Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Procurement and Grants Office, IT SECTION, 2920 Brandywine Road, Mailstop K-14, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146

R -- INTERNET RESEARCH AND STRATEGIC PLANNING SERVICES SOL 1999Q00301 DUE 090199 POC Elvira Phillips, Contract Specialist, (770) 488-2603 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) contemplates award of an order for Internet Research and Strategic Planning Services. THIS IS A COMBINED SYNOPSIS/SOLICITATION FOR COMMERCIAL ITEMS PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FORMAT IN SUBPART 12.6, AS SUPPLEMENTED WITH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS NOTICE. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONSTITUTES THE ONLY SOLICITATION; QUOTATIONS ARE BEING REQUESTED AND A WRITTEN REQUEST FOR QUOTATIONS WILL NOT BE ISSUED. This acquisition is unrestricted. BACKGROUND. CDC's Web Site, www.cdc.gov, first released in 1995, offers a wealth of information to its audiences and is a worldwide source of health information for scientific professionals and the general public. The site consists of approximately 62,000 pages found in a collection of sub-sites maintained in a decentralized fashion by CDC's operating units known as Centers, Institutes, and Offices (CIOs). The CDC Web Site has a set of strengths and weaknesses due to this decentralized approach. On the positiveside, the content of www.cdc.gov is highly diverse and appeals to many audiences, including scientists, CDC's public health partners, the media, and health consumers. Negatives, however, include organization-centric information architecture, confusing navigation, and wide-ranging standards for quality and depth of content for consumers and other audiences. The Office of Communication, in coordination with CDC's standing committees for Web Site management, has been sponsoring research and strategic planning for improving CDC's Web Site. Current plans include in-depth evaluation and re-design of the site, to include qualitative and quantitative measures, and the development of continuous improvement practices. PURPOSE. One of the most serious obstacles facing CDC is a lack of in-house market research regarding critical demand and supply side issues in providing health information on the Web. This procurement is expected to support research activities under CDC's Web Site evaluation and redesign initiative. SCOPE OF WORK. Independently, and not as an agent of the Government, the vendor shall provide a subscription for a full range of reports on Internet-specific market research topics, access to market research data, access to strategic planning consultation services, and access to industry. TASKS TO BE PERFORMED. The vendor shall perform the following tasks: A) Provide research reports covering the following topic areas: web site operations, on-line advertising, strategies for content dissemination, consumer goods, and the health information vertical market. The research reports must be continuously updated; in-depth reports should be updated at semi-annual cycles, and continuous advisory reports (minimum of 25) should be generated at monthly and weekly intervals. Weekly analyst notes/briefs (minimum 50) should be provided. A minimum of one (1) set of hard copies of research reports shall be provided to the project officer. Top-line Powerpoint presentations of selected reports for CDC internal presentations are desired. B) Provide on-line searchable access by the project officer to all current and previously published reports as well as access by a minimum of four read-only subscribers. PDF print-outs and cut-and-paste capabilities preferred. C) Provide access by the project officer for a minimum of eight hours to analysts generating the research reports. The project officer can broker questions from various operating units within CDC to the vendor. Provide unlimited access to help desk/inquiries to offeror's account management. D) Provide access to off-the-shelf market research data on Internet usage by consumers, to include data generated by consumer surveys and focus groups. Trended data over time and PC-based access to primary research data is desired. The ability to request custom data cuts relevant to CDC Internet communication initiatives is desired. Custom data cut for up to five Internet audience/user groups (minimum 1) is anticipated. E) Provide access to year-round industry events that will bring CDC up-to-date on emerging Internet trends that are relevant to the strategic planning process for CDC's web site and subsites. A minimum of two passes is anticipated. DELIVERABLES. The following deliverables shall be submitted to the project officer: A) Continuous Research Products in Hardcopy. 1. Semi-Annual Market Reports; 2. Advisory Reports (minimum 25); 3. Weekly Analyst Notes/Brief (minimum 50). B) Internet/On-Line Access to Research Products. 1. On-Line Access: Project Officer; 2. On-Line Access: Read-Only Subscribers (minimum 4). C) Analyst Access. 1. Conference calls with Project Officer (minimum 8 hours); 2. Help Desk/Inquiries to Offeror's Account Management (unlimited). D. Market Research Data Access. 1. Custom data cut for up to five (5) Internet audience/user group (minimum 1). E. Industry Events Access. 1. Conference/Forum (minimum 2 passes). GOVERNMENT FURNISHED PROPERTY. Government Furnished Property (GFP) is not anticipated to be furnished in performance of this effort. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. The period of performance shall commence on the date of receipt of the purchase order and shall continue for twelve (12) months. OTHER PERTINENT REQUIREMENTS. Vendor authorizes CDC unrestricted use of this data for internal presentations and restricted use (subject to authorization by the vendor) for external presentations. The provision at 52.212-2, EVALUATION COMMERCIAL ITEMS, applies to this acquisition. Quotes should address and will be evaluated based on the following criteria in descending order of importance. (1) QUALITY OF RESEARCH REPORTS; a. Depth and Breadth. Emphasis on client-side solutions using principles of strategic communication planning, over and above an environmental analysis of the Internet market and Internet companies, is preferred. The reports should cover not only horizontal issues in the Web field, such as best practices in site operations, but also vertical issues, such as specific concerns in providing health information on-line. Reports should support analysis with research data. Reports should include an analysis of market conditions showing both long-term trends, mid-range forecasts, and short-term developments; b. Formats. Hard copy reports are mandatory. Top-line Powerpoint presentations of selected reports for CDC internal presentations are desired; c. Access. Access to reports on-line is mandatory. PDF print-outs and cut-and-paste capabilities are desired. (2) DATA METHODOLOGY; a. Rigor of Data Collection Methods. The rigor of data collection methods will be evaluated using a number of factors. This includes proper methods for panel recruitment, adequate sample sizes, over-sampling for minority populations, demographic bench marking, emphasis on youth populations, usage of a variety of data collection methods (qualitative and quantitative), frequency of data collection, variables measured, items surveyed, and other technical factors; b. Trended Data. Access to trended data, both for general Internet issues, and specifically in the health vertical market is desired. Trended data for longer than three years is superior; c. Access to Primary Data. The ability to request custom data cuts from the market research databases of issues relevant to CDC Internet communication initiatives is desired. (3) CORPORATE CAPACITY/EXPERIENCE; a. Access to Analysts. If non-metered access to analysts is offered, offeror should demonstrate adequate availability of analysts. Criteria for judging availability includes total client load per analyst and total number of analysts available in the Web/Internet research practice. Indications of client satisfaction with past performance of analysts is desired; b. Analyst credentials. Information relative to experience of assigned staff in consulting and analyzing Internet markets is desired. This includes staff biographies, and resumes outlining the education, background, credentials, and recent experience of key management, professional, and technical personnel proposed for this effort. (4) QUALITY OF INDUSTRY EVENTS; a. Access to industry networking events is the minimal acceptable offering. Access to national events spanning several days with seminars is preferred. (5) PRICE. Technical factors, when combined, are more important than cost or price. The cost or price determination will be based on best value to the Government. The provision at 52.212-1, INSTRUCTIONS TO OFFERORS COMMERCIAL ITEMS is incorporated in this solicitation by reference. OFFERORS SHALL INCLUDE IN OFFERS A COMPLETED COPY OF THE PROVISION AT 52.212-3 (ALTERNATE III), OFFEROR REPRESENTATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS COMMERCIAL ITEMS. To complete this certification, offerors may download the provision at http://www.arnet.gov/far/farziped.html, print out the provision 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications, and complete the appropriate blanks. This certification MUST be included with your quote.. The clause at 52.212-4, Contract terms and Conditions Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The clause at 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. The following clauses listed in paragraph (b) of 52.212-5 apply to this acquisition: (3), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), and (22). Quotes are due by 2:00 p.m. EST on 1 September 1999. Facsimile quotes will be accepted, provided the quote contains all requested information, and a signed original is also provided via mail. Quotes shall be mailed to: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Contracts Management Branch, IT Section, Attn: Elvira Phillips, Mailstop (K-14), 2920 Brandywine Road, Atlanta, GA 30341-4146. Facsimile quotes may be sent to: (770) 488-2671, Attn: Elvira Phillips. The RFQ number, 1999Q00301, shall be clearly marked on the envelope and/or facsimile cover page. All responsible sources may submit a quote which will be considered by the Agency. Posted 08/19/99 (I-SN369956). (0231)

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