SOLICITATION NOTICE
B -- Web Programming and Database Maintenance on the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) Study
- Notice Date
- 1/27/2016
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 541511
— Custom Computer Programming Services
- Contracting Office
- Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Drug Abuse, 6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 4211 - MSC 9559, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
- ZIP Code
- 20892
- Solicitation Number
- HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-2016-118
- Archive Date
- 2/20/2016
- Point of Contact
- Samantha A. Kelly, Phone: 3014028855
- E-Mail Address
-
samantha.kelly2@nih.gov
(samantha.kelly2@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- Total Small Business
- Description
- PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF INTENT INTRODUCTION: THIS IS A PRE-SOLICITATION NOTICE OF A PROPOSED CONTRACT TO ACTION. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Station Support Contracts and Simplified Acquisitions Branch (SS/SA) on behalf of the National Institute of Aging intends to negotiate and award a contract for the "Web Programming and Database Maintenance on the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) Study". EXTENT OF COMPETITION: This acquisition is full and open with a total small business set-aside restriction. NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM (NAICS) CODE: The intended procurement is classified under NAICS code 541511 with a Size Standard of $27.5 Million. REGULATORY AUTHORITY: The resultant contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through the Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) 2005-85-1 dated January 4, 2016. This acquisition is conducted under the procedures as prescribed in FAR subpart 12-Acquisition of Commercial Items at an amount not exceeding the simplified acquisition threshold ($150,000). DESCRIPTION OF REQUIREMENT: Background: The National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program has embarked on a longitudinal study of the effects of race and socioeconomic status on healthy aging in a representative sample of community-dwelling residents from the Baltimore metropolitan region. This study, Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS), requires expertise in database management, web design, the connection between web interfaces and data as well as the application of life-time development techniques. Purpose and Objectives: The Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity across the Life Span (HANDLS) study requires a Perl-CGI programmer, which is a high-level, general-purpose, interpreted and dynamic programming language for programming Common Gateway Interface (CGI) web applications, to write dynamic web-based applications for collecting, summarizing and reporting medical, physiological and psychological data. The services provided will be writing novel applications as well as upgrading and management of existing applications facilitating electronic collection, review, and distribution of clinical data for the HANDLS study. Additional services include design, testing, and implementation of applications to enhance functionality of existing applications described in the scope of work section below; expertise with existing technologies should combine with knowledge of emerging state-of-the-art practices, languages, databases, and management procedures. Applications include a dynamic web user interface with logic for consistency checking connected with existing databases and tables as required. Web-based applications include but are not limited to a structured medical history with options for updating existing information, physical performance battery, participant contact and status information, physical examination, participant scheduling, participant and participant's primary care physician letters and results reports (packets), field tracking and tracing notes and contacts, phone contacts tracking, home visit versions of these applications, scheduling for examinations on the mobile research vehicles, and scheduling and eligibility for HANDLS scan, nutritional interview, experience with diabetes study, home visits, and other ancillary studies as they arise. Maintenance, support, and extension of all deliverables are expected. Period of Performance: Base Year: March 1, 2016 to February 28, 2017 Optional Renewal Years: Option Year 1: March 1, 2017 to February 28, 2018 Option Year 2: March 1, 2018 to February 28, 2019 Option Year 3: March 1, 2019 to February 28, 2020 Option Year 4: March 1, 2020 to February 28, 2021 Project Description: An individual web user-interface and database programmer is required and shall be responsible for providing database management services, web-design, establishing the connection between web interfaces and data, as well as the application of life-time development techniques without resorting to formal business practice models. Specific techniques required are Perl/CGI and other web interface languages as required to supply specific study requirements as they arise. Consistency with existing approaches is paramount for ease and simplicity of management and maintenance. All changes in approach require approval of the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). 1.Web Application: At present, the web application is written in HTML, Perl/CGI, Perl/CGI-templates, Python, and Ruby on Rails, with some existing PHP code and PDFlib that is under conversion to Perl/CGI as time permits; database servers running Linux and deploying MySQL are currently used. Additional facilities required by these applications include ImageMagick, and Perl with template toolkit, Moose, CGI application toolkit, and Git server deployment, management, and use. Web application programmer shall have expertise in installing, managing, and maintaining Apache web server and MySQL server on production server and in a development environment. HANDLS plans to study the advisability of migrating to Maria or PostgreSQL; the current webserver is Apache on Linux. In addition, the web user interface database programmer shall be responsible for modifying existing web applications. Expertise is required to complete the development of web-based data collection tools to support the clinical research conducted by the HANDLS study. The web programs provide the facility to collect the clinical data in the mobile research vehicles and synchronize data with servers located in the Biomedical Research Center (BRC). In addition, study management modules for scheduling participants, tracing and tracking participants, recording notes about participant contacts, preparing results packets after participants are examined, and sending various mailings to participants are required at the Biomedical Research Center. 2.Database Management: The integrated web­ based system requires ongoing maintenance and enhancements, as well as tools for monitoring performance, particularly disconnections. Moreover, these applications must account for security and confidentiality of the information and data collected, clinical informatics and database design that can be supported with open-source tools, and web applications that meet current design standards and accessibility requirements, including Section 508 for accessibility by individuals with disabilities. The website also requires continued architecture of a system to replace the current authentication systems on the HANDLS servers to meet NIH standard. Existing web user interface and database follow general LAMP principles using the Linux operating systems, Apache webserver, MySQL database, and Perl/CGI as the dynamic web programming language. Modifications or adjustments to these principles require evidence of particular strengths and advantages to different technology plus estimates of costs and benefits. Any changes in LAMP principles shall require the approval of the COR. Specifically, the database programmer shall provide database management, web design, the connection between web interfaces and data, and application life-time development techniques and shall provide, but is not limited to, the following services below: a.Re-usable application design such that programs written for the present wave of data collection can be modified easily for data collection in subsequent waves. Contractor will support existing web applications and add functionality as required by study requirements, security considerations, or by changes and upgrades to the Linux operating system. Contractor must have a complete view of how all the parts of web site work together, including database synchronization and the function of the server at the field site. b.The design of the program must accommodate several goals, including comprehensive data collection, ease of navigation, and the capacity for direct transfer to other tools for statistical analyses. A variety of statistical programming tools are used to analyze these data (e.g., SAS, Stata, SPSS, R). However, there are no specific data formats required by these tools so long as all data are stored in well-designed SQL tables with data types that are interpretable by these programs. c.Development of web-based data collection tools to support the clinical research conducted by the HANDLS study. The web-tool provides the ability to collect the clinical data in the mobile research vehicles (MRV) and subsequently to upload the data to servers located in the Biomedical Research Center (BRC). The web application has multiple facets all of which work together. The data format for uploading, when necessary, depends on the device or instrument that produces the data. The format is determined by the device manufacturer. Often the format is CSV, but not always. As equipment is upgraded or revised, data requirements may change necessitated revisions to the upload procedures. The MRVs have a separate database and webserver so they can function independently and completely when there's a lapse in internet services. Therefore, special consideration is made in programming the website to insure that it works independently at both sites. In addition, the databases maintain a synchronization feature to insure (a) a backup of information is maintained throughout the day and (b) there's no confusion introduced between the field site (MRVs) and headquarters. Thus data entered at either site is replicated to the other site. This process requires careful monitoring and careful consideration during programming so as not to disrupt either site. Devices used on the MRVs are laptops and iPads to access the MRV website. d.The integrated web-based system requires ongoing maintenance and enhancements, as well as tools for monitoring performance, particularly disconnections. Intimate familiarity with clinical data is required to perform this task, as is knowledge of the interconnections among various procedures and tracking databases. e.These applications must account for security and confidentiality of the information and data collected clinical informatics and database design that can be supported with open­ source tools, and web applications that meet current design standards and accessibility requirements, including Section 508 for accessibility by individuals with disabilities. HANDLS data and webserver are built on Linux, Apache, MySQL and PHP (LAMP) principles with the Linux operating system using Apache webserver and MySQL database with Perl/CGI as the primary language for dynamic web pages. NIH deploys other open source facilities by drawing from the Comprehensive Perl Archive Network (CPAN); by deploying Python and Ruby on Rails where those languages provide uniquely advantageous features; by deploying various tools such as jQuery to standardize the AJAX environment. NIH's underlying policy is to avoid proprietary tools and languages in favor of tools and languages for which there a broad community of public users. f.The website requires continued architecture of a system to replace the current authentication systems on the HANDLS servers to meet NIH standards. Other Important Considerations: Level of Effort: A Perl-CGI Web Programmer is required for a total of 500 hours and must have a Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering, science, or any liberal arts. Deliverables: 1.Description of Tasks and Associated Deliverables: Timely submission of deliverables is essential to successful completing this requirement. Tasks performed under this contract and their schedules are determined by the COR based on study requirements. 2.Reporting Requirements: The contractor shall provide in-progress demonstrations of work performed, beta-versions for testing, and all programming code and program libraries required to operationalize requirements specified by COR. The contractor shall enumerate the program files and processes on which work was performed, strategies for changing the code, implementing it, and training staff in its use. Weekly meetings are required in person to discuss coordinating work on the web site; to display progress on work; to insure consistency in approaches, particularly for the user interface; to insure identical versions of open-source software are used; and to work through policies and procedures for maintaining the web service and databases. Occasional demonstrations of work in progress are required as interim reports to insure that work is proceeding in the correct direction. Key Personnel: The following positions are considered "Key Personnel" in support of this contract initiative: oPerl-CGI web user interface designer programmer and database programmer 1.Minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent in engineering, science, or any liberal arts. 2.Minimum ten years experience in programming and at least five years experience web programming and managing data from clinical field studies using open-source languages in conjunction with Perl/CGI, Perl/Templates, MySQL database management and synchronization. Experience with clinical data are crucial because the HANDLS clinical management system is a real-time data entry and medical record database. Changes to one part of the system may have far­reaching consequences in other parts of the system and on the accuracy of the data. CLOSING STATEMENT The solicitation will be issued on or about February 8, 2016, and bids or proposals will be tentatively due about 10 days after the solicitation release date. Potential offerors may request a copy of the solicitation from Samantha Kelly, Contract Specialist, electronically at Samantha.Kelly2@nih.gov. Please reference the solicitation number HHS-NIH-NIDA-SSSA-2016-118 on your electronic and fax request.
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- SN04001877-W 20160129/160127233952-c4a49ecd3cad266d719252d53bf72ea4 (fbodaily.com)
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