SOLICITATION NOTICE
R -- Intent to Sole Source Special Supplemental Journal Issue on "Self Regulation of Appetite - It's Complicated" - Statement of Work
- Notice Date
- 1/28/2016
- Notice Type
- Presolicitation
- NAICS
- 511120
— Periodical Publishers
- 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
- NIHLM2016746SRE
- Archive Date
- 2/18/2016
- Point of Contact
- Sheila R. Edmonds, Phone: 3014966546
- E-Mail Address
-
sheila.edmonds@nih.gov
(sheila.edmonds@nih.gov)
- Small Business Set-Aside
- N/A
- Description
- Statement of Work This is a Presolicitation/Notice of Intent to Sole Source for commercial services prepared in accordance with FAR Parts 12 and 13. It is the intent of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) to procure professional services on a sole source basis from John Wiley and Sons Inc., 111 River Street, Hoboken NJ 07030-57090 under the authority of FAR 6.302-1(a)(2) to provide the OBSSR a Special Supplemental Journal Issue on "Self- Regulation of Appetite - It's Complicated" in the Obesity journal. The North American Industry Classification System Code (NAICS) is 511120- Periodical Publishers with a small business size standard of 500 employees. Background: The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) furthers the mission of NIH by emphasizing the critical role that behavior and social factors play in health, health care, and well-being. OBSSR serves as the focal point for coordination and development of goals and objectives in the behavioral and social sciences at NIH. OBSSR is also a liaison between the NIH intramural and extramural communities, other Federal agencies, academic and scientific societies, national voluntary health agencies, the biomedical research community, the media, and the general public on matters pertaining to behavioral and social sciences research. OBSSR's mission is to bring together the biomedical, behavioral, and social science communities to work more collaboratively to solve pressing health challenges facing our nation. OBSSR's plan includes facilitating: a) the next generation of basic behavioral and social sciences research: b) transdisciplinary "team science" that brings together biomedical, behavioral, and social-ecological perspectives; c) research that integrates biologic, behavioral and social drivers of health risk to enable multiple levels of analysis; d) translation of known biologic and behavioral mechanisms into testable and disseminable interventions targeting behaviors which prevent the onset and progression of disease. The purpose of this requirement is to produce a publication for the scientific community on a topic of key interest to OBSSR, NIH program staff, the NIH investigator community, and to health researchers, practitioners, and policy makers. The special issue publication will further the aims of OBSSR by integrating and promoting bio-behavioral and environmental approaches to impact rates of obesity using team science. Specifically, the special issue will contain articles presenting evidence based mechanisms known to impact humans' ability to self-regulate appetite, a central component of healthy weight regulation that can be used to create novel prevention and intervention strategies. Thus the journal in which this special issue is to be published must routinely contain content focusing on diverse multilevel factors effecting obesity, contain clinical content regarding the prevention and treatment of obesity, and serve the intended audience as defined by the interests of OBSSR and NIH program staff. Obesity is epidemic and is already contributing to exponential increases in related chronic diseases: diabetes, cardiovascular, sleep disturbance, cognitive decline and orthopedic impairment, as examples. Led by OBSSR, and joined by NIDDK, NHLBI, NICHD, NIDA, NCI and the Office of Disease Prevention, a panel of experts was convened July 2015 to present the state of the science regarding evidence based mechanisms that effect self-regulation of appetite, including amount (such as eating after satiation), type of caloric intake and thereby weight regulation. Mechanisms ranged from the cellular/hormonal level, to brain function/decision making, to ecological inputs such as food advertising, external food cues and food policies. Experts presented the state of the science and identified potential targets for novel intervention strategies for regulation of appetite and weight. The next steps for testing the interactive effects of these mechanisms were discussed. Content and proposed targets for intervention spanned the life course and targeted person-based to ecologic non-person factors. As part of its role to disseminate and coordinate behavioral and social sciences to the research and lay community, OBSSR will produce a special issue containing these proceedings. The proposed special supplemental issue shall provide a unique opportunity to showcase state of the science evidence regarding mechanisms known to effect appetite regulation across disciplines, level, and scope of impact. Presentations by the panel were divided into four (4) major categories: biologic, social, psychological/cognitive, and environmental/policy determinants of appetite regulation. For the purposes of the special issue, content areas shall be collapsed into three (3) topical areas: biologic factors, psychological/cognitive processes, and social determinants of behavior that include policy implementation. Four (4) papers shall be published: an introduction to the topic emphasizing why the meeting was convened, the clinical importance, and common themes going forward; and three (3) synthesis papers presenting mechanistic evidence, discussing potential novel targets for prevention and intervention research, gaps in knowledge, and potential for future multidisciplinary team science. The special issue shall be guest-edited by the Co-Chairs of the July 2015 meeting and the lead of the NIH working group. Writing committees shall consist of all presentation authors and members of the NIH working group. Papers shall initially be reviewed by the editors and then submitted to the journal for peer review. Manuscripts shall be revised in accordance with peer review and editorial process. The main goal of the publication shall be to disseminate state of the science information regarding the applicability of evidence based mechanisms affecting appetite regulation to inform novel interventions to impact weight homeostasis. The special issue shall indicate NIH's interest in supporting work in this area and alert the community that the Obesity journal encourages cross-disciplinary, multi-level, team science manuscripts on the translation of basic bio-behavioral science into evidence based interventions. This special issue is critical given the need for novel and effective bio-behavioral interventions to prevent and treat obesity. Mandatory Criteria: The Contractor shall be an academic society that publishes a peer-reviewed research journal that is specific to the special supplemental journal issue research topic and that provides distribution through its journal. Purpose/Objective: The purpose of this requirement is to obtain the professional services of a Contractor to assist OBSSR in the planning and production of a Special Supplemental Journal Issue of Obesity on "Self- Regulation of Appetite - It's Complicated" in the Obesity journal which shall focus on the use of interactions between evidence based mechanisms impacting self-regulation of appetite in humans to develop novel intervention strategies to prevent and treat obesity. This requirement shall require the support of staff time of the publisher in planning and preparation activities for the special issue. This shall also include staff time for planning activities to include solicitation of reviewers, coordination and preparation of journal layout and content, and support for ongoing planning and editorial management meetings. This requirement shall also include production and dissemination costs. Contractor Tasks: ● The Contractor shall obtain peer review regarding appropriateness and scientific rigor of the submitted manuscripts. ● After initial peer review, the Contractor shall return manuscripts to the lead author of each paper for revisions and clarifications required by reviewers/journal editors. • Upon final editorial review, the Contractor shall prepare manuscripts for publication and disseminate to authors for final approval. • A special issue shall be produced and disseminated through the usual print and web channels used by the Obesity journal. ● All activities shall occur in consultation with the Guest Editors of the special issue and in cooperation with John Wiley & Sons, the journal's official publisher. Deliverables: The Contractor shall provide the following deliverables: 1. Organize reviewers for manuscripts and conduct planning conference calls with Guest Editors by March 1, 2016. 2. Provide electronic versions of introductory and synthesis papers to the assigned reviewers by March 15, 2016. 3. Return manuscript reviews and requests for revisions (including resubmission date) to the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR), Guest Editors and Lead Authors on or before April 15, 2016. 4. Complete final review and editorial approval process by May 30, 2016. 5. Produce and distribute the special issue to its subscribers on or around July 1, 2016. 6. Provide 200 additional copies of the special issue to OBSSR for further distribution. 7. Provide open access to the full supplement on the Obesity/Wiley Online Library website. Provide information so that OBSSR and the participating NIH ICs can establish a link from their website to the John Wiley & Sons website, where anyone can download the PDFs. 8. The Contractor shall attribute proper acknowledgment of NIH OBSSR sponsorship for the theme issue of the Obesity journal. This acknowledgement shall be displayed in both the print and online versions of the issue. The following language shall be used: "This 2016 theme issue of the Obesity journal is supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) to support the dissemination of research on evidence based mechanisms effecting self-regulation of appetite in humans in order to promote research on novel strategies to prevent and treat obesity across the lifespan." Reference to NIH or any of its Institutes and Centers (ICs) or components, as well as use of Government names, symbols, logos, and other identifying marks, shall not be used for endorsement or implied endorsement of any non-NIH entity, product or service. Period of Performance: The period of performance shall be a Base Period of twelve (12) months from date of award. Place of Performance: The work to be performed under this contract shall be performed at the Contractor's facility. The Contractor shall be available by phone, fax, and e-mail during normal business hours. Program Management and Control Requirements: The OBSSR COR will exercise management control over the project, communicate with the Contractor, and audit progress of journal supplement preparation. Telephone and e-mail conversation as well as in person meetings between OBSSR staff and the Contractor are expected to identify unanticipated issues that will be documented and resolved. Inspection and Acceptance Requirements: The OBSSR COR will review all documents produced during the performance period, provide feedback to the Contractor, and determine acceptability of progress updates and final reports. The OBSSR COR will approve half payment upon the Contractor's acceptance of the contract and a proper invoice. The COR shall approve the remaining payment upon approval of the deliverable(s) and invoice(s). Sole Source Justification: Pursuant to 41 U.S.C. 253(c)(1) as set forth in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) at 6.302-1, Only One Responsible Source, John Wiley and Sons, Inc. is the only publisher of Obesity, the official journal of The Obesity Society. The Journal Obesity is the only professional journal that is specifically dedicated to promote dissemination of research, clinical care and policy implementation for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Key areas of publication focus are to enhance related basic, clinical and population science related to obesity, refine and amplify efforts to monitor and influence obesity-related policy environment, increase clinical translation of basic science and human clinical trials into widely applicable obesity interventions, encourage transdisciplinary science and collaborations, and development of educational platforms to communicate scientific content for efficient and broad dissemination. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.'s Obesity is the peer-reviewed academic journal in which the special supplement will be published. Obesity is an essential resource for bio-behavioral scientists; basic scientists; scientists evaluating public health efforts in the realm of obesity prevention and treatment; government agencies; health care educators, facilities, and providers; public health planners, and social scientists. Because John Wiley and Sons, Inc. staff manages and publishes the Obesity research journal, which is specific to the theme issue research topic, it is uniquely positioned and qualified to implement this project as the organization is in alignment with the NIH/OBSSR's endeavors to help span behavioral and social science research by expanding the knowledge and understanding of mechanisms effecting self-regulation of appetite and thereby weight, in order to develop novel intervention approaches. Currently, there is no other publisher or journal that is offering a theme issue on this specific topic. Any efforts to identify the required skills and expertise through outside sources would pose additional undo costs to the government. Therefore, it would be in the best interest of the Government to award the contract to John Wiley and Sons, Inc. because of its unique ability to perform the requirement tasks in a cost-efficient and timely manner. Technical Evaluation Factors Technical factors are of paramount consideration in the award of the Purchase Order; however, price is also important to the overall award decision. All evaluation factors other than price, when combined, are significantly more important than price. The Government can make tradeoffs among price and technical factors in determining which Offerer provides the best value by awarding to other than the lowest price Offerer or other than the highest technically rated Offerer. Offerers are advised that award will be made to that Offerer whose quote provides the best overall value to the Government. Technical Evaluation Criteria In determining which quote represents the best value and results in the lowest overall price alternative (considering price, special features, administrative costs, etc.) to meet the Government's needs, the Government shall evaluate quotes using the following technical evaluation criteria, which are listed in the order of relative importance with weights assigned for evaluation processes: Criterion A: Understanding the Requirements/Technical Approach (40 Points) • Demonstrated quality and clarity of the methodological approach involved in fulfilling the scope of work to coordinate the scientific peer review and publication of research manuscripts regarding diverse multilevel bio-behavioral and ecologic mechanisms effecting appetite and thereby weight/obesity to inform future research and clinical application of intervention strategies to prevention and treat obesity. • Demonstrated general approach to planning, coordinating, publishing, and disseminating a special theme journal issue and associated performance of objectives under the proposed contract. • Demonstrated experience in developing special journal issues that address a specific technical theme, particularly in the area of bio-behavioral mechanisms effecting obesity prevention and treatment. Especially important is demonstrated experience in the review of scientific research manuscripts, moderating discussions among peer reviewers, as well as working with meeting chairs, guest editors and expert authors within a compressed timeline (3 months). • Demonstrated quality of the plan for how the team will function, especially how the Contractor will interface with guest editors, peer reviewers, manuscript submitters, publisher(s), OBSSR, and the logistical Contractor. • Demonstrated understanding of the Government's intent for this procurement and the feasibility of approach to address its overall goals. • Demonstrated soundness of approach to incorporate Government input on the project. Criterion B: Personnel/Staff Qualifications (40 Points) • Demonstrated qualifications, experience and availability of editorial and publication management personnel, including any consultants and/or subcontractors needed for production, and demonstrated evidence of relevant past work. • Demonstrated proposed team led by an editor/scholar who has knowledge of basic and clinical science related to the prevention and treatment of obesity. • Demonstrated track record of developing academic research journal issues and producing specific thematic issues of the type proposed in the Statement of Work (SOW). • Demonstrated augmentation of staff with appropriate consultants, and/or subcontractors, as necessary, and their documented expertise and commitment to the project. • Demonstrated evidence that proposed team can accomplish tasks in specified timeframe. Criterion C: Organizational Capabilities, Experience and Commitment; Facilities and Resources (20 Points) • Demonstrated evidence of corporate capability to organize and manage resources and personnel effectively. • Demonstrated experience in managing special-theme issues for academic journals with stakeholder input; demonstrated experience in working in teams with diverse members. • For any subcontractor(s) proposed, demonstrated effectiveness and timeliness of management plan in specifying responsibilities allocated to each organization and how these entities shall interact. • Demonstrated adequacy of mechanisms in place to recruit technically qualified reviewers on a quick turnaround basis, as needed, and to ensure that personnel assigned to a project are retained during the entire project. • Demonstrated organizational commitment to quality of product and deployment of necessary resources to meet the project requirements. The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference. Full text may be found at https://www.acquisition.gov/Far FEDERAL ACQUISITION REQULATION (FAR) CLAUSES FAR 52.212-4 Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items FAR 52.212-5 Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes and Executive orders This is not a Request for Proposals (RFP), nor is a RFP available; however, all responsive sources may submit a proposal in a timely manner which will be considered by NLM. Firms interested in responding to this notice must be able to provide the referenced service as specified above. Responses must be in writing and must be received electronically at the Government infrastructure by NOON EST on Wednesday, February 3, 2016. Proposals must include pricing information and should reference Solicitation No. NIHLM2016746SRE and should be submitted to sheila.edmonds@nih.gov. Inquiries regarding this procurement shall be submitted electronically to sheila.edmonds@nih.gov and shall be received by 2:00 PM EST on Monday, February 1, 2016.
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