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 112499 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 for the Center for Scientific Review (CSR) intends to issue a non-competitive modification to an existing purchase order #263-MJ-908626, with Health Research Sciences Inc., 11920 Tildenwood Drive, Rockville, MD 20852, to complete Task Order #3 ending December 31, 2000. The Health Research Sciences Inc. will implement and evaluate two (2) specific Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved survey forms for principal investigators and scientific reviewers. STATEMENT OF WORK: BACKGROUND: The Health Research Science, Inc. was contracted to manage three task orders of importance to the mission of the center for Scientific Review. These task orders include assisting in creating a centralized recruiting module, assisting in modifying the Center's web site, and creating a generic survey form for the Center's review divisions to use. While the Health Research Science Inc. has substantially completed two of the three tasks, Task #3 concerning the generic survey form, which has been approved by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the (OMB), will require additional work be done in order to finalize the format, administer the surveys and conduct an evaluation of the survey results. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to produce a fully functioning reiterative evaluation process involving a web presence, a system to distribute and collect surveys, and an on-going evaluation of the scientific review process. CSR occasionally needs 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. OMB requires clearance of each and every form utilized by the Government. Under the Task Order #3, the Health Research Sciences Inc., produced, and has received OMB approval for two generic evaluation forms to be used by all CSR study sections. These survey generic forms will be reviewed by senior CSR Management and members of the CSR Advisory Committee, and resultant comments will be incorporated into the generic forms. The contractor will then pilot tests these forms with selected study sections and selected principal investigators and collect further comments. From these data, appropriate modifications will be made to the generic forms. The contractor will have to prepare the specific clearance package for OMB-approval of the final survey forms. The clearance process at CSR, NIH, DHHS and then to OMB, may require that the contractor make changes to the forms. The contractor will have to work with CSR information technology staff in designing, programming and testing a database which will capture specific survey form data elements, aggregate those elements and provide report formats as needed. The contractor will work with CSR information technology staff in designing, programming and testing a specific CSR web page which can be utilized by survey recipients to anonymously record their responses. The web page will front for the database created previously. Once all the specific survey instruments, database, and web page to capture the data are in place, the contractor will provide informational letters to three thousand (3,000) randomly selected principal investigators. As results come in through, the contractor will establish an evaluation regimen, evaluate the data and provide a report to CSR. The report may require additional collection methods. When all the specific survey instruments, database, and web page to capture the data are in place, the contractor will provide informational letters to 2,500 randomly selected study section reviewers requesting their participation in the survey. As results come in through the web, through study section meeting interaction, the contractor will establish an evaluation regimen, evaluate the data and provide a report to CSR. This report may require additional alternative collection methods. PLACE OF PERFORMANCE: The work will be performed at the Government buildings, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, Maryland 20817 and at the contractor's site. PERIODOF PERFORMANCE: The period of performance is from December 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000. This acquisition is being conducted under simplified acquisition procedures. The Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code is 8741, Size Standard $5.0 million is applicable to this requirement. The Small Business Set-Aside is applicable to this requirement. 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 6143, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, Attention Cecilia D. Morales, Purchasing Agent. All responsible sources may submit a quotation, which if timely received, shall be considered by the agency. Posted 11/08/99 (W-SN399035). (0312)

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