SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Professional Support Services to Enhance the Current Content of Genetics Home Reference
- Notice Date
- 6/17/2014
- Notice Type
- Combined Synopsis/Solicitation
- NAICS
- 541990
— All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Library of Medicine, 6707 Democracy Blvd., Suite 105, Bethesda, Maryland, 20894, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20894
- Solicitation Number
- NIHLM2014107-SV
- Archive Date
- 7/3/2014
- Point of Contact
- Suet Vu, Phone: 301-496-6546, Robin Hope, Phone: 301-496-6546
- E-Mail Address
-
vus@mail.nih.gov, Robin.Hope@nih.gov
(vus@mail.nih.gov, Robin.Hope@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial services prepared in accordance with the format in, Simplified Acquisition Procedures at Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Subpart 12.6 Streamlined Procedures for Evaluation and Solicitation for Commercial Items; and FAR Part 13, Simplified Acquisition Procedures; as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This notice constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation is being issued as a Request for Quotations (RFQ) NIH-NLM-14-107-SV. This solicitation document incorporates provisions and clauses that are in effect in the March 2005-53 FAR Revision effective May 30, 2014, including all FAR Circulars issued as of the date of this synopsis. This acquisition is not a small business set-aside and the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541690, Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services. Background Genetics Home Reference (GHR), a program of the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, is an online resource that provides balanced and reliable consumer-friendly information about the effects of genetic variations on human health. The GHR website (http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/) contains plain-language summaries of more than 900 genetic conditions, more than 1,100 genes, all of the human chromosomes, 100 gene families, and an extensively illustrated handbook that outlines the fundamentals of human genetics. GHR also offers links to other trusted material on the web that provides foundational information to users. GHR is one of the Library's most relied-upon resources, with a 2013 average of more than 48,800 median daily unique IPs visiting the site and 38.7 million hits per month. With this high public visibility, timely review of existing topics is an essential element for maintaining an accurate and useful website. With the huge explosion of genetic information and the clinical consequences associated with the completion of the human genome sequence, GHR could enhance its public offerings through the skills and resources of an organization with a broad membership of genetics support and advocacy groups. The professional services to be provided will increase the efficiency of content updates for the GHR website. The services provided through this contract will build on existing processes, templates, and documentation established over the past 3 years (see Appendices 1 and 2). The deliverables created by this contract will include "Alerts" from the relevant disease advocacy community, requested and tracked by the contractor. These Alerts will help GHR keep its disease-specific information for the public up-to-date. Project Requirements Provide GHR with "Alerts" when important new information is available about conditions, genes, and other information currently available on the GHR website to help GHR keep the site content up-to-date. Appropriately credentialed contractor staff will solicit, coordinate, and prepare information obtained from disorder-specific member groups and those groups' scientific advisory boards using previously developed processes and template documents. Contractor will assess the accuracy and applicability of Alerts and submit them to GHR using the established work flow process (Appendix 1) and available template (Appendix 2). The contractor will contact member groups regularly to request new Alerts and will follow up with member groups to maximize participation and ensure Alerts are received in a timely fashion. Details of these contacts and follow-ups will be tracked via spreadsheet or similar mechanism. The contractor will participate in twice-monthly conference calls with GHR staff and occasional face-to-face meetings, as requested, to discuss status, progress, and any current issues or challenges. The contractor will also provide brief monthly status reports and an annual report that includes relevant metrics, such as number of member groups solicited, amount of follow-up performed, number of unresponsive member groups, and number of Alerts sent to GHR staff. Location Contractor's work site. Travel As requested by GHR staff, there may be one or two face-to-face meetings for this contract per year to ensure timely presentation of deliverables. Other meetings, including regular project status check-ins, will be required throughout the period of performance. They will be scheduled at a regular time convenient to the NLM and contractor staff and will be held via appropriate technology (e.g. conference calls). Period of Performance It is anticipated that the period of performance shall be twelve (12) months from the date of award, with two (2) one-year option periods, if exercised. An award is anticipated to be made on or about September 20, 2014. Award of this requirement is subject to available funding. Deliverables • Electronic versions of completed documents received from member groups, to include both solicited and spontaneous Alerts. • A spreadsheet or other mechanism for tracking contacts with member groups, including a detailed record of contacts made, Alerts received, and follow-up performed. Contractor will keep this spreadsheet up-to-date, make it regularly accessible to GHR staff, and provide an electronic copy to GHR at the end of each contract year. • Monthly and annual progress reports. Throughout the period of performance, on a semi-annual basis, the contract will be assessed on the following metrics: • Number of member groups the contractor contacted to elicit Alerts. Based on work done in previous years, the number of member groups contacted should average about 12 per month. • Amount of follow-up (e.g. e-mails, phone calls) the contractor performed to request the participation of previously unresponsive member groups and to remind member groups who agreed to participate. • Number of Alerts and related correspondence (e.g. forms, comments) received by GHR from the contractor, which GHR evaluates as useful to the mission of the project. Based on work done in previous years, the number of Alerts received should average about 70 per year. • Contractor's participation in conference calls and face-to-face meetings, and delivery of tracking spreadsheets and monthly and annual reports to GHR staff. GHR will consider additional metrics in the contract review, including assessment of GHR site traffic, GHR evaluations of the condition-, gene-, or chromosome-specific information provided by the contractor, and the impact of the contract deliverables on GHR workflow and product quality. The results of these assessments may inform modifications to the contract and the expected deliverables. Delivery/Schedule Alerts will be sent to GHR staff on a regular basis, at least weekly, as the Alerts are received from member groups by the contractor. Monthly reports will be provided at the beginning of each month. Annual report(s) will be sent at the end of the first 12-month period and at the end of each option year, if exercised. Contractor will participate in check-in conference calls with GHR staff every two weeks or on another mutually agreed-upon schedule, depending on project needs. SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE In accordance with FAR 39.2, Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act is implemented in this order. Pursuant to Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794d), as amended by the Workforce Investment Act of 1998, all electronic and information technology (EIT) products and services developed, acquired, maintained, and/or used under this contract/order must comply with the "Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Provisions" set forth by the Architectural and Transportation Barriers Compliance Board (also referred to as the "Access Board") in 36 CFR part 1194. Information about Section 508 provisions is available at http://www.hhs.gov/od. Proposal Instructions The following clauses and provisions cited herein are incorporated by reference into this solicitation and may be obtained from the web site http://rcb.cancer.gov/rcb-internet/SAP/sap.htm: FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial (June 2008), and FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (June 2010)-With Addenda [Stop Work Order, FAR 52.242-15 (August 1989) and Year 2000 Compliance (July 1997)]. The attached Addendum to Terms and Conditions of Purchase Order also applies to this solicitation. FAR 52.232-18, Availability of Funds, applies. FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items (January 1999), also applies with the following five evaluation criteria to be included in paragraph (a) of the provision: Mandatory Criteria Technical Evaluation Criteria 1) Understanding the Problem (25 Points) The proposal demonstrates a thorough and complete understanding of the requirements and indicates a clear awareness of the contract objectives. Proposal provides evidence that the offerer has a strong knowledge of health literacy and genetics and a broad-based membership of at least 1,000 disorder-specific patient support and advocacy groups, each with access to researchers, scientists, and educators whose work concentrates on their disorders. 2) Soundness of the Approach (20 Points) The proposal is consistent with the SOW's stated goals and objectives. The approach shows an ability to contact approximately 12 member groups per month and deliver an average of about 70 new Alerts per year. The approach addresses potential challenges in data collection for Alerts, including recruitment and follow-up of member groups, and suggests specific strategies for meeting those challenges. The approach demonstrates adequate technical knowledge to track details of work flow, including all member group contacts, follow up, and Alerts received. The proposal describes the sequence of proposed work events, technical accomplishments, and deliverables to assure timely and acceptable performance. 3) Personnel (35 Points) The proposed staff is appropriately credentialed, competent, and experienced in the skills required in the Statement of Work. In particular, staff show a demonstrated track record of transforming health through an understanding of genetics and genetic disorders in an environment of openness centered on the health of individuals, families, and communities. Resumes of personnel committed to this project reflect both academic qualifications, and clearly demonstrate relevant training and work experience and accomplishments. If subcontractors are proposed, information is provided to support the qualifications of the subcontractors. Contractor staff should be located in sufficient proximity to the National Library of Medicine to support occasional face-to-face meetings with GHR staff to discuss progress and improve processes as needed. Information is provided as to which key personnel will be used on this project. Documentation is provided as to the decision-making authority of the project director as related to other elements of the organization. The percentage of time each project staff member will contribute to the program is adequately identified. The extent to which outside consultants or specialists will be used is documented and evidence of their availability is provided. 4) Past Performance (20 Points) Offerers shall provide examples of contracts completed during the past three years and contracts currently in process, which pertain to a) the role of the National Institutes of Health and the National Library of Medicine, or b) an organization of similar size and/or mission in promoting consumer health education and health resources for special population groups. These examples should show an opus of freely available educational materials that demonstrate timely, accurate, and balanced genetics information for a broad range of users. They should also demonstrate adherence to contract schedules and commitments. Price/Cost Technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the purchase order; however, cost is also important to the overall award decision. All evaluation factors other than cost, when combined, are significantly more important than cost. The Government can make tradeoffs among cost and technical factors in determining which Quoter offers the best value by awarding to other than the lowest cost Quoter or other than the highest technically rated Quoter. Quoters are advised that award will be made to that Quoter whose quote provides the best overall value to the Government. Quoters are advised that each quotation may be subjected to a price analysis, as determined to be appropriate by the Government. It is the responsibility of the vendor to report non-receipt of payment to Office of Financial Management. The phone number for payment inquiries is 301-496-6088. The vendor shall keep the COTR informed about all invoicing problems. An award will be made to the offeror who represents the best value to the Government. Offerors must submit a completed copy of the provision at FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (May 2014), with their offers. The clause at FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (May 2014), as well as the following clauses cited therein: FAR 52.219-6, Notice of Total Small Business Set-Aside (Nov 2011), and FAR 52.232-33, Payment by Electronic Funds Transfer-Central Contractor Registration (July 2013). Sources having the ability to provide the professional services described above shall submit clear comprehensive information supporting their experience, especially detailing their network relationships with genetic disorder-specific groups and their scientific boards, their past performance in creating and disseminating scientifically accurate educational materials for non-professional users, managerial experience and pricing. An offeror's response shall not exceed 10 pages, excluding resumes. Any questions can be submitted to Suet Vu, Contract Specialist, at vus@mail.nih.gov 301-496-6546. All information received will be considered as part of a competitive acquisition. RESPONSES ARE DUE BY 1:00 PM EASTERN TIME ON July 02, 2014, AND SHALL BE SENT VIA E-MAIL TO: vus@mail.nlm.nih.gov. This advertisement does not commit the government to award a contract. ALL RESPONSIBLE SOURCES MAY SUBMIT A QUOTATION WHICH, IF TIMELY RECEIVED, SHALL BE CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNENT.
- Web Link
-
FBO.gov Permalink
(https://www.fbo.gov/spg/HHS/NIH/OAM/NIHLM2014107-SV/listing.html)
- Place of Performance
- Address: Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- Zip Code: 20892
- Zip Code: 20892
- Record
- SN03398181-W 20140619/140618000022-4b5c66a6cc9a061194da2fc3c1ac6437 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
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