National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Room 6100, MSC 7902, Bethesda, MD 20892

R -- PROFESSIONAL, ADMINISTRATIVE, AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICE SOL NHLBI-PS-99-416 DUE 061499 POC Cecilia D. Morales, Purchasing Agent, (301)435-0369, Debra C. Hawkins, Chief, Procurement Section, (301)435-0366 The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute intends to negotiate on a non-competitive basis with the Health Research Sciences, Inc. (HRSI), 11920 Tildenwood Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, to continue to provide assistance to create a centralized recruiting module for Scientific positions in the Center for Scientific Review (CSR), National Institutes of Health (NIH). The period of performance shall be 129 hours from the date of the modification of the existing purchasing order. Based upon previous experience essentially with same programs completed at NIH, a non-competitive purchase order was issued to HRSI to provide task orders to set up a centralized recruiting process and an Office Management Branch (OMB) approved generic evaluation form for the Review Division. HRSI successfully completed the recruiting activity tasks as expected, gaining an in-depth knowledge of the operation within CSR. Additional extensive rewrites are necessary to refine and complete the original recruiting activity tasks. In order to continue with the same functions and due to the knowledge acquired by HRSI in the previous contract, an award for the continuation of this requirement would result in a substantial duplication of cost to the Government that is not expected to be recovered through competition. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this project is to produce a fully functioning system involving a web presence, a relational database for scientific applications, a screening process for inviting candidates to apply for selected positions in CSR, and an administrative process for notifying applicants of their status once their vita has been submitted for consideration. SPECIFIC TASKS: The contractor shall complete the following tasks: Task 1: the Contractor, utilizing a CSR-provided Access database, will manage the information gathered through (1) the CSR website, (2) fax, and (3) snail mail. Such information will include, but not limited to, scientific vacancy areas, expressions of interest from scientists, curriculum vitae submittedfor consideration, and other input as required by the Scientific Screener. Every contact with CSR will receive a "receipt noted" letter done through mail merge and will receive update letters as determined by the Scientific Screener. In general, the contractor will provide all administrative support required for the centralized recruitment process. The contractor will have to sort and retrieve selected data from the Access database for use by the Scientific Screener and Initial Review Group (IRG) chiefs. These sorts may include any combination of fields from the database. The contractor will work closely with CSR staff to provide database information needed to make travel arrangements for those selected for interviews and for scheduling those interviews as well as the required seminar from the interviewee. Task 2: The contractor by using the in-house expertise will provide suggestions for brightening up the CSR web site used to allow prospective SRA candidates to acquaint themselves with the mission and organization of CSR. The contractor will be asked to perform the public relations upgrade of the web site. Task 3: CSR has a need for occasional use of survey instruments as its components evaluate the performance of study groups and the quality of the review function performed during a specific time frame. The contractor will investigate the actual OMB requirements and will note any exceptions or waivers performed or available for scientific review procedures. The contractor will ascertain whether OMB would approve a generic evaluation form to be used by all CSR study sections and whether a "Fast Track" system could win OMB concurrence for quick approval when a specific format based on the generic is utilized by a study section. The contractor would then design such a generic format, with input from CSR staff, and get it approved by OMB. The work will be performed at the Government building on Rockledge Drive and at the contractor's site. This acquisition is being conducted under simplified acquisition procedures and is exempt from the requirements of FAR Part 6. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code is 8741, Size Standard $5.0M. This notice of intent is not a request for competitive proposals. Interested parties may identify their interest and capabilities in response to this requirement. The determination by the Government not to compete the proposed contract based upon responses to this notice is solely within the discretion of the Government. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct future competitive procurement. Responses to this announcement, referencing synopsis number NHLBI-PS-99-416 may be submitted to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Contracts Operations Branch, Procurement Section, Building RKL2, Room 6149, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-7902, Attention Cecilia D. Morales, Purchasing Agent. All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency. Posted 05/28/99 (W-SN337058). (0148)

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