrid phantom technology have given the potential to greatly expand the range of patient ages and body morphometries considered in a dosimetry evaluation of CT imaging exposures. The purpose of this procurement is to obtain the services of a contractor experienced in the assessment of organ-specific radiation doses received from CT scans. Radiation doses will have to be calculated for a number of organs and for a number of representative children of various ages as well as for adult males and females. The dosimetry results will have to be validated by means of experiments. The period of performance will be twelve (12) months from date of award. The Advanced Laboratory for Radiation Dosimetry Studies (ALRADS) of the University of Florida (UF) is one of the few laboratories across the world actively working on state-of-the-art computational models of scalable pediatric anatomy, and the only group simultaneously developing microCT-based skeletal models for pediatric marrow and bone dosimetry. Furthermore, UF has a companion effort in the construction of physical phantoms for in-vivo dosimetry. All of these activities are crucial to the proposed contract requirement. UF is currently responsible for developing pediatric phantoms for the ICRP (International Commission on Radiological Protection), with the implication that these phantoms will be widely used as references, as they will be used for the assessment of doses to members of the general public in concert with the 2007 ICRP recommendations.. UF has a large number of post-docs who can be expected to deliver the massive amount of work that is required of them in the PSC on time. This ability of the research team is crucial to providing experimental validation of internal organ doses delivered during CT imaging of the pediatric patients. The University of Florida has a broad research program including (1) National Cancer Institute, Department of Energy, and European Union funded projects to construct high-resolution models of the skeleton to support dose-response studies in radionuclide therapy and radiation epidemiology, (2) NCI and the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) funded projects to develop scalable Non-uniform rational B-spline (NURBS)-based computational phantoms of pediatric patients for organ dose assessment in CT, fluoroscopic imaging, and radiotherapy, and (3) CDC funded projects in stochastic modeling of worker inhalation and gamma-ray exposures from radiological accidents and potential terrorist events. The University of Florida has on staff a Professor of Radiological and Biomedical Engineering and Director of ALRADS. He is a member of the Society of Nuclear Medicine’s Medical Internal Radiation Dose (MIRD) Committee since 1993, member of Committee 2 of the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) since 2005, Chair of ICRP Committee 2’s Task Group on Dose Calculation (DOCAL), and member of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP) also since 2005. Therefore, University of Florida is the only contract that can provide a consultant who is not only familiar with the study but possesses an in-depth knowledge of the requirements of this study. This is not a solicitation for competitive quotations. However, if any interested party believes they can meet the above requirement, they may submit a statement of capabilities. All information furnished shall be in writing and must contain sufficient detail to allow the NCI to determine if it can meet the above unique specifications described herein. An original and one copy of the capability statement must be received in the NCI contracting office on or before 11:00 AM EST on January 6, 2009. All questions must be in writing and can be faxed (301) 402-4513 or emailed to Karri Mares, Contract Specialist at
[email protected]. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed contract 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 have valid registration and certification in the Central Contractor Registration (CCR) www.ccr.gov and the Online Representations and Certifications Applications (ORCA), http://orca.bpn.gov. No collect calls will be accepted. Please reference solicitation No. NCI-90034-KM on all correspondence.