Collaboration and Statistical Analyses of Data from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Laboratory of Cardiovascular Services (LCS) and Translational Gerontology Branch (TGB) Projects

(i) 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; proposals are being requested and a written solicitation will not be issued. (ii) The solicitation number is HHS-NIH-NIDA-RFQ-20-006960 and the solicitation is issued as a request for quotation (RFQ). This acquisition is for a commercial item or service and is conducted under the authority of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 13'Simplified Acquisition Procedures; FAR Subpart 13.5 Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items; and FAR Part 12'Acquisition of Commercial Items, and is expected to exceed the simplified acquisition threshold. THIS IS A NON-COMPETITIVE (NOTICE OF INTENT) COMBINED SYNOPSIS SOLICITATION TO AWARD A CONTRACT OR PURCHASE ORDER WITHOUT PROVIDING FOR FULL OR OPEN COMPETITION (INCLUDING BRAND-NAME). The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Office of Acquisition (OA), on behalf of the National Institute on Aging (NIA), intends to negotiate and award a contract without providing for full and open competition (including brand-name) to Dr. Christopher Morrell for Collaboration and Statistical Analyses of Data from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Laboratory of Cardiovascular Services (LCS) and Translational Gerontology Branch (TGB) Projects. This acquisition is conducted as non-competitive for a commercial item or service and is conducted pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.5'Simplified Procedures for Certain Commercial Items and FAR 13.501, Special Documentation Requirements, in accordance with 41 United States Code (U.S.C.) 1901. Pursuant to FAR Subpart 13.501(a)(1)(iii) the justification (excluding brand-name) will be made available within 14 days after contract award. (iii) The solicitation document and incorporated provisions and clauses are those in effect through Federal Acquisition Circular (FAC) Number 2020-06, with effective date May 6, 2020. (iv) The associated NAICS code is 518210 and the small business size standard is $35 million. This requirement is has no set-aside restrictions. (v) This requirement is for the following services: Collaboration and Statistical Analyses of Data (vi) Background: There is a continued need for collaboration and statistical analyses services of data for various studies and projects ran by NIA LCS and TGB, which are required to successfully publish in scientific journals. Project requirements: The statistician will collaborate with LCS and TGB scientists on all aspects of their studies: Design - determine how may subjects/animals should be used; how often they should be measured. Analysis - perform appropriate statistical analyses of the observational or experimental data to address the research questions. The statistical approaches applied will vary depending on the type of data and the design of the study. Graphics - construct graphics to illustrate the results of the data analyses for discussion, talks, and manuscripts. Writing - including writing initial drafts of methods and results sections and editing manuscripts to obtain the final submitted version. The statistician will conduct educational seminars to instruct post-baccalaureate, post-doctoral, and other researchers on how to analyze various types of data. In addition, he/she will mentor and train post-baccalaureate and other junior researchers with their statistical work. See attached Statement of Work for full description. (vii) The Government anticipates award of a firm fixed-price contract for this acquisition, and the anticipated period of performance is a base period of 12 months and two option periods of 12 months each. (viii) The provision at FAR 52.252-1, Solicitation Provisions Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This solicitation incorporates one or more solicitation provisions by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. The offeror is cautioned that the listed provisions may include blocks that must be completed by the offeror and submitted with its quotation or offer. In lieu of submitting the full text of those provisions, the offeror may identify the provision by paragraph identifier and provide the appropriate information with its quotation or offer. Also, the full text of a solicitation provision may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of provision) The following provisions apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-7, System for Award Management (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-16, Commercial and Government Entity Code Reporting (Jul 2016) FAR 52.212-1, Instructions to Offerors-Commercial Items (Jun 2020) FAR 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items (Mar 2020) HHSAR 352.239-73, Electronic and Information Technology Accessibility Notice (December 18, 2015) The clause at FAR 52.252-2, Clauses Incorporated by Reference (Feb 1998), applies to this acquisition. This contract incorporates one or more clauses by reference, with the same force and effect as if they were given in full text. Upon request, the Contracting Officer will make their full text available. Also, the full text of a clause may be accessed electronically at these addresses: https://www.acquisition.gov/browse/index/far https://www.hhs.gov/grants/contracts/contract-policies-regulations/hhsar/index.html (End of clause) The following clauses apply to this acquisition and are incorporated by reference: FAR 52.204-13, System for Award Management Maintenance (Oct 2018) FAR 52.204-18, Commercial and Government Entity Code Maintenance (Jul 2016) FAR 52.212-4, Contract Terms and Conditions-Commercial Items (Oct 2018). Addendum to this FAR clause applies to this acquisition and is attached. FAR 52.217-8, Option to Extend Services (Nov 1999). Fill in: 30 days prior to the end of the contract period FAR 52.217-9, Option to Extend the Term of the Contract (Mar 2000). Fill ins: 15 days, 30 days, 3 years and 6 months HHSAR 352.222-70, Contractor Cooperation in Equal Employment Opportunity Investigations (December 18, 2015) The following provisions and clauses apply to this acquisition and are attached in full text: FAR 52.212-5, Contract Terms and Conditions Required to Implement Statutes or Executive Orders-Commercial Items (June 2020) NIH Invoice and Payment Provisions (2/2014) (ix) The provision at FAR clause 52.212-2, Evaluation-Commercial Items, applies to this acquisition. (a) The Government will award a contract resulting from this solicitation to the responsible offeror whose offer conforming to the solicitation will be most advantageous to the Government, price and other factors considered. The following factors shall be used to evaluate offers: (i) technical capability and (ii) price. Technical is significantly more important than price. (b) Options. The Government will evaluate offers for award purposes by adding the total price for all options to the total price for the basic requirement. The Government may determine that an offer is unacceptable if the option prices are significantly unbalanced. Evaluation of options shall not obligate the Government to exercise the option(s). (c) A written notice of award or acceptance of an offer, mailed or otherwise furnished to the successful offeror within the time for acceptance specified in the offer, shall result in a binding contract without further action by either party. Before the offer's specified expiration time, the Government may accept an offer (or part of an offer), whether or not there are negotiations after its receipt, unless a written notice of withdrawal is received before award. (x) The Offerors to include a completed copy of the provision at FAR clause 52.212-3, Offeror Representations and Certifications-Commercial Items, with its offer. (xi) There are no additional contract requirement(s) or terms and conditions applicable to this acquisition. (xii) The Defense Priorities and Allocations System (DPAS) are not applicable to this requirement. (xiii) Responses to this solicitation must include clear and convincing evidence of the offeror's capability of fulfilling the requirement as it relates to the technical evaluation criteria. The price proposal must include the labor categories, an estimate of the number of hours required for each labor category, fully loaded fixed hourly rate or each labor category, breakdown and rationale for other direct costs or materials, and the total amount. The Dun & Bradstreet Number (DUNS), the Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), and the certification of business size must be included in the response. All offerors must have an active registration in the System for Award Management (SAM) www.sam.gov. All quotations must be received by 2:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, on June 23, 2020, and reference Solicitation Number HHS-NIH-NIDA-RFQ-20-006960. Responses must be submitted electronically to Karen Mahon, Contracting Officer, at contact@example.gov. Fax responses will not be accepted. (xiv) The name and telephone number of the individual to contact for information regarding the solicitation: Karen Mahon, Contracting Officer +1 (555) 000-0000 contact@example.gov