COMMUNICATIONS PRODUCT PLANNING PRODUCTION AAND DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM SUPPORT PROJECT

INTENT TO AWARD A SOLE SOURCE. The Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs (ASPA) through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Program Support Center (PSC), Division of Acquisition Management (DAM), intends to negotiate on a sole-source basis with Human Interaction Research Institute, Inc (HIRI), 5435 Balboa Blvd. STE 115, Encino, CA 91316 This action is being processed under the authority of the Subpart 13.106-1(b) of the Federal Acquisition Regulation. Posting of this Special Notice is in accordance with Sub-Part 5.2. The intended award will follow policies and procedures set forth in Part 13 Simplified Acquisition Procedures. ASPA is currently developing the Communications Product Planning, Production and Distribution Platform. The platform is an online system designed to align health and human service practice with science-based communications and marketing approaches. To finalize the design and engage users in the adoption of the platform, ASPA has an urgent need for a contractor to facilitate the following process and provide the identified deliverables. 1 - conduct discussions with selected HHS Agency and ASPA staff to inform approach. 2 - convene a planning/briefing session of selected HHS agency and ASPA staff to review the work in progress and obtain feedback. 3 - develop a Communication Product Planning, Production and Distribution Platform Guidebook frame in a health communications/social marketing approach. 4 - create summary documents based on the steps 1-3 that would help in the effort to establish guidelines to facilitate HHS communications efforts. 5 - plan for a second phase of work that would focus on the larger systems change needed to implement the new platform throughout HHS Human Interaction Research Institute, Inc (HIRI) is the sole entity that possesses the unique capacity to develop and deliver the products and services required in the timeframe needed by ASPA. All 5 tasks will be conducted under an organizing framework created between 2006-2011 by HIRI for the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). This framework has been summarized in a recent publication from SAMHSA, and in a scientific journal article under review at Journal of Health Communication. The contractor is the sole proprietor of the process successfully applied at SAMHSA. The process is based on a unique understanding of the application of communications science in the context of Federal policies and procedures. HIRI's in depth work for SAMHSA to (a) develop a written Strategic Communications Framework and related documents, (b) conduct a needs assessment to determine content of that Framework and challenges related to its implementation, (c) conduct of a training and orientation program for Federal staff implementing the Framework both within the SAMHSA Office of Communications level and agency-wide, and (d) review of the implementation with resulting refinement in this system - provides the evidence of capacity. No other contractor has that extensive background and detailed understanding of the complex dynamics of planning and implementing this particular approach to Strategic Communications, thus permitting cost-efficient and effective implementation of the same system at ASPA (with appropriate tailoring to the HHS environment). Interested concerns may identify their interest and submit a capability statement that demonstrates their ability to provide the services required in the timeframe required. Information received will normally be considered solely for the purpose of determining whether to conduct a competitive procurement. THIS NOTICE IS NOT A REQUEST FOR COMPETITIVE PROPOSALS. NO SOLICITATION IS AVAILABLE; THEREFORE, REQUEST FOR SUCH DOCUMENT WILL BE CONSIDERED INVALID RESPONSES. A determination by the Government not to compete this proposed requirement is solely within the discretion of the Government. If no affirmative responses are received within 15 days from the date of this synopsis, the Contracting Officer will proceed with issuance of a solicitation to HIRI.