SOURCES SOUGHT
R -- NIH OBSSR Training Institute
- Notice Date
- 8/11/2011
- Notice Type
- Sources Sought
- NAICS
- 541611
— Administrative Management and General Management Consulting 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
- NIH-NLM-11-053-SRE
- Archive Date
- 9/1/2011
- Point of Contact
- Sheila R. Edmonds, Phone: 3014966546
- E-Mail Address
-
sheila.edmonds@nih.gov
(sheila.edmonds@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- This Sources Sought Notice is for informational and planning purposes only and shall not be construed as a solicitation or as an obligation or commitment by the Government. This notice is intended strictly for Market Research. This is a Small Business Sources Sought Notice. This is NOT a solicitation for proposals, proposal abstracts, or quotations. The purpose of this 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 for the proposed acquisition. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code is 541611-Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services with a small business size standard of $7.0 million. The National Institutes of Health (NIH), Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) is conducting a Market Survey to help determine the availability and technical capability of qualified small businesses, veteran-owned small businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses and/or HUBZone small businesses capable of serving the needs identified below: Background Information The NIH/OD Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) will sponsor and conduct various training institutes. Although the training institutes will share some similarities, the format will vary by the topic. The specific training institutes are not detailed here, but information on the scope of each will be provided as each task order is issued. Each Institute will provide training in some aspect of behavioral and social sciences research to investigators interested in developing competence in applying these methodologies to problems in public health. We anticipate providing training to participants at the doctoral (PhD or MD) level, or in some cases at the pre-doctoral level. The faculty and guest lecturers will consist of leading experts. These are both initial training institutes, and pending adequate budget and interest, both will be held annually. The host location may change from year to year for a given Institute and it is anticipated that curriculum, theme, and emphasis of subject matter will also vary to some degree from year to year. The target date for convening a particular Institute will be determined by OBSSR. The host for each Institute will be selected by OBSSR. Typically the host will be a university or non-profit organization, but may be a meeting facility. The resultant contract will be for a period of 12 months with the potential of four (4) additional option year periods. Objectives General Tasks/Requirement OBSSR requires assistance in technical aspects of administering the Training Institutes in FY 2012 and beyond. The Contractor shall serve in the role of project planner and technical coordinator for the Training Institutes. Therefore, the Contractor shall be responsible for: overseeing logistics; arranging and administering subcontracts for the faculty, lecturers, assistants and any other Training Institutes personnel; facilitating steering committee meetings; tracking the budget; developing and maintaining the Training Institutes website (including a registration page, e-learning materials, etc.), developing promotional materials, soliciting participation in the Training Institutes and taking charge of the application process; corresponding with faculty, applicants/participants (trainees), and others who have a role in the Training Institutes; and preparing course materials (e.g., agenda, handouts, computer-based presentations). In addition, the Contractor shall provide logistical support to: procure the training site (conference facilities); arrange travel for all attendees; arrange local transportation; arrange activities; provide a per diem at the Government standard rate to all faculty and participants; duplicate course materials; secure audiovisual equipment and support; and provide any other logistic service. Please see the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) website to determine the FY 2011 per diem rates: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287. The estimated cost should include compensation to faculty, travel reimbursement for all attendees and faculty, cost of renting a facility, website development and management, badges, notebooks, signage, audiovisual needs, computer access, photography/videography services, dinner reception, and all requested amenities, all meals/snacks provided, production of course materials, and all other costs associated with the Institutes as specified in this document. OBSSR requires assistance in technical aspects of administering the Training Institutes in 2012 and beyond. Mandatory Criteria All of these activities must be developed in consultation with OBSSR and its designees, and all final decisions must be approved by OBSSR. It is expected that the Contractor shall have experience running training classes and will have the technical expertise to communicate with faculty, as well as with OBSSR and other involved parties, coordinate course development, and identify and bring to the attention of OBSSR any technical issues or problems related to course development. Specific Tasks/Requirements The Contractor shall perform the following activities, in consultation with the OBSSR COTR and her designee(s): a) Develop the course structure: Each of the participants in the Training Institutes will spend some time in small groups (e.g., listening to lectures or participating in hands on class exercises) as well as spending some time in the larger group engaging in activities common to all (e.g., relevant history, theory and approaches to research). It is suggested that at a minimum, some significant portion of the first and last day of the institute be devoted to these common activities. This involves being attentive to technical details of the course - for example, how much time needs to be allotted to accomplish certain learning objectives; what order should course content be offered in to maximize learning. b) Participate in steering committee meetings. This role extends beyond arranging calls and keeping track of agenda and action items. It also involves technical skill to work with faculty and OBSSR personnel to plan course content in a way that ensures all material is covered and in a manner that is most likely to optimize learning. c) Generate contracts for each faculty member, host, guest lecturer and any other contracted assistance: The OBSSR Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) and its designees will provide a list of names of faculty to the Contractor. The selected faculty will be responsible for developing course content in consultation with OBSSR and its designees. Before any faculty members are invited to participate, they must be cleared for approval by OBSSR. The Contractor will work with OBSSR to convene a steering committee and identify core faculty. The host and core faculty must serve for the entire duration of the institute, whereas guest lecturers may only be required to attend a specific portion of the institute. All subcontracts for services associated with the Training Institutes will be generated and ratified by the Contractor in a timely matter. All subcontractors shall be paid in full by the Contractor no later than 30 days following the end of the Training Institutes, provided they have fulfilled their contractual obligations in full. d) Coordinate and manage the application process for Institute participants (trainees): In consultation with OBSSR and its designees, the Contractor shall develop and implement a process for soliciting applications. Selection criteria and a notice for soliciting participation will be developed in consultation with OBSSR and its designees. OBSSR and the steering committee will identify the persons who will serve as reviewers for the applications. The review process shall be conducted online with supplemental conference calls. The Contractor shall be responsible for notifying participants of the approval (or non-approval) of their application 10-12 weeks prior to the Training Institute to allow participants to make appropriate schedule adjustments. Participation in the institute may be limited to researchers and developers who plan to apply these methods to public health problems. Other criteria may include maximum level of experience or expertise in a given methodological area and/or not having already been awarded R01 grant funding for the application of any of the methodologies presented at Institute. Applicants will be required to indicate a rationale for seeking institute training. An effort should be made to ensure diversity among participants with respect to: topical areas being researched by participants, degree area, institution, gender, race/ethnicity, and number of years of professional experience. Selection criteria provided by OBSSR shall be published in the solicitation notice for participants. The Contractor shall develop procedures to allow applicants to submit their applications electronically on a website. The Contractor shall be responsible for tracking all applications received, organizing all application material for review, coordinating the review of applications including ensuring all reviewers receive applicant material in a timely manner, and for tracking of the status of each application. The Contractor shall be responsible for compiling and summarizing the reviewers' evaluations of the applications. Ample time should be allowed between the notice of solicitation and the application due date in order for the review to be completed. e) Prepare course materials: Course materials should be "green" unless circumstances demand otherwise. The Contractor shall be responsible for obtaining and duplicating course materials on a flash drive for all of the participants and faculty (e.g., agenda, handouts, website for accessing course resources and communicating about the course), and is should ensure that no necessary items are overlooked. The Contractor shall be required to work with faculty and subcontractors to ensure that all course material, including website design, content, and management and other electronic media materials are prepared and suitable for the target audience. f) Identify dates for the Training Institutes: In consultation with the OBSSR COTR, the Contractor shall be responsible for identifying dates for the institute. The OBSSR COTR is required to approve final dates. When selecting a date the Contractor should consider at a minimum: dates desired faculty are available, dates when requisite OBSSR staff are available, dates of major conferences that could pose a scheduling conflict (e.g., APHA annual conference, SBM), dates of major observed holidays (e.g., Jewish high holidays, Muslim and Christian holidays, Independence Day), and dates when hotel rates and/or conference facilities are available at reasonable rates. g) Identify and contract with a conference facility. The Contractor shall identify, or work with a logistical Contractor to identify, the facility where the course will be held. The Contractor shall subcontract directly to the conference facility. The conference site should provide facilities for meeting, lodging, and eating. Meeting space should allow for plenary sessions (e.g., 75 people). There should be a main meeting room and, for some institutes smaller breakout rooms. Students and faculty should be lodged in private occupancy rooms (i.e., sufficient number of rooms so that each faculty and student is guaranteed a private room). In lieu of light refreshments, snacks, and meals, a per diem at the Government standard rate shall be provided to all faculty and participants. Please see the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) website to determine the FY 2011 per diem rates: http://www.gsa.gov/portal/category/21287. Please note that the per diem for option years will change because the location for these years is unknown. It should provide high-speed access to the Internet through either public computers or connections in the lodging rooms, computers and printers for public use, and audiovisual equipment (computer-based projection system for slide presentations). In addition, the facility should offer on-site recreational opportunities (e.g., walking/running, swimming, tennis, hiking, biking) for use after hours. The site should be conducive to social interaction among the faculty and fellows. h) Develop a website for participants and faculty. The resource binder for each Institute should provide logistical and substantive information and materials (e.g., course outline, lecture outlines, reprints of assigned articles). In addition, each training institute should have a website developed to provide a space for posting announcements relevant to the Training Institutes, to post materials and resources, and to facilitate communication among attendees. For any given Institute, the Contractor may also be required to facilitate the development of a website (e.g., Google Sites) for each Institute for post- Institute collaborative activity. i) Oversee logistics. The Contractor shall be responsible for arranging travel to and from the course for participants and faculty (e.g., airline reservations, van service to/from airports) and for reimbursing participants and faculty for any allowable travel expenses. The Contractor should arrange for participants and faculty to have access to such activities during some evenings. The Contractor shall provide staff at the Training Institutes to include: a) staffed registration table on day of arrival, b) assist in daily operations (e.g., last-minute photocopying, liaison with conference center, trouble-shooting), c) ensure skilled and efficient operation of AV and presentation equipment; d) assist in departures (e.g., arrange transportation to airports), and e) packaging of materials and supplies on the last day. The Contractor should ensure that all logistical details are handled appropriately and no details are overlooked. j) Arrange for meeting photography and videography. The Contractor shall work to identify a photographer/videographer and arrange for their services. The Contractor shall provide a subcontract to the photographer/videographer for these services. The Contractor shall host and maintain a website where the photographs, videos, and other course material will be posted. All of the foregoing will be done in coordination with and approval from OBSSR. Videography will include lectures and panel presentations. Videography must be coordinated with the NIH Center for Information Technology office to ensure that the final products are closed captioned and 508c compliant. Proper permission to take and post photographs must be obtained from participants and this permission must be documented. k) Produce and print signage and certificates of completion. The Contractor should provide or arrange this service through the logistical Contractor. l) Posters, flyers, website design, signage and other course graphics. The Contractor shall work with OBSSR to determine what materials/services are needed and will subcontract for those as needed. Graphics requirements for any given Institute may include posters, flyers, website design, signage and other course graphics. In some cases, a conference identity/visualization may need to be created. The OBSSR COTR will have final approval of the graphics. m) Provide all current budget information upon request. The Contractor shall keep track of the available budget, all expenditures, and estimates of all costs on an ongoing basis from the inception of this contract. The Contractor should provide upon request to OBSSR, current budget information. The proposed acquisition will be procured in accordance with the policies and procedures under FAR 13.5. All responsible sources may submit a capability statement which will be considered by the National Library of Medicine. This Sources Sought Notice is not a Request for Quotes (RFQ), nor is an RFQ available. (a) Provide a capability statement demonstrating relevant experience, skills and ability to fulfill the Government's requirements for the above. The capability statement should contain enough sufficient detail for the Government to make an informed decision regarding your capabilities; however, the statement should not exceed ten (10) pages. (b) The capability statement should include references, key personnel, and any teaming arrangements needed to fulfill the requirements. It must identify the responder's small business type and size; DUNS number; NAICS code; and technical and administrative points of contact, including names, titles, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail addresses. (c) All capability statements must be submitted electronically no later than 12:00 PM EST on Wednesday, August 17, 2011 to Sheila Edmonds at sheila.edmonds@nih.gov. 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 organization's 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).
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- SN02530463-W 20110813/110811235307-0d9d7a3042f976296b5a57dd52c35e9b (fbodaily.com)
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