B -- 2009 NBCUS Sources Sought

THIS IS NOT A SOLICITATION. THIS IS NOT A REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL (RFP), INVITATION FOR BID (IFB), REQUEST FOR QUOTES (RFQ), REQUEST FOR APPLICATION (RFA) OR AN ANNOUNCEMNT OF A SOLICITATION AND DOES NOT ASSUME THE GOVERNMENT WILL AWARD A CONTRACT OR PROCEED WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE SOLICITATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE. THIS NOTICE IS ONLY FOR MARKET RESEARCH PURPOSES. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Public Health and Science is seeking capabilities statements from organizations with the core competency to provide goods and services towards a 2009 National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey (NBCUS). The NAICS Code is 541690 and the size standard is $6.5M. The NBCUS is a comprehensive survey of blood and blood products establishments which ultimately facilitate DHHS and the PHS Agencies in formulation of national policy regarding the blood supply. Historically, the NBCUS is an approximately 200 question national survey of 3000+ blood banks and blood collection centers which addresses all aspects of blood collection and utilization ranging from amounts of various products to efficacious use of blood regulatory standards. The DHHS intends to survey these facilities regarding their entire 2006 calendar year data; the data collected will need to be analyzed for specific findings and then compared to previous data to look for patterns. Additionally, the concept of Bio-vigilance patient safety monitoring will need to be utilized in the formation of the questionnaire. The objectives to be achieved in this requirement are the following: a) identify, solicit, convene, and foster relevant stakeholder participation in the identification and approval of survey data elements, b) design and produce appropriate paper-based compartmentalized survey instrument, and c) identify appropriate participant facilities and select a sample with appropriate weighting algorithms. The following capabilities are necessary to the Government in satisfying the requirement: (a) experience and expertise in bringing relevant stakeholders together for the purpose of designing a comprehensive blood products related national questionnaire of relevance to the federal government?s role in public health service policy formation. (b) detailed knowledge of systems involved in the blood and blood products community such as collecting, processing, distributing and transfusing blood products. (c) knowledge of blood inventory management practices used by blood collection centers and hospital-based transfusion services (contractor must demonstrate an understanding of blood inventory accounting concepts and statistics) (d) expertise in federal public health responsibilities, current policies and programs relating to the safety and availability of blood and (e) demonstrated experience in building business relationships with and communicating effectively with key staff of blood collection centers and hospital transfusion services. Experience in recruiting and retaining organizational participation in programs similar to the NBCUS is essential. Interested contractors possessing ALL of the required capabilities to meet the above requirement should submit a cover letter along with the capability statement not to exceed 10 pages demonstrating the ability to perform ALL aspects of the effort described therein. Responses must include the following: name and address of the firm, named central point of contact along with email address; DUNS number; any applicable commercial price list(s); size of business, including average annual revenues for the past 3 years and number of employees; ownership; whether they are a large, small, small-disadvantaged, 8(a), HUBZone, woman-owned, veteran-owned, or service-disabled veteran-owned historically black college or university and/or minority service institute, number of years in business; affiliate information: parent company, joint venture partners, potential teaming partners; list of customers covering the past five years; and additional documentation such as company literature and brochures. If this additional documentation supports the required capabilities it is incumbent to address this reference in the cover letter or other area of the capability statement and indicate specifically how it addresses the capabilities sought. A mere referenced website is unacceptable for purposes of this announcement and will not be considered or reviewed. Capability statements must be submitted via email to pscacquisitions@psc.gov to the attention of Jonathan Hamlet and referencing this announcement number. No statements delivered by mail or by hand shall be accepted under any circumstances. Responses are due no later than 12:00 PM Eastern Time, July 2, 2007.