2009 NATIONAL BLOOD COLLECTION AND UTILIZATION SURVEY - NBCUS

This is a combined synopsis/solicitation for a commercial item prepared in accordance with the format in FAR 12.6 as supplemented with additional information included in this notice. This announcement constitutes the only solicitation and a separate written solicitation will not be issued. This solicitation number is 09-233-SOL-00050 , and is issued as a Request for Proposal (RFP). The solicitation/contract will include all applicable provisions and clauses in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular 2005-031. The North American Industry Classification (NAICS) Code is 541690. This requirement is solicited under full and open competition. This acquisition is being conducted using Part 12 and Part 15 of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. A Firm Fixed Price contract is anticipated. It is the intent of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Secretary (OS), Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS), Blood Safety and Availability to acquire a survey of United States civilian hospitals and blood collection centers (approx 3,000 institutions), including hospitals that operate their own blood collection services and cellular and tissue therapies. The survey shall provide comprehensive data on blood collection, utilization and safety related practices throughout the industry. The survey results shall be used by the contractor to prepare a comprehensive report: National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS) for 2009. The 2009 NBCUS project consists of two parts. Part 1: The survey instrument (including data elements), data sampling scheme and stakeholder pool is complete as of December 2008 and ready for use. Part 1 scope is not included in this solicitation (it is complete). Part 2: Conducting the survey, analyzing survey responses, survey response tabulation, and preparing a comprehensive 2009 NBCUS survey report are the requirements of the current solicitation and consist of the following tasks: 1. Meet with Project Officer (PO)/Contracting Officer's Technical Representative (COTR) and HHS stakeholders to develop a Project Management Plan. 2. Conduct the survey, including appropriate follow-up with participants, (e.g., repeat mailing/email solicitation, appropriate customer-service phone calls, reminder ads in industry periodicals). A web-based survey tool is optional using appropriate industry practices (e.g., safeguards, aesthetics, and usability). Whether paper-based or web-based, or both, and appropriate survey control and tracking system shall be employed. 3. Analyze survey responses for completeness and accuracy and prepare two statistically valid data sets of the final survey results (one that is institution level and secure/proprietary to each participant, the other a - scrubbed de-identified data set that is public accessible), including the following tasks: data preparation, develop coding scheme, code data, manually edit data to ensure accuracy, verification of data, key coded information, and edit programs and data as appropriate for final analysis. 4. Delivery of basic survey response tabulation, including: statistical weighing, imputation, non-response bias analysis, estimation and variance estimations, data sets, analysis of data sets, and delivery of data sets (de-identified) 5. Prepare comprehensive 2009 NBCUS survey report including appropriate examination of industry trends and identification of significant new findings. The report preparation shall include appropriate peer-review analysis (i.e., 2 to 3 subject matter experts). This report is destined for public consumption (e.g, no facility identifiable data) and the 2007 NBCUS report, which may be used as an example, can be found at www.hhs.gov/bloodsafety 6. Prepare monthly progress reports to include project plans, progress towards deliverable completion, basic/gross funding utilization, significant difficulties, and other significant findings related to project completion Deliverables are the following 1. Meet with PO/COTR and ACBS stakeholders within one week of contract award to discuss project plans 2. Submit Project Management Plan (PMP) within 3 weeks of contract award 3. Meet with PO/COTR and HHS stakeholders to review and finalize OMB amendment documents (e.g., significant change in data elements, or method of survey) within 4 weeks of contract award 4. Begin survey solicitations within 5 weeks of contract award (flexible pending whether survey is web-based) 5. Submit draft tabulation of final dataset and analysis within 32 weeks of contract award 7. Submit final survey report within 52 weeks of contract award. 8. Submit monthly progress reports by the 5th day of each month NOTE: Paramount to the success of the NBCUS is trust and cooperation of data submission participants. As such, the offeror shall provide examples of past experience gathering information from blood and plasma industry stakeholders for the purposes of examining industry practices involving proprietary business data. The offeror shall submit a listing of the most recent contracts/awards (minimum of 3) in which the same or similar tasks have been provided. Contracts/awards may include those entered within the Federal Government, state and local governments and commercial concerns STATEMENT OF WORK GENERAL INFORMATION ATTACHMENT: A. The offerors shall demonstrate the ability and experience in providing the required services. The Government will award a Performance Based Firm- Fixed Price contract resulting from this RFP to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the RFP will be the most advantageous to the Government, based on price, technical and past, and other factors in the solicitation. Offerors are cautioned that failure to address each of the evaluation factors may deem their proposal unacceptable. When combined, technical evaluation factors are more important then price. Offerors shall include completed copy of the provisions at FAR 52.213-3 Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items with its proposal. The following FAR clauses apply (clauses are available in full text at http://www.arnet.gov/far); FAR 52.212-1 Instructions to Offerors Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-2, Evaluation Commercial Items, FAR Clause 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions Commercial Items, FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders. Attachment B lists clauses that apply. In addition the following clauses apply: FAR 52.217-9 Option to Extend the Term of the Contract, HHSAR 352.224-70 Confidentiality of Information, HHSAR 352.232-9 Withholding of Contract Payments, HSSAR 52.249-14, HHSAR 352.270-4 Pricing of Adjustments, HHSAR 352.270-5 Key Personnel, 352.270-6 , 352.270-10 Anti-Lobbying, 352.270-19 Electronic Information and Technology. The Government reserves the right to award a contract without discussions if the Contracting Officer determines that the initial offer(s) is /are providing the best value and discussions are not necessary. Questions about this solicitation may be submitted to this email address, janet.glasz@psc.hhs.gov no latter than May 6, 2009, 5:00 pm ET. Only electronic proposals will be accepted for this solicitation and may be sent to janet.glasz@psc.hhs.gov no later than May 27, 2009 5:00 pm ET. It is the offeror's responsibility to monitor the FEDBIZOPPS website for the release of any amendments to this solicitation.