MODIFICATION
D -- Data Management for Cancer Diagnosis Program Activities - Response to RFP N02CM-17001-02 Questions
- Notice Date
- 5/18/2011
- Notice Type
- Modification/Amendment
- NAICS
- 541519
— Other Computer Related Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Office of Acquisitions-Treatment and Support Branch, Bldg 244, Room 112, Frederick, Maryland, 21702
- ZIP Code
- 21702
- Solicitation Number
- RFP-N02CM17001-02
- Archive Date
- 6/11/2011
- Point of Contact
- Timothy Crilley, Phone: 301/228-4224, Alexis Shingleton, Phone: 301/228-4231
- E-Mail Address
-
tcrilley@mail.nih.gov, alexis.shingleton@nih.gov
(tcrilley@mail.nih.gov, alexis.shingleton@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- Response to RFP N02CM-17001-02 Questions OFFICE OF ACQUISITIONS NATIONAL CANCER INSTITUTE REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL NUMBER: N02CM-17001-02 Amendment No: 2 Date of Issuance: May 18, 2011 The above numbered Request For Proposal (RFP) is amended as set forth below. The hour and date specified for receipt of Offers remains unchanged. Offerors MUST acknowledge receipt of the amendment prior to the hour and the date specified in the solicitation or as amended, by separate letter, telegram, or Electronic Mail which includes a reference to the RFP and Amendment number(s). For your convenience, the Proposal Intent Response Form is provided in SECTION J - List of Attachments of this RFP, for this purpose. FAILURE OF YOUR ACKNOWLEDGMENT TO BE RECEIVED AT THE PLACE DESIGNATED FOR THE RECEIPT OF OFFERORS PRIOR TO THE HOUR AND DATE SPECIFIED MAY RESULT IN REJECTION OF YOUR OFFER. This Amendment provides response to questions received as follows: Questions Regarding RFP-N02CM-17001-02: Data Management for Cancer Diagnosis Program Activities 1. "Technical Proposal Instructions" are not located in Section J. Can the Government please clarify the location of this attachment? a. Response: The technical proposal instructions are not an attachment in Section J. Please reference page 43, Section L.2. "Instructions to Offerors" for the Technical Proposal submitting instructions. 2. Are there any specific format or page limit requirements? a. Response: The organization/format of your technical proposal is referenced on page 43, Section L.2. "Instructions to Offerors" of the RFP. There are no specific page limits. 3. How many FTEs for the project? a. Response: The Government estimates that 2,769 direct labor hours are required annually to accomplish the tasks outlined in the Statement of Work. It is the offeror's responsibility to propose, retain and manage appropriate qualified staff in adequate numbers to accomplish the tasks outlined in the SOW according to the specifications in the solicitation. 4. Can the personnel overlap among tasks? a. Response: It is the offeror's responsibility to propose, retain and manage appropriate qualified staff in adequate numbers to accomplish the tasks outlined in the SOW according to the specifications in the solicitation. 5. How many IT professional and science support staff per task? a. Response: It is the offeror's responsibility to propose, retain and manage appropriate qualified staff in adequate numbers to accomplish the tasks outlined in the SOW according to the specifications in the solicitation. 6. How are they dispersed across the tasks? a. Response: It is the offeror's responsibility to propose, retain and manage appropriate qualified staff in adequate numbers to accomplish the tasks outlined in the SOW according to the specifications in the solicitation. 7. How many statisticians will be required for Task 5 and 6? a. Response: It is the offeror's responsibility to propose, retain and manage appropriate qualified staff in adequate numbers to accomplish the tasks outlined in the SOW according to the specifications in the solicitation. 8. Under Task 1: c), what technology is used for the internal and public websites for the CHTN? a. Response: It is the offeror's business decision to identify and propose an application that would meet the needs of the SOW. 9. Does Task 3 use an automated system? If so, what is the technology used? a. Response: It is not fully automated. The Tissue Expediter (a person) is using an existing NCI Specimen Resource Locator I database to match a tissue request through information provided by participating biospecimen resources. The Tissue Expediter is also consulting with NCI staff to identify the most appropriate resource(s). A more advanced NCI Specimen Resource Locator II database is being built currently. 10. What technology is used for Task Four -- Web Development and Database? Please elaborate on what is required to support the website(s). a. Response: It is the offeror's business decision to identify and propose an application that would meet the needs of the SOW. 11. Is there an automated system in place for processing TMA applications? If so, what technology is used? a. Response: This system is semi-automatic. Database is used for processing and tracking of applications but e-mails and phone calls with investigators and NCI staff as well as TMA distributor are involved. 12. Will this system (automated or not) be the basis for data for the TMA tracking system to be developed for Task Four item (d)? a. Response: Yes 13. Will Task 5 and Task 6 use Data Warehousing for collecting and reporting on the data received? a. Response: It is the offeror's business decision to identify and propose an application that would meet the needs of the SOW. 14. Under Task 5 what statistical software is currently being used? If none, then what statistical software should be used in development? a. Response: It is the offeror's business decision to identify and propose an application that would meet the needs of the SOW. 15. Under Task 1.c., would the government provide information regarding the technology that supports the referenced portal/website? a. Response: It is the offeror's business decision to identify and propose an application that would meet the needs of the SOW. 16. Under Task 1.a., would the government provide the frequency of conference calls? a. Response: Six calls per month are scheduled. Additional calls as needed. 17. Under Task 1.d., would the government clarify the type and scope of the assistance contemplated in this requirement? a. Response: Mock PUBLIC CGB website has been built already and it is under review by GBC members and other stakeholders. After the review, changes (if any) to the site will need to be made. The site will need go live and be maintained and updated as needed by contractor. The information for updates will be provided to contractor by the GBC. 18. Under Task 2.a., would the government provide information regarding the technology that supports the CHTN portal/website? a. Response: It is the offeror's business decision to identify and propose an application that would meet the needs of the SOW. 19. Under Task 2.1., would the government clarify the amount of data that requires updating and the frequency of the updates? a. Response: Minimal maintenance is needed and involves questions if any on changes made directly by CHTN Central Coordinator. 20. Under Task 3.a., would the government clarify the expectation for the number of inquires? a. Response: The number of requests varies from 2 to 7 a week but is projected to go up. 21. Under Task 3.a., would the government provide detail regarding this system for receiving inquiries? Is this an automated system (and if so what technology supports the system)? Is there a defined set of business rules for the identification of appropriate resources? a. Response: The Tissue Expediter (a person) is using an existing NCI Specimen Resource Locator I database to match a tissue request through information provided by participating biospecimen resources. The Tissue Expediter is also consulting with NCI staff to identify the most appropriate resource(s). A more advanced NCI Specimen Resource Locator II database is being built currently. 22. Is there an incumbent currently supporting this project or is this a new initiative? a. Response: This is not a new initiative; it is a re-competition of an existing contract. 23. Could the Government please clarify the applicable NAICS code and size standard? a. Response: The NAICS code is 541519 and the size standard is $25 million for RFP N02CM-17001-02. 24. After thorough consideration of the six tasks outlined in the Statement of Work, the Level of Effort required by the SOW seems to exceed the 2,769 hours that the Government offers on page 43 of the Solicitation. Could the Government please clarify or revise its intentions? a. Response: According to the government this is an estimate of the approximate labor hours per year. This information is furnished for the offeror's information only and is not to be considered restrictive for proposal purposes. 25. The Government has specified requirements and experience/education alternatives for the Principal Investigator and Co-Principal Investigator. These biomedical research goals generally require a doctorate level education and a minimum number of post-doctorate work experiences in the relevant areas of scientific or technical study. Could the Government please clarify its required qualifications for these two positions? a. Response: Refer to RFP Section L.2.b.5 (Technical Discussions, starting on page 61) and Section M (Evaluation Factors for award, starting on page 75) for the required qualifications of staff. 26. Does the Government consider both the PI and Co-PI to be key personnel? a. Response: Yes. 27. The SOW discusses Professional Staff (in addition to the Co-PI) and Support Staff. Could the Government provide further insights into the expected titles and LOE required for each member of the Professional and Support Staffs? a. Response: Refer to RFP Section L.2.b.5 (Technical Discussions, starting on page 61) and Section M (Evaluation Factors for award, starting on page 75) for the required qualifications of staff and to the SOW for work required. 28. Can the Government please specify the expected Place(s) of Performance for the dedicated personnel? a. Response: Contractor staff will be expected to work at the contractor's facility. Office space will not be provided. 29. Are contractor staff permitted to work offsite? a. Response: The government will not provide work space for contractor staff. 30. Are contractor staff permitted to telework? a. Response: Contractor staff will be required to work at the contractor facility. 31. Can the Government please clarify expected travel requirements, frequencies, and the allowances for Other Direct Costs? a. Response: The government estimates the contractor staff will travel twice a year.. The trips will be domestic and will involve two overnight stays. These are general guidelines, not specific requirements. 32. The status of the Government's and incumbent contractor's databases and related management systems are not clear. Could the Government provide more information, for each of the six Specific Tasks, regarding the development or operational status of all systems covered? a. Response: The work of the Cancer Diagnosis Program is ongoing. The exact status of each task at the time of transition cannot be accurately predicted. Please reference Task Seven. 33. Do the PI and co-PI need to be onsite or can they work remotely? a. Response: The government will not provide workspace for contractor staff; staff are expected to work at the contractor's facility. 34. Under Task 1. (page 2 # b), what is in place today to facilitate keeping track of versions and drafts of documents? a. Response: It is the offeror's business decision to identify and propose a system that would meet the needs of the SOW. 35. Under Task 1 (page 2 #d), are there any technical restrictions when creating the central website that provides marketing and access information about CGB specimens to the research community? a. Response: Please reference the SOW (part VI) for requirements specified in Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act as amended. Websites must comply with all applicable federal regulations and guidelines. 36. Under Task 2 (page 2 #b), are there any technical restrictions when maintaining the CHTN website? a. Response: See the SOW (part VI) for requirements specified in Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act as amended. Websites must comply with all applicable federal regulations and guidelines. 37. Under Task 3 (page 3 #a), what systems does the Tissue Expediter currently use to receive and respond to inquiries? a. Response: The Tissue Expediter (a person) is using an existing NCI Specimen Resource Locator I database to match a tissue request through information provided by participating biospecimen resources. The Tissue Expediter is also consulting with NCI staff to identify the most appropriate resource(s). A more advanced NCI Specimen Resource Locator II database is being built currently. 38. Under Task 4 (page 4 #d), are there any technical restrictions when developing/maintain system(s) to track inquiries related to TMAs and requests for TMAs? a. Response: See the SOW (part VI) for requirements specified in Section 508 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act as amended. 39. Under Task 5 (page 5 #a), are there technical constraints, data standards or guidelines for developing the Specimen, Laboratory, Project Tracking databases? a. Response: The resource described under Task Five is nascent. The specific requirements of the databases will be developed along with the resource itself. 40. Under Task 5 (page 5 #a), is the Specimen Resource Locator currently under development (to replace the current locator at: http://pluto3.nci.nih.gov/tissue/default.htm) targeted for use or integration by the CHTN? a. Response: No. Specimen Resource Locator I and II are for public use by any investigator requiring/looking for tissue for research. 41. Under Task 5 (page 5 #a), is automation of some of the workflow described currently desired by the CHTN? a. Response: No 42. Under Task I item a. indicates that there are regularly-scheduled conference calls. How often are the calls conducted? a. Response: Six calls per month plus additional ones when needed. 43. Under Task II indicates that the contractor must update data for the CHTN initiative. Can you give us an indication as to the quantity of data and the frequency with which data changes for the purpose of us estimating the effort involved accurately? a. Response: Minimal maintenance is needed and involves questions if any on changes made directly by CHTN Central Coordinator. 44. Under Task III it says that the contractor must receive and respond to inquiries about the availability of specimen and data resources. Can you give us an estimate as to how many such inquiries do you typically handle in a given time frame? a. Response: The number of requests varies from 2 to 7 a week but is projected to go up. 45. Under Task IV the contractor needs to process applications for Tissue Microarrays. Can you give us an estimate of the number of such applications you typically process in a given time frame? a. Response: It is variable. Over a recent 12-month period, zero to five requests were filled per month, and the number of specimens provided for each ranged from one to seventy. 46. On page 43 of the RFP under item e. it says: "To assist you in the preparation of your proposal, the Government considers the effort to be approximately 2,769 labor hours per year. This information is furnished for the offeror's information only and is not to be considered restrictive for proposal purposes." Is this estimate based on the number of labor hours the incumbent has been consuming in conducting the work described in this RFP and should we consider it a very accurate estimate of the number of labor hours expected in the future? a. Response: Please reference response to question #24.
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