A -- National Toxicology Program (NTP) Technical Reports Preparation Support Services

THIS IS AN AMENDMENT to the original SOURCES SOUGHT NOTICE NIHES2008017 posted October 16, 2007. The Sources Sought Notice is being changed, several questions have been answered, and the response date has been extended until November 2, 2007. The change is to delete the following two statements - This requirement is restricted to 100% small business participation. and See Numbered Note 1.- The Questions and Answers are as follows: Question: The Notice states that -The Contractor shall work in concert with NTP staff scientists and contractors to provide technical writing, copy editing, proofreading, word processing, desktop publishing, graphics, file research, and record keeping services. Please define what is meant by -file research.- Answer: To clarify the kinds of work involved in this project, the term file research could more precisely be described as reviewing laboratory reports and extracting relevant experimental information and also capturing, downloading, and reformatting files of tabular data. Question: Please clarify number of copies and acceptable delivery methods. The Notice states that Interested organizations should submit five (5) copies of their capability statement.... Do organizations also need to submit an original in addition to the five copies? The Notice provides for both mail and fax as acceptable delivery methods. Are interested organizations to fax five (or six if an original is also required) copies if they choose that method of delivery? If only one copy is to be faxed, please consider also accepting statements via email. Answer: None of the documents need to be coded as the original; all five may be identical copies. If one copy is faxed and four copies are to be made then please note this on the transmittal form. E-mail in a PDF format may be sent to sedgley@niehs.nih.gov. Question: Please provide an address for delivery by Federal Express, UPS, or other commercial delivery services. Answer: For commercial delivery send to: David Sedgley, Third Floor Desk, 79 T.W. Alexander Drive, Building 4401, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709. Question: Since this activity already seems to be set aside for small business, can you please clarify why you are doing this sources sought? Answer: The activity was incorrectly identified as a small business set-aside. The statements This requirement is restricted to 100% small business participation. See Numbered Note 1. should not have been placed in the notice. The purpose of this sources sought notice will be to determine whether or not this work will be restricted to some specific type of small business, all small businesses, or fully open to competition. Question: What does it mean when it says This is a follow-on requirement? What does that mean for the incumbent? Answer: There is a contract currently in place that is being re-competed. Depending upon the outcome of this investigative effort the incumbent may or may not be eligible to compete for the follow-on replacement contract. The existence of two or more technically capable, small businesses in several categories (Service Disabled Veteran Owned, Historically Underutilized Business Zones, or 8(a) small businesses) could require that the competition be offered to small businesses in that category alone. The response date has been extended - interested organizations should now submit five (5) copies of their capability statement, not to exceed fifteen (15) pages in length, excluding standard brochures, for receipt by the agency on or before November 2, 2007.