SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Professional, Administrative, and Management Support Services-Senior Communications Consultant
- Notice Date
- 8/31/2005
- Notice Type
- Solicitation Notice
- NAICS
- 541618
— Other Management Consulting Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch 6701 Rockledge Dr RKL2/6100 MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD, 20892-7902
- ZIP Code
- 20892-7902
- Solicitation Number
- NHLBI-PS-2005-164-CDM
- Response Due
- 9/15/2005
- Archive Date
- 9/30/2005
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for commercial items, prepared in accordance with the format in FAR subpart 12.6, as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. The solicitation number is NHLBI-PS-2005-164-CDM, and is issued as a Request for Quotation (RFQ). The solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2001-27. The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 541618 and the Employee Size is $6.0 Million for this requirement. This is a small business set-aside requirement. This acquisition is being conducted under simplified acquisition procedures in accordance with the provisions of FAR Part 13. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) for the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), intends to purchase the service of a Senior Communications Consultant to: 1) Develop a marketing/PR plan; 2) Produce a communications staff development and management report; 3) Develop news releases, feature articles, and newsletters; 4) Provide advice, guidance, and support to CSR?s Communications Director; 5) Help to assist and train a new writer/editor. The Statement of work is as follows: Background: On July 1, 2005, a new Director began working at the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) who plans to implement significant and major changes to improve how CSR/NIH receives, refers, and reviews NIH grant applications. These changes will speed the review and award of NIH grant applications, invigorate the NIH peer review system, and advance the review of innovative and clinical research applications. These changes thus will have a significant impact on the grant programs of all NIH Institutes and Centers as well as the biomedical research community, and ultimately on public health. General Objectives: For these plans to succeed, all stakeholders-NIH applicants, reviewers, and staff, need to be informed of, involved in, and committed to these changes. Effectively communicating with all stakeholders will be critical to the success of these plans. To manage this pressing need, CSR must rapidly and immediately develop and implement a multifaceted marketing/PR plan and initiate multiple initiatives to communicate with the different target groups using different communication channels. Service to be performed/Scope of Work: General Requirements: Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the Contractor shall furnish all necessary labor in performing the work set forth below. All work under this contract shall be monitored by a CSR Project Officer. The Senior Communications Consultant will be paid by the hour on an as needed basis and will work according to a schedule agreed upon by CSR and the Consultant. CSR expects that it will have a need for these services for up to three (3) days a week for approximately 9 months, although there may be times the Consultant is needed for more or less days a week. The Consultant will work primarily onsite in the CSR?s offices located on Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland and offsite if deemed appropriate by CSR and the Consultant. Specific Requirements: The Senior Communications Consultant will provide communications support services including, but not limited to, the following tasks: (1) Develop a comprehensive PR/marketing plan for CSR that includes sections on core objectives, current activities and proposed activities, and other sections as needed. (2) Write and/or edit mission-critical CSR communications documents such as (a) News releases (write and edit); (b) Feature articles and short articles that highlight CSR staff and reviewers and their activities (Write); (c) The CSR Peer Review Notes newsletter (edit); (d) The CSR Rock Ledger employee newsletter (edit). (3) Supply a report on the development and management of the Center?s communications office, including advice on staffing requirements, organization, and training. (4) Provide expert guidance to CSR?s Communications Director on advancing new and innovative communications efforts. (5) Supply other communications support as CSR?s needs evolve. (6) Assist in the training and supervision of a new writer/editor. Deliverables: The specific prescribed deliverables services with possible changes needed, are as follows: (1) The Development of a new CSR Marketing/PR plan in consultation with CSR?s Communications Director. The plan should have sections on core objectives and messages, current activities and proposed activities, and other sections as needed. (2) A report on the development and management of the Center?s communications office, including advice on staffing requirements, organization, and training. (3) Write an/or edit mission-critical CSR communications documents such as: a) News releases (write and edit); b) Feature articles that highlight CSR staff and reviewers and their activities; c) The CSR Peer Review Notes newsletter (edit three issues); d) The CSR Rock Ledger employee newsletter (edit three issues). (4) Provide expert guidance to CSR?s Communications Director on advancing new and innovative communications efforts. (5) Assist in the training of a new writer/editor. (6) Supply other communications support as CSR?s needs evolve. Level of Effort: Work Experience: The Senior Communications Consultant must have a minimum of 10 years extensive communications experience on (1) Working as senior-level communications director; (2) Managing high-profile communications initiatives; (3) Guiding communications efforts in a crisis-like situation; (4) Producing well-written publications and audiovisual products. Specialized Expertise: The Senior Communications Consultant must specifically have a minimum of 10 years of specialized expertise on the following to perform the needed tasks with minimal supervision and training: (1) In-depth understanding of the principles and practices of communications; (2) Advanced professional and administrative abilities to provide advice/support to CSR?s Communications Director; (3) Ability to manage multiple, high-impact communications activities; (4) Highly developed writing and editing skills; (5) A thorough understanding of NIH/DHHS communications procedures, policies, and regulations. Since CSR communications activities must be conducted in accord with regulations and procedures unique to NIH/DHHS, the Senior Communictions Consultant must have the extensive understanding of NIH/DHHS regulations and procedures to work with minimal supervision and advance CSR?s communications efforts beginning the first day on the job. Availability: The Senior Communications Consultant must be immediately available to work on an as-needed-basis in response to CSR?s evolving needs. Depending on the workload, he/she may be asked to work fewer than two 8-hour days in a week or more than three 9-hour days in a week, but not to exceed five 8-hour days in a week during the course of the contract. The Contractor must have a flexible schedule and be available to work within 24 hours of being contacted by CSR via telephone call or by e-mail, he/she may be called into work during CSR regular business hours of 8:30 am to 5:00 pm eastern time unless CSR and the Contractor have agreed in advance that he/she will not be on call for the given period of time. Government Responsibilities: The Government will provide office space, computer equipment, and access to other office machines and basic support staff in order for the Senior Communications Consultant to perform the prescribed duties onsite. Required Deliverable Dates: The following deliverable dates must be met: 1) CSR Marketing /PR Plan is due by February 9, 2006. 2) CSR Communications Office Management Report is due by November 10, 2006. 3) Write/Edit Communications documents are due as follows: a) News releases (CSR Communications Director to give due dates); b) Feature articles (CSR Communications Director to give due dates); c) Peer Review Notes Newsletter, January 9, 2006, May 9, 2006 and September 8, 2006; d) Employee newsletter, October 28, 2005, February 17, 2006 and June 2006. 4) Provide expert communications guidance and advice (Through out contract life). 5) Assist in the training and supervision of a new writer/editor (Through out contract life). 6) Supply other communications support as CSR?s needs evolve. Reporting Requirements and Management Controls: The Contractor will meet with CSR?s Communications Director once a week to provide an oral progress repot on his/her activities, and CSR?s Communications Director will assess the quality and timelessness of the Contractors work at these meetings, given the assignments given and the due dates established by this contract and those developed during the course of this contract. The set due dates for the deliverables may be adjusted if CSR?s Communications Director decides that doing so is essential for advancing the overall communications efforts of the center. Schedule of payment: Payments should be made every month for work that has been completed, approved, accepted and certified by the CSR Project Offier. Technical Evaluation Criteria: The technical evaluation of the proposals will be based on the experience managing multiple high-profile communications initiatives; demonstrated knowledge and understanding of NIH/DHHS communications practices and policies; Ability to produce professional publications and understanding of the principles and practices of communications. The technical evaluation criteria are listed in descending order of importance. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-2 Evaluation - Commercial Items is applicable to this acquisition. The award will be made to the lowest priced, technically acceptable quote meeting the Government?s requirements. The successful contractor must have a minimum education of a Bachelor degree in Journalism from an accredited university. The contractor must be available for the performance of this project, immediately after the award of the contract. The Government intends to evaluate offers and award a contract without discussions with Offerors. Therefore, the initial offer should contain the offeror?s best terms from a technical and price standpoint. However, the Government reserves the right to conduct discussions if later is determined by the Contracting Officer to be necessary. The Government may reject any or all offers and waive informalities and minor irregularities in offers received. The offeror must include a completed copy of the provision of FAR Clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications - Commercial Items with its offer. The provisions of FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions - Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The addenda to the clause reads as follows: The offeror must include in the quotation: a fixed loaded hourly rate, Fringe Benefits charges, Materials/Supplies, Equipment/Software, Travel/Transportation, Computer costs, the prompt payment discount terms, the Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN) and the certification of business size of the company. The Offeror must also register in the Government?s Contractor Registry System, note: WWW.ccr.gov. The FAR Clause 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes of Executive Orders - Commercial Items - Deviation For Simplified Acquisitions, applies to this acquisition. The clauses are available in full text at http://WWW.arnet.gov/far. Interested vendors capable of furnishing the government with the requirement specified in this synopsis should submit three (3) copies of the quotation to the address below. The quotation must reference synopsis number ?NHLBI-PS-2005-164-CDM?. All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency. Contracts Operations Branch, Procurement Section, Rockledge Building 2, Suite 6042, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817-7902, attention: Ms. Cecilia Morales, Fax (301) 480-3345. Fax quotations will only be accepted if dated and signed by an authorized company representative.
- Place of Performance
- Address: Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
- Zip Code: 7902
- Country: USA
- Zip Code: 7902
- Record
- SN00883573-W 20050902/050831211949 (fbodaily.com)
- Source
-
FedBizOpps.gov Link to This Notice
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